Bakery Applications Scientist

Job Title: Bakery Applications Scientist Job Description
This hands-on Bakery Applications Scientist role focuses on developing and improving bakery products with a strong emphasis on formulation, scale-up, and fats and oils functionality. You will work across bench-top development, pilot trials, analytical testing, and provide technical support to internal teams and customers, helping to translate innovative concepts into successful commercial products.
Responsibilities
- Develop and optimize bakery formulations and processes to meet performance, quality, and cost targets.
- Conduct bench-top experiments to create and refine bakery products across a variety of formats.
- Plan and execute pilot trials and plant-scale testing to validate formulations and processes under manufacturing conditions.
- Analyze experimental results and adjust formulations or processes to improve product texture, performance, and quality.
- Evaluate how different fats and oils impact product texture, functionality, and overall product performance.
- Manage small-scale research and development and product development projects, ensuring timelines and objectives are met.
- Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot laboratory and pilot-scale equipment to ensure accurate and reliable testing.
- Write clear and detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs), product specifications, and technical reports.
- Prepare, package, and ship product samples to internal stakeholders and customers as needed.
- Provide technical and application support to internal teams and customers, including troubleshooting and product recommendations.
- Maintain accurate experimental records and documentation to ensure traceability and knowledge sharing.
- Apply knowledge of food safety and laboratory safety practices in all daily activities.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors or Masters degree in Food Science or a related field preferred.
- At least 3+ years of experience in bakery product development, formulation, or applications.
- Hands-on experience developing a variety of bakery products from concept through commercialization.
- Proven experience scaling formulations from bench or culinary concepts into commercial or industrial production.
- Strong understanding of bakery ingredients, formulations, processing methods, and equipment.
- Knowledge of fats and oils functionality and their impact on texture and product performance in bakery applications.
- Experience with analytical testing and the ability to interpret experimental data to drive decisions.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot formulation and process issues.
- Strong documentation skills, including maintaining detailed experimental records and writing technical reports.
- Effective communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and supporting customers.
- Knowledge of food safety and laboratory safety practices.
- Comfort working hands-on at the bench and in pilot or plant environments.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Culinary, baking, pastry, or Culinology training is a plus.
- Experience working in application development or new product development environments.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities over longer-term timelines.
- Comfort providing technical support and training to internal stakeholders and customers.
Work Environment
This is a full-time, on-site role with a typical schedule of Monday to Friday, approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility based on project needs. Project management emphasizes long-term objectives rather than daily micromanagement, offering a balance of independence and collaboration. The position operates in both standard office and manufacturing plant environments. In the plant, you may be exposed to loud noises, dust, dirt, heat, sparks, oil, and smoke. Personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, appropriate clothing, and a hard hat, is required in manufacturing areas. The role involves extended periods of both sitting and standing, as well as frequent hands-on work at the bench, in pilot facilities, and on the production floor.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Richmond, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $45.00/hr. 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. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Richmond, CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 28, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Richmond,CA. 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.