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Culinary Research Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kettle Cuisine

Culinary R&D Specialist

Lynn, MA

$36K - $48K/yr

Job SummaryThe Culinary R&D Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting research and development chefs in creating innovative products. Responsibilities include maintaining a clean and organized ...

KETTLE CUISINE LLC

Culinary R&D Specialist

Lynn, MA · On-site

$50K - $65K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Culinary R&D Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting research and development chefs in creating innovative products. Responsibilities include maintaining a clean and organized ...

KETTLE CUISINE LLC

Culinary R&D Specialist

Lynn, MA

$36K - $48K/yr

JOB SUMMARY The Culinary R&D Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting research and development chefs in creating innovative products. Responsibilities include maintaining a clean and organized ...

Acxion

Culinary R&D Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80K - $90K/yr

ABOUT THE ROLE We're seeking a highly creative, client-facing, and commercially minded Culinary R&D Manager to join our culinary innovation team. This role sits at the intersection of culinary ...

TATSU-YA

Research & Development (R&D) Sous Chef

Austin, TX · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

From new ramen builds and seasonal specials to innovative culinary concepts, our R&D team helps shape the future of the brand. If you're passionate about food, creativity, and culinary innovation, we ...

Del Taco

R&D Associate Manager

Lake Forest, CA · On-site

$89K - $110K/yr

Director of Culinary Research & Development SALARY RANGE : $89,000 - $110,000 / Annual Position Summary: Seeking an innovative product developer with a growth mindset and a desire to create and ...

Del Taco, LLC

R&D Associate Manager

Lake Forest, CA · On-site

$89K - $110K/yr

Director of Culinary Research & Development SALARY RANGE : $89,000 - $110,000 / Annual Position Summary: Seeking an innovative product developer with a growth mindset and a desire to create and ...

Crumbl

Research & Development Chef

Provo, UT · On-site

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Formal culinary degree/education is required * An understanding of general food science * Exemplary ...

Crumbl

Research & Development Chef

Provo, UT · On-site

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Formal culinary degree/education is required * An understanding of general food science * Exemplary ...

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How much do culinary research development jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary research development in the United States is $26.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.23 and $30.77 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced in a Culinary Research Development role and how can they be overcome?

Professionals in Culinary Research Development often encounter challenges such as balancing creativity with cost-effectiveness, adapting recipes for large-scale production, and meeting diverse dietary requirements. Collaboration with cross-functional teams—like marketing, nutrition, and manufacturing—is essential to ensure that products are innovative yet feasible. Staying up-to-date with food trends and consumer preferences also requires ongoing research and flexibility. Success in this role often depends on strong project management skills and open communication within the team.

What Are Culinary Research and Development Jobs?

Culinary research and development jobs focus on using food science and the culinary arts to create new food and drink options for a menu. Common job titles include research chef, culinary research and development specialist, and culinary research and development chef. In any of these roles, you may select the ingredients for each recipe, help determine whether or not a dish should go on the menu, and focus on using innovation during the R&D process to meet the company's goals. This job has two major components. First, on the culinary side, your job is to create the best dishes you can. On the other hand, employers also expect you to consider the practical and business aspects of a dish. This includes how costly the ingredients are, how easy the ingredients are to get, whether or not it's possible to work the ingredients into a supply chain, and how easy it is for another chef to replicate the dish in a timely manner.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Culinary Research Development, and why are they important?

To excel in Culinary Research Development, a strong background in culinary arts, food science, and recipe formulation—often supported by a relevant degree or certification—is essential. Familiarity with food safety regulations, sensory evaluation tools, and product development software is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication set outstanding professionals apart in this field. These skills are crucial for innovating new food products that are both safe and appealing, while meeting industry standards and consumer needs.

What is the difference between Culinary Research Development vs Food Scientist?

AspectCulinary Research DevelopmentFood Scientist
CredentialsCooking and culinary certifications, culinary degreesFood science degrees, certifications in food safety
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, culinary labs, product development kitchensLaboratories, manufacturing facilities, research centers
Industry UsageFood companies, restaurants, product development firmsFood manufacturing, research institutions, quality control

While Culinary Research Development focuses on creating and testing new recipes and culinary concepts, Food Scientists analyze food properties, safety, and quality. Both roles often collaborate but serve different primary functions within the food industry.

What is Culinary Research and Development?

Culinary Research and Development (R&D) is a specialized field that focuses on creating, testing, and improving food products, recipes, and cooking techniques. Professionals in this area work in various settings, such as food manufacturing companies, restaurants, and test kitchens, to innovate and develop new menu items or packaged foods. They blend culinary creativity with scientific principles to ensure products are safe, tasty, and marketable. Culinary R&D often involves collaborating with chefs, food scientists, and marketing teams to bring new food concepts to life.
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Culinary Research Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Research Development job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $54,192 per year, or $26.1 per hour.
Culinary R&D Chef/Quality Assurance Lead

Culinary R&D Chef/Quality Assurance Lead

Wow Bao

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Join Wow Bao in this newly created role as the Culinary R&D and Quality Assurance Lead in Chicago, IL. You'll work closely with the VP of Culinary to test and perfect new menu items while refining existing products to meet our high standards for taste, quality, safety, and scalability. This role combines culinary expertise with food science, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration to support product commercialization and continuous improvement initiatives.
The Culinary R&D and Quality Assurance Lead will report to the Vice President of Culinary. The position is on-site five days a week, with overnight travel to our facility and co-packers. Our Chicago office is in the River North neighborhood.
If you strive in a fast-paced environment, love bringing ideas to life, and want to make an impact on a growing brand, this is a unique opportunity to lead and create!
Innovative. Fast Pace. Growth.
At Wow Bao, we believe food should be bold, exciting, and anything but ordinary. We're on a mission to reinvent the Asian Street Food experience-bringing inventive flavors and high-quality ingredients to every bite.
As the fastest-growing Frozen Asian Snack brand in the U.S., Wow Bao achieved over 370% retail sales growth in 2024, and our products are now available in 16,000+ grocery stores nationwide thanks to strong partnerships with leading retailers.
Our journey began in 2003 with the opening of our first restaurant, and today Wow Bao is a thriving omni-channel brand with a presence in Chicago restaurants, airports, virtual kitchens, and universities. We continue to expand across all verticals-including foodservice, retail, and corporate operations.
Wow Bao is proud to be the only brand recognized three times by Fast Casual magazine as a Top 100 Movers & Shakers-earning the #1 spot in both 2019 and 2022, and #4 in 2023. This recognition reflects our commitment to innovation, growth, and excellence in what we do.
Join us and be part of a team that's transforming the way the world experiences Asian cuisine-one bao at a time.
We foster a culture of caring.
Whether it's our guests or our employees, we put people first. We strive to inspire, to motivate, and to appreciate one another every day. We live by the golden rule and treat everyone with kindness, empathy, respect, and a healthy dose of humor. We take our work, not ourselves, seriously.
Requirements
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (Other duties will be assigned as needed)
CULINARY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
  • Participate in R&D projects in collaboration with the Vice President of Culinary to design, develop and test new recipes and food products that align with Wow Bao's brand identity.
  • Lead new menu product development, cost optimization, and creation of formulas, recipes, and applications.
  • Translate culinary concepts into scalable manufacturing processes while maintaining flavor integrity.
  • Monitor food industry trends and consumer preferences to inform product pipeline.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g. procurement, operations, supply chain, quality assurance, and marketing) to ensure successful product launches.
  • Standardize recipes, including documentation of ingredients, preparation methods, and portioning.
  • Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, nutrition guidelines, and company standards.
  • Analyze cost structures and optimize recipes to meet budget and margin targets.
  • Manage kitchen trials, pilot runs, and product scale-up activities.

QUALITY ASSURANCE
  • Collaborate with the team on daily operations focused on process improvements, while approving the taste, texture, size, and shape of all products to ensure quality and consistency.
  • Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure all products meet food safety, regulatory, and company quality standards.
  • Work with team to address product defects, implement corrective actions, and ensuring continuous improvement in product quality.
  • Partner with Operations to optimize production workflow, and capacity planning to optimize efficiency and meet demand.
  • Maintain accurate records of recipes, formulations, and testing results for compliance and reproducibility.
  • Provide culinary guidance and training to the production team on existing and new product launches.
  • Promote a positive work culture, providing guidance and motivation to employees while ensuring that they understand and follow goals and standards.
  • Ensure all products are manufactured in accordance with company specifications, quality standards, and food safety regulations (UDSA, FDA, HACCP, and GMP).
  • Champion plant safety efforts, ensuring that all safety policies and procedures are followed to maintain a safe working environment.
  • Collaborate with the team for continuous improvements in lean manufacturing practices to increase plant efficiency and reduce waste.

REQUIREMENTS:
  • 5+ years of progressive experience in culinary R&D, quality assurance, food manufacturing, test kitchen, corporate chef or large-scale food service operations.
  • Bachelor's degree in food science, culinary arts or equivalent professional training preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of food science, flavor development, and manufacturing processes.
  • Passion for culinary innovation and ability to balance creativity with operational feasibility.
  • Strong understanding of food safety regulations (USDA, FDA), quality standards (HACCP, GMP) and manufacturing processes.
  • Ability to generate and implement creative culinary solutions.
  • Ensures accuracy in recipes, processes, and documentation.
  • Overnight travel is required to our facility in Forest City, North Carolina as well as to our co-packer facilities.
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
  • Must be able to navigate all areas of the production facility
  • Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting to 50 pounds at a time.
  • Ability to work in various environments including cold environments for extended periods.
  • Tolerance for exposure to kitchen conditions, including heat, cold environments, noise, and sharp equipment.

Compensation for this position is between $90,000.00 to $100,000.00 per year.
Wow Bao is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Benefits
  • Competitive salary
  • Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Voluntary Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability
  • Domestic Partner Benefits
  • Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
  • Restaurant Discounts
  • Employee Discount Programs
  • We foster a culture of CARE

Apply