Food Scientist

Food Scientist - Innovation Location: Oak Brook, IL (Onsite Only)Compensation: $110,000-$130,000 + bonusSchedule: Full-time, onsite role with regular lab and plant floor involvementSummaryThis role is with a long-standing manufacturer of snack products, known for consistent quality and strong customer relationships. The company has been around for 67 years, and while deeply rooted in tradition, the organization is undergoing a meaningful shift and investing in new technology, creative marketing, and smarter product development strategies.They're building something sustainable for the next century, starting with a new approach to R&D. With stable ownership, a clear product identity, and a growing innovation mindset, this is a place where your work will be noticed-and matter.ResponsibilitiesLead day-to-day technical activity in the lab, benchtop testing, formulation, and sample preparationOversee reformulation efforts to improve texture, shelf life, and costWork with operations on formulations to remove dyes and natural flavoringsPartner with production to ensure manufacturing compatibility and run efficiencyManage pilot trials and scale-up, troubleshooting issues as neededSupport testing for sensory evaluations, nutritional labeling, and regulatory needsMaintain clean, organized project tracking in Excel including version control, formulation logs, and trial resultsServe as the go-to technical expert and partner with the Director of R&D for long-term planningRequirementsBS degree in Food Science or related science field is required7+ years in food scientist technical work, and R&D experiencePrefer 2+ years working on snacks, confectionary, desserts, baked goods, or related productsStrong understanding of product development lifecycle in a manufacturing environmentAble to take creative direction and translate it into technical executionComfortable working both in the lab and on the floor with operators and production staffExperience with contract manufacturing and vendor collaboration is preferredSkilled at juggling multiple projects and timelines with minimal supervisionConfident communicator who can break down technical topics for non-technical teammates