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Baking Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Serving as a recognized technical expert in wet-popped and air-popped popcorn, baking science, tortilla chips, potato chips, expanded snacks, and emerging snack forms, this role leads complex product ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$105K - $147K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, or related field. A combination of education ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$105K - $147K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in Food science, Food Engineering, or a related field. A combination of education ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Sacramento, CA ยท On-site +1

$102K - $142K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, or related field. A combination of education ...

Senior Food Scientist

Aurora, CO ยท On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

Degree in Food Science / Food Engineering with a strong functional Baking Science background. 5 8 years' experience in manufacturing required. * Experience with designing and working on new products ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$105K - $147K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, or related field. A combination of education ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$105K - $147K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, or related field. A combination of education ...

Teacher - Production Baking

Lisbon, WI ยท On-site +1

$30 - $35.76/hr

OR At least 3.5 years (7,000 hours) of documented professional baking experience making a variety of bakery products, with a demonstrated understanding of the science of baking. At least one (1) year ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$105K - $147K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in Food science, Food Engineering, or a related field. A combination of education ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Sacramento, CA ยท On-site

$102K - $142K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, or related field. A combination of education ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$105K - $147K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in Food science, Food Engineering, or a related field. A combination of education ...

Baking Technology Specialist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$105K - $147K/yr

Baking technical support to Bimbo Bakeries USA and Co-Pack Breads, Buns, and Breakfast. Support ... Bachelor's degree in Food science, Food Engineering, or a related field. A combination of education ...

Showing results 21-40

Baking Scientist information

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$37K

$91K

$160K

How much do baking scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for baking scientist in the United States is $90,961.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $100,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a baking scientist?

Baking Scientists are professionals who apply principles of chemistry, biology, and food science to understand and improve baking processes and products. They work on developing new recipes, enhancing the nutritional value, texture, and shelf life of baked goods, and solving technical challenges in large-scale baking operations. Baking Scientists often collaborate with bakers, food technologists, and quality assurance teams in both research and production settings. Their expertise helps ensure the safety, consistency, and innovation of products found in bakeries and grocery stores.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a baking scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Baking Scientist, you need a solid background in food science, chemistry, and baking technology, often supported by a relevant degree such as food science or chemistry. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, analytical software, and food safety certifications like HACCP is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong problem-solving skills help distinguish professionals in this role. These skills are crucial for developing innovative baked products, ensuring product quality, and maintaining safety standards in food production.

What are some common challenges baking scientists face when developing new baked products?

Baking Scientists often encounter challenges when balancing ingredient functionality, product texture, and shelf life while meeting consumer expectations for taste and nutritional value. They must carefully experiment with ingredient substitutions, such as alternative flours or sweeteners, to achieve the desired product quality without compromising consistency or safety. Collaborating closely with product development teams, sensory panels, and production staff is essential to address formulation issues and scale recipes from the lab to commercial production. This dynamic process requires adaptability, problem-solving skills, and a strong understanding of both food science and baking techniques.

What are popular job titles related to Baking Scientist jobs?

For Baking Scientist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Principal Scientist Salty

Hershey, PA โ€ข On-site

Hersheys
Health Care and Social Assistanceย โ€ขย 10K+ employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Location: Hershey, PA

Why Hershey:

At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey's enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and long standing partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference-locally and globally-is part of how we do business every day.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands. With a strong portfolio across chocolate, confectionery, and salty snacks, Hershey delights consumers every day. Our beloved brands include Hershey's, Reese's, KitKat, Dots Pretzels, Lesser Evil, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, and more.

At Hershey, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities where we live, work, and do business. This commitment originated with our founder, Milton Hershey, and continues to shape who we are today.

Guided by our employee value proposition, Lead Today. Create Tomorrow, we empower our people to drive impact now while shaping what comes next. Our One Hershey mindset brings teams together across functions, geographies, and businesses, enabling us to operate with speed, collaboration, and shared purpose.

The Hershey Company is proud to be recognized as a top employer in the United States, reflecting our commitment to our people, culture, and purpose.ย 

How will you fit in the big picture?

The Principal Scientist, Salty Snacks, is a senior technical leader within the Technical Product Development & Optimization organization, responsible for driving innovation, product development, and process optimization across a diverse portfolio of snack platforms. Serving as a recognized technical expert in wet-popped and air-popped popcorn, baking science, tortilla chips, potato chips, expanded snacks, and emerging snack forms, this role leads complex product and process development initiatives from concept through commercialization. The position integrates advanced scientific, regulatory, consumer, operational, and business considerations to develop differentiated products that enhance performance, quality, safety, manufacturability, and market relevance.

The role provides technical leadership across cross-functional teams, guiding strategic technical decisions, resolving complex development challenges, and influencing the long-term direction of product, process, and technology platforms. Working closely with partners across Marketing, Consumer Insights, Quality, Engineering, Procurement, and Operations, the Principal Scientist shapes innovation pipelines, supports commercialization and capability-building efforts, and ensures alignment between technical solutions and business objectives. Through technical mentorship, thought leadership, and the application of emerging technologies and advanced methodologies, this role strengthens organizational capability, advances technical excellence, and contributes to the long-term growth strategy of the Salty Snacks business.

What will you do?
  • Provide technical leadership for complex salty snack product development initiatives, ensuring products meet consumer, market, regulatory, quality, cost, and manufacturing requirements. Apply scientific expertise and evidence-based decision making to develop differentiated, scalable solutions that support business growth and category objectives.
  • Serve as the subject matter expert across core salty snack technologies, including wet-popped popcorn, air-popped popcorn, baking science, tortilla chips, potato chips, expanded snacks, and emerging snack platforms. Leverage deep technical knowledge to solve complex product and process challenges, advance innovation, and guide strategic technical decisions.
  • Lead formulation development, process optimization, and commercialization activities from concept through launch. Oversee prototyping, ingredient system development, pilot plant trials, scale-up activities, and factory implementation to deliver products that meet performance, quality, cost, sustainability, and manufacturability objectives.
  • Develop and maintain technical specifications, standards, and documentation for ingredients, products, and manufacturing processes that ensure regulatory compliance, quality consistency, operational effectiveness, and alignment with global manufacturing capabilities.
  • Drive technical strategy and innovation pipeline development by partnering with commercial, consumer insights, quality, engineering, procurement, and operations teams to assess opportunities, prioritize initiatives, manage technical risk, and establish executable pathways for near- and mid-term innovation.
  • Apply advanced scientific and data-driven methodologies to improve product performance, sensory experience, shelf life, manufacturing efficiency, and process capability, while identifying and implementing emerging technologies and innovative approaches.
  • Support capital projects, equipment selection, and manufacturing capability development through a strong understanding of process-product interactions, processing technologies, and operational requirements.
  • Influence organizational technical capability and thought leadership by identifying systemic challenges, developing innovative solutions, and advocating for new technologies, modernized methods, and best practices that strengthen competitive advantage.
  • Mentor and develop scientists, engineers, and technicians, fostering technical excellence, critical thinking, and capability growth across the organization. Serve as a technical resource and representative in internal forums, supplier collaborations, and external industry engagements.
Minimum Education & Requirements

Experience

  • 7-10+ years of experience in food R&D, preferably within salty snacks, cereals, extrusion, frying, or baking.
  • Deep technical expertise in popcorn, chips, baked snacks, and expanded systems.
  • Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, frying, extrusion, thermal processing, and baking systems.
  • Demonstrated excellence in commercialization and pilot-to-plant scale-up.
  • Strong business acumen, communication, and cross-functional leadership.
  • Expert-level understanding of at least three of the following areas: popcorn technology, baking science, chip manufacturing, extrusion/expansion, fats/oils chemistry, thermal processing.
  • Demonstrated success leading complex product and process development projects.
  • Strong problem-solving skills with ability to apply scientific principles to manufacturing environments.
  • Excellent communication, leadership, and influencing skills.

Preferred

  • Experience with commercialization in multiple manufacturing plants.
  • Strong background in ingredient functionality, starch/protein chemistry, and textural science.
  • Experience using analytical tools including rheology, thermal analysis, and microstructure characterization.
  • Track record of innovation, patents, or breakthrough product launches.
  • Demonstrated people leadership, talent development, and team engagement capability.

Educationย 

  • MS or PhD in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Grain Science, or a related discipline.
  • Will consider Bachelors in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Grain Science, or a related discipline with 12 - 15ย years experience minimum.ย 
Benefits and Perks

At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.

  • Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental healthย 
  • Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company matchย 
  • Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicableย 
  • Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobilityย 

Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.ย 

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans. ย 

You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.
You can request an accommodation via phone or email. ย 

To request an accommodation via phone, please call +1 877-804-1794 and leave a voicemail with your contact information. ย You may also email a request for accommodation to ApplicationHelp@hersheys.com. Please be sure to include "Accommodation Needed" in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.

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