What are the responsibilities and job description for the Food Scientist position at Sterling Engineering, Inc?
Title: R&D Food Scientist Location: Glendale Heights, IL Overview:Sterling has helped build careers for thousands for professionals like yourself. Our expert recruiters support you at every step in the process and as a Best of Staffing company, Sterling provides exciting work with exceptional employers across the U.S.Hire Type: Direct HireBenefits: Medical, Dental, VisionBonus/ Incentives/ Stock Options: 401k matchingPay:$85-100k with annual bonus potential Job Summary:We are seeking an experienced Food Scientist to lead development across meat proteins (beef, pork, poultry. This role is responsible for creating new formulations, enhancing existing products, optimizing processes, and ensuring successful commercialization from concept to production.Job Duties:Lead multiple product development initiatives, focusing on meat and plant-based proteins as well as sauces, dips, and spreads.Drive assigned projects from ideation through scale-up, providing technical leadership and recommending new product concepts.Troubleshoot formulation or processing issues using scientific methodology and deliver innovative solutions for both new and existing products.Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Procurement to define equipment needs, material requirements, and optimal processing conditions.Evaluate ingredients, suppliers, and co-packers to ensure they meet project requirements and company standards.Conduct and oversee sensory panels, shelf-life studies, competitive benchmarking, and quality improvement testing.Monitor and analyze production reports to assess schedule adherence, efficiencies, and process performance.Identify process improvements and design experiments to enhance formulations, streamline processes, or increase production capacity.Review market trends and competitive products to identify opportunities for innovation or optimization.Provide accurate raw material data and formulations for regulatory teams to generate nutritional statements and product analysis.Qualifications:Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science or related field.3–5 years of product development experience within a food manufacturing environment.Prior experience developing USDA-regulated meat protein products.Familiarity with nutritional analysis software (e.g., Esha Genesis) preferred.Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, flavor systems, and formulation science.Experience in supplier sourcing and ingredient qualification.Excellent communication skills and ability to build credibility across teams.Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).Company DescriptionSterling has helped build careers for thousands of professionals like yourself. Our expert recruiters support you at every step in the process and as a Best of Staffing company, Sterling provides exciting work with exceptional employers across the U.S.
Salary : $75,000 - $100,000