Research & Development Scientist

Research & Development Scientist – Rockford, Illinois Area (Onsite)

About Our Client:
Our client is a dairy-focused food and beverage manufacturer committed to high standards of food safety and quality. The organization promotes a safe, inclusive, respectful, and meaningful workplace centered on continuous improvement and innovation.

What Our Client Offers You:

• Salary: $90,000-130,000
• Medical Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are offered.
• 401(k) Benefits: 401(k) benefits are offered
• Paid Time Off: Holiday, vacation, and sick leave details are not specified.
• Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance is provided.

What You’ll Do:
As the Research and Development Scientist, you’ll play a vital role in bringing innovative dairy-based beverages and cheese products from concept through commercialization. You’ll combine food science expertise with hands-on product development, collaborating with customers and internal teams to create safe, high-quality products and support successful production trials.

• Develop new products, optimize existing products, and adapt customer formulas while producing and evaluating benchtop samples for customer shipment.
• Establish formulas and processes for plant trials and production, partnering with Operations, Procurement, and Quality on pilot, production, customer, and thermal process testing.
• Create product specifications, ingredient statements, and Nutrition Facts panels while ensuring compliance with applicable FDA and USDA requirements.
• Build strong relationships with customers and Sales by providing timely product information, technical support, and effective communication throughout development projects.
• Support Operations with troubleshooting, technical leadership, laboratory and pilot equipment oversight, and production trials in a 24/7 operation.
• Assist with thermal processing studies, maintain documentation for formulas and product parameters, and help ensure compliance with low-acid canned food requirements.

Qualifications You Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition, or a related field; a master’s degree in Dairy Science is preferred.
• At least 3 years of dairy food or beverage research and development experience, with food product development and commercialization experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of emulsions, milk and whey proteins, food safety, allergens, and flavor evaluation; retort experience is desired.
• Ability to maintain and operate laboratory and pilot equipment and work effectively in a production environment.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and web-based systems skills; excellent project management, organizational, communication, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.

How to Apply: If you like what you see here, please Apply Now to submit your resume. A real, live Kinsa Group Recruiter, Lily Fager, will review your information and get in touch if we think you’re a great fit. But, if you’d rather, please drop an email to Recruiter@kinsa.com.

Recruiter Information:
Lily Fager
lilyf@kinsa.com