Food Scientist

Job Title: Food Scientist

Job Description

This role focuses on leading and executing product trials at commercial bakeries to qualify new suppliers and ensure that new products meet established sensory profiles and specifications. You will manage the scale-up of products from the laboratory to full manufacturing, conduct bench work and lab testing that accurately mimic factory processes, and oversee all trial-related documentation. The position requires regular travel to bakeries across the United States, independent project ownership as an R&D food scientist, and responsibility for managing ingredient specifications while supporting a high-visibility biscuit department initiative.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute trials at commercial bakeries to qualify new product suppliers.
• Ensure new products match the sensory profile and technical specifications of existing products.
• Manage the scale-up of new products from laboratory development to full manufacturing processes.
• Conduct bench work and lab testing that closely mimic the manufacturing process before factory trials.
• Plan, lead, and document pre-trial and post-trial meetings, ensuring all trial-related records are complete and accurate.
• Travel to bakeries across the United States for product trials approximately twice per month.
• Work independently as an R&D food scientist, taking ownership of projects and driving them forward to completion.
• Manage specifications for new ingredients, including creation, review, and maintenance of spec documentation.
• Apply knowledge of ingredient functionality to design, optimize, and troubleshoot formulations.
• Run trials in factory settings and pilot plants to validate product performance under manufacturing conditions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support a year-long initiative in the biscuit department and contribute to other departments as needed.
• Communicate trial results, observations, and recommendations clearly to stakeholders.
• Ensure that lab and factory trials align with safety, quality, and operational standards.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in food manufacturing, including hands-on exposure to pilot plants, manufacturing sites, and bakeries for product testing.
• Minimum of 2 years of R&D experience in a food-related environment.
• Proven experience leading and running trials in a factory setting.
• Strong bench work and laboratory testing experience, including the ability to design tests that mimic manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of specification management for ingredients and finished products.
• Solid understanding of ingredient functionality and its impact on product performance and sensory attributes.
• Experience in food manufacturing with exposure to savory products; beverage manufacturing experience is acceptable when combined with strong manufacturing experience.
• Experience in new product development and research and development within food manufacturing.
• Ability to work independently and drive R&D projects from concept through scale-up.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with commercial bakeries and large-scale food production environments.
• Comfort with frequent travel for trials and on-site collaboration at manufacturing locations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for troubleshooting formulations and processes.
• Effective communication skills for leading meetings and presenting trial results.
• Adaptability to support different product categories, including biscuits and other departments, based on business needs.
• Interest in working with well-known, recognizable consumer brands.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and trials while maintaining accurate documentation and specifications.

Work Environment

This role operates within a dynamic food manufacturing and R&D environment that combines laboratory work, pilot plant activities, and factory-floor trials. You will follow a hybrid schedule, typically spending 34 days per week in the office when not traveling, with approximately two trips per month to bakeries across the United States for trials. While on site, you will have access to laboratory equipment, manufacturing facilities, and pilot plant resources to conduct bench work and scale-up activities. The workplace offers practical amenities such as free lunch for contractors and employees Monday through Friday and espresso machines available to everyone. Travel arrangements for trials can be booked through the internal travel team or paid upfront by you and reimbursed according to policy. The environment emphasizes collaboration across departments, with opportunities to support a year-long biscuit department project and potentially move into other areas or permanent roles based on performance, all while working with exciting and widely recognized food brands.

This is a Contract position based out of East Hanover, NJ.

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $37.00/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)

This is a Contract position based out of East Hanover, NJ.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 5, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in East Hanover,NJ.

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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com 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.