Principal Scientist (Liquid Product Development)
Job Description
Principal Scientist (Liquid Product Development)
Ready to shape the future of shelf-stable innovation? You will serve as a technical subject matter expert in the development and commercialization of shelf-stable liquid food products. This role requires deep expertise in formulation, processing (thermal / non-thermal), and shelf-life stability, combined with strong manufacturing integration, direct customer engagement, and project leadership capabilities.
This role is on-site; travel is required up to 30% with the majority being local.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Leadership & Product Development
- Serve as a recognized subject matter expert in food science, chemistry, and product development with a focus on shelf-stable liquid systems (e.g., emulsions, sauces, dressings, beverages).
- Lead formulation development from concept through commercialization, ensuring products meet customer expectations, sensory, quality, cost, and shelf-life objectives.
- Apply advanced understanding of microbiological stability, water activity, pH control, thermal processing, and preservation systems to ensure product safety and compliance.
- Drive troubleshooting and optimization efforts for formulas, process, and ingredient functionality.
Manufacturing Integration
- Partner closely with operations to scale formulations from bench to plant, ensuring manufacturability and efficiency.
- Demonstrate working knowledge of processing technologies.
- Lead plant trials, establish product specifications, and process validation.
Project & Portfolio Leadership
- Take part in cross-functional teams across short- and long-term innovation and commercialization projects. Teams will consist of customer personnel, company personnel and in some cases, competitor personnel.
- Manage multiple concurrent projects with compressed timelines and delivery accountability.
Customer & Commercial Engagement
- Interface directly with customers to understand technical requirements, present solutions, and resolve product challenges.
- Translate customer needs into actionable development strategies and deliver commercially viable outcomes.
- Possess communication skills to support customer presentations with technical commentary and data-back decision making.
People Development & Knowledge Leadership
- Mentor and coach junior scientists to help contribute personnel development within the R&D organization.
- Promote best practices and continuous improvement within product development and commercialization processes.
**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Jeff Fee at jfee@cps4jobs.com.
Salary
$110,000 - $125,000 + Bonus
Benefits Available
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline.
- Minimum 10+ years of direct, hands-on R&D experience in shelf-stable liquid food or beverage development.
- Proven experience scaling products from bench to full manufacturing, including plant trial leadership.
- Direct experience interfacing with customers in a technical capacity (co-development, troubleshooting, presentations).
Preferred:
- Advanced degree in Food Science or related field.
- Experience in high-paced, customer-driven product development environments (e.g., B2B ingredient or food manufacturing companies).
**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Jeff Fee at jfee@cps4jobs.com.
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