Senior Food Scientist

Food Scientist - Dry Blends & Seasonings

Permanent Opportunity | Relocation Assistance Available

Are you a Food Scientist who enjoys taking products from concept to commercialization? We're partnering with a growing food manufacturer seeking an Experienced Food Scientist to lead the development of innovative dry blend products, seasonings, sauces, breaders, and batters. This is a highly visible opportunity for an experienced product developer who enjoys both hands-on bench formulation and plant-scale commercialization. The ideal candidate will bring strong dry blend formulation expertise and experience supporting products through scale-up and manufacturing.

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What You'll Be Doing

- Lead the development and reformulation of seasonings, dry blends, breaders, batters, sauces, and related ingredient systems.
- Conduct hands-on bench-top formulation, product optimization, and ingredient evaluations.
- Design and execute trials focused on improving flavor, texture, functionality, shelf life, and cost efficiency.
- Drive projects from concept through commercialization, including pilot and plant trials.
- Partner closely with Operations, Quality, Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and customers.
- Provide technical leadership on innovation projects and customer-focused product development initiatives.
- Support manufacturing start-ups, scale-up activities, and process troubleshooting.
- Ensure formulations meet food safety, regulatory, and customer requirements.

Qualifications

- Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field.
- 7+ years of food product development experience (5+ years considered for highly relevant experience).
- Strong hands-on formulation experience with dry blends, seasonings, breaders, batters, sauces, or related ingredient systems.
- Experience bringing products from concept through commercialization.
- Proven experience supporting pilot trials, plant trials, and scale-up activities.
- Strong understanding of food safety, regulatory requirements, and ingredient functionality.
- Ability to manage multiple projects while collaborating across cross-functional teams.

Preferred Experience

- Customer-facing product development experience.
- Experience working with co-manufacturers.
- Technical leadership experience within R&D organizations.
- Mentoring or leading junior scientists and technicians.

Why Apply?

Permanent, direct-hire opportunity Relocation assistance available High-impact role with significant influence on product innovation Hands-on formulation and commercialization responsibilities Opportunity to work with a broad portfolio of seasonings, dry blends, breaders, batters, and sauces Visible position with cross-functional and customer interaction Work Environment The role operates in both office and laboratory settings, providing exposure to a normal office atmosphere as well as a food laboratory environment. While performing duties, the Food Scientist may work around ingredient dust, food aromas, and typical laboratory and plant noise. The position involves hands-on bench work, collaboration with cross-functional teams in office spaces, and participation in pilot and commercial production runs within manufacturing facilities.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Charlotte, NC.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $100000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Dental, health, vision--working on getting full benefits package from HR
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Charlotte,NC.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 9, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.