Food Development Technologist

The salary range for this role is $85,000 - $95,000 depending on experience. This role is based on-site in San Clemente, CA. 

Job Summary:
The Food Development Technologist is responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the product development process, from initial concept through to successful launch. Our business is centered around chilled and frozen meals for retailers and direct-to-consumer businesses, including medically tailored meals. This role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure that chef-developed recipes meet all customer requirements, including but not limited to packaging, profitability, operational feasibility, ingredient compliance, nutritional requirements, shelf life, and timely delivery. The ideal candidate will have experience in a food manufacturing setting and a keen eye for food and scientific industry trends.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Technical Management: Oversee the entire product development lifecycle, ensuring technical accuracy and feasibility from concept to launch.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with Chefs, Commercialization, FSQA, Regulatory, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Development, and Revenue Enablement teams to meet customer requirements and ensure a smooth handover of new and reformulated products.
• Recipe Validation and Data Management: Ensure all recipes comply with packaging standards, profitability targets, operational feasibility, ingredient regulations, nutritional requirements, customer brand policies, and shelf-life requirements.
• Continuous Improvement: Maintain and enhance process documentation, workflows, and ways of working to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Project Management: Ensure timely delivery of all projects, meeting deadlines and quality standards.
• Manufacturing Oversight: Collaborate with commercialization and operations teams to ensure seamless production processes, troubleshoot technical issues, and apply food science and technology methodologies for problem-solving. Conduct root cause analysis and implement product improvements through change management processes. Assist in planning and overseeing process or production trials.
• Quality Assurance: Develop and maintain department SOPs and assist other departments as needed.
• Product Costing: Input and communicate detailed recipe cost analyses, including material and labor costs, to ensure profitability.
• Customer Samples and Presentations: Facilitate customer sample requests and prepare presentation packs for internal and external presentations.
• Ingredient Testing and Review: Facilitate new ingredient tasting and testing, maintaining processes for raw material review, feedback, testing protocols, and ingredient specification review.
• Industry Monitoring and Trend Analysis: Stay informed about food science and technology trends, food trends, and competitor products to guide product development and business strategies, ensuring customer satisfaction and retention at optimal price and margin requirements.
• Special Projects: Assigned as required.

Qualifications for the Job

Experience / Education

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field with a minimum of 2–4 years of experience in a food manufacturing setting, ideally with experience in frozen or chilled ready meals.
• Proven experience in a food science or food technologist role.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and quality standards.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies and project management is preferred.
• Experience with ERP System integration, Datassentials, TraceGains, Monday.com, and Genesis software is a plus.
• HACCP, ServSafe, or other GMP knowledge required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience with customer-facing presentations.

Skills and Competencies

• Driven for Results: Takes ownership of work, meets deadlines, and delivers high-quality results.
• Detail-Oriented and Organized: Works efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze market trends and competitor activities.
• Strong Communicator: Able to engage with cross-functional teams at all levels.
• Self-Motivated & Enthusiastic: Quick learner with a passion for food and innovation.
• Flexible Schedule: Willing to work outside normal hours for trials and launches.
• Travel Availability: Must be open to travel as required.
• Food Enthusiast: Willing and able to eat all kinds of food and comply with GMP and food safety protocols.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, pet insurance and legal insurance
• 401(k) with company match that is immediately vested
• Company Paid Short Term Disability, Life and ADD insurance
• Unlimited paid time off (for salaried positions)
• Paid Universal Parental Leave
• Opportunities for career growth with a dynamic company that is changing the landscape of fresh meals.

Our Values at Work

We believe that ACTIONS speak louder than words and our company values align to those ACTIONS.

In Our Daily Work, This Looks Like

• ACCOUNTABILITY: Set clear objectives and prioritize your tasks Hold yourself and your teams accountable for meeting deadlines Learn from your mistakes and use it as a learning opportunity to improve next time
• CHALLENGE WITH CURIOSITY: We challenge and engage with each other through curiosity and a drive to innovate and transform. This encourages us to learn from one another, be open-minded to other perspectives and possibilities, and continuously improve and problem-solve with intensity. We persevere through challenges, observe patterns, and pay attention to the details to make connections others may overlook, allowing us to exceed expectations.
• TRANSPARENCY & HONESTY: Maintain open and consistent communication. Admit mistakes and take ownership Document decisions to help avoid misunderstandings
• INNOVATION: Work with the end-user in mind and create solutions that will add value Question existing norms, assumptions, and best practices Experiment and take calculated, data-driven risks
• OBJECTIVITY: Utilize data and make data-driven decisions at every opportunity
• NIMBLENESS: Utilize time management to help stay focused and on task with urgency es and make adjustments accordingly Delegate and trust others to handle specific responsibilities with resources and support
• SUCCESS THROUGH OUR CUSTOMERS: Know your audience and the type of work they expect to receive as the end-result of a project, initiative, or task Seek feedback at different stages to ensure you’re on the right track Foster collaboration among cross-functional teams to ensure you’re providing the best experience and service to our consumers.

Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location.  We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

#LI

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.