Product Development Scientist

About the position

Provide strategic support through continuous improvement of the manufacturing operation for delivering productivity, technical expertise, formulation management, and quality control adherence. This role also provides processing and dairy troubleshooting and training support to all members of the Plant manufacturing team.

Responsibilities

• Document and publish formulation changes surrounding cottage cheese and sour cream products and in-process streams.
• Publish supporting compositional and textural target range and specification data.
• Collaborate with R&D, QC, and Technical Services departments for formulation studies and reviews.
• Calculate and publish expected nutritional declaration shifts correlating to each proposed formulation change or adjustment in raw material or in-process stream usage.
• Maintain and enhance product formulation programs.
• Validate unit operation performance and process change responses, ensuring the identity and functionality of product streams.
• Plan and lead large-scale trials; work with processing and packaging operators to execute trial demands; prepare post-trial recaps and study while collaborating with QC and R&D departments.
• Analyze samples from in-process and finished product streams to support process and product improvements, including procurement of trial sampling and studies, validations, and sales/marketing samples when needed.
• Serve as a key technical resource for Plant operations, providing guidance and support to the Processing, QC, Packaging, Sanitation, and Maintenance departments.
• Design, prepare, and execute benchtop trials aimed at solving and providing solutions for manufacturing, quality, and dairy science unknowns.
• Determine key correlations and trends present in existing data collected from both the LIMS system and daily production logs to troubleshoot processes and develop solutions to irregularities.
• Serve as liaison for the Plant's product gradings. Provide feedback and trends in product performance to the Plant team, Technical Services, and R&D.
• Publish technical reports to raise awareness and highlight findings to the plant personnel.

Requirements

• B.S. / M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or a related engineering/science discipline.
• 5+ years of industry experience in Food and Beverage, preferably with Experience in dairy.
• Certification in process capability (Six Sigma, etc.) is preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Chemical engineering
• Chemical
• Chemistry
• Process safety management
• Safety
• Validation
• Process chemistry
• Hazard analysis
• Research & development
• GMP

Benefits

• A no-deductible, $0 premium option for employee-only health coverage.
• 401(k) with 50% company match on first 8% of earnings you contribute.
• Safe harbor and profit-sharing company contributions to 401(k).
• Company paid short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Company paid 2X annual salary life and AD&D insurance.
• 4 weeks annual paid time off.
• Extra time off for volunteering.