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Development Chef Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Stir Foods

Development Chef

Fullerton, CA · On-site

$70K/yr

Product Development Chef Employer Information Organization Name: Stir Foods LLC Website: www.stirfoods.com About Our Organization: We are the WOW flavor behind some of your favorite meal experiences.

KAGOME, Inc.

Business Development Chef

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$77K - $127K/yr

The Business Development Chef provides culinary leadership, engages Kagome's strategic customers in partnership with Kagome's Sales Teams, and provides product expertise in the development of world ...

Del Taco, LLC

R&D Chef

Lake Forest, CA · On-site

$89K - $110K/yr

JOB TITLE: R&D Chef FLSA STATUS: Exempt DEPARTMENT: Research and Development REPORTS TO: Director of Culinary Research & Development LOCATION: Lake Forest, CA Test Kitchen SALARY RANGE : $89,000 ...

Kagome Inc.

Business Development Chef

San Carlos, CA

The Business Development Chef provides culinary leadership, engages Kagome's strategic customers in partnership with Kagome's Sales Teams, and provides product expertise in the development of world ...

Del Taco

R&D Chef

Lake Forest, CA · On-site

$89K - $110K/yr

JOB TITLE: R&D Chef FLSA STATUS: Exempt DEPARTMENT: Research and Development REPORTS TO: Director of Culinary Research & Development LOCATION: Lake Forest, CA Test Kitchen SALARY RANGE : $89,000 ...

Lab37

Research & Development Chef

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$75K - $110K/yr

Lab37 Robotics, is a technology company focused on the development and deployment of robots designed specifically for direct-to-customer food production. Our mission is to revolutionize the food ...

KAGOME, Inc.

Business Development Manager

Los Banos, CA · On-site

$77K - $127K/yr

Cross-Functional Collaboration: • Partner with the Culinary Team, especially the Business Development Chef, to conceptualize and develop on-trend, scalable sauce solutions tailored to prospective ...

the Chef Agency

Executive Sous Chef

Palm Desert, CA

$75K - $85K/yr

Executive Sous Chef Location: Palm Desert, CA Salary: $75,000-$85,000 base + bonus eligibility ... Strong fine dining experience with a passion for culinary excellence, team development, and ...

Gecko Hospitality

Head Chef

Temecula, CA

$75K - $80K/yr

This individual will help execute the culinary vision of the Executive Chef, maintain food quality and presentation standards, support team development, and ensure smooth service in a mid volume ...

Hashiri+M

Chef

San Francisco, CA

$70K/yr

Chef - $70K | Japanese / Modern Cuisine | Reopening Restaurant Location: San Francisco, CA ... Assisting with menu and recipe development * Managing portion control, food waste, ordering, and ...

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All JobsDevelopment Chef JobsDevelopment Chef Jobs in California

Development Chef information

See California salary details

$32.6K

$76.4K

$131.3K

How much do development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for development chef in California is $76,424.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,700.00 and $89,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a development chef?

A Development Chef is a culinary professional who specializes in creating and testing new recipes, food products, and menu items for restaurants, food manufacturers, or catering businesses. They blend creativity with technical expertise to innovate dishes that meet specific market trends, dietary requirements, and brand standards. Development Chefs often work closely with food technologists, marketing teams, and suppliers to ensure new products are both delicious and commercially viable. Their work may involve research, taste testing, and refining recipes to achieve the best possible result for consumers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a development chef?

To thrive as a Development Chef, you need strong culinary expertise, creativity in recipe development, and a solid understanding of food safety regulations, often supported by formal culinary training and relevant certifications. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food production management systems, and nutritional analysis software is typically expected. Strong project management, collaboration, and communication skills set outstanding Development Chefs apart. These abilities ensure innovative yet practical menu concepts that meet business goals and delight customers.

How does a development chef collaborate with other departments to create new menu items?

A Development Chef works closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, procurement, and operations, to develop innovative menu items that align with brand objectives and operational capabilities. This often involves conducting taste panels, sourcing new ingredients, and ensuring recipes are scalable for production. Regular communication and collaboration with these departments are essential to ensure that new dishes meet cost, quality, and consistency standards before being rolled out to restaurants or retail outlets.

What is the difference between Development Chef vs Sous Chef?

AspectDevelopment ChefSous Chef
CredentialsCulinary degree, culinary certificationsCulinary degree, culinary certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch and development kitchens, innovation labsRestaurant kitchens, food service establishments
Employer & IndustryFood companies, product development firmsHotels, restaurants, catering services
Primary FocusCreating new recipes, product developmentManaging kitchen operations, preparing dishes

The main difference between a Development Chef and a Sous Chef lies in their focus and work environment. Development Chefs primarily work in research and development settings, creating new recipes and food products, while Sous Chefs are hands-on kitchen leaders managing daily kitchen operations in restaurants or hotels. Both roles require culinary credentials, but their responsibilities and workplaces differ significantly.

What do development chefs do?

Development chefs create and test new recipes, menu items, and food products for restaurants, food companies, or manufacturers. They often work in test kitchens, collaborate with culinary teams, and use their knowledge of ingredients, food trends, and food safety standards to innovate and improve offerings.

What is a typical day for a development chef?

A development chef's day involves creating and testing new recipes, developing product concepts, and collaborating with cross-functional teams such as marketing and production. They often work in a kitchen or laboratory environment, utilizing culinary skills, food science knowledge, and sometimes specialized tools or software to refine products and ensure quality standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development Chef jobs in California?

The most popular types of Development Chef jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Development Chef jobs in California?

For Development Chef jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Development Chef jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Development Chef jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Development Chef jobs?

Cities in California with the most Development Chef job openings:

Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Development Chef job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,424 per year, or $36.7 per hour.

Development Chef

Stir Foods

Fullerton, CA • On-site

$70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Product Development Chef


Employer Information



Organization Name:

Stir Foods LLC



Website:

www.stirfoods.com



About Our Organization:


We are the WOW flavor behind some of your favorite meal experiences. We are the partner to some of the most well-known names in food, food service and retail. You will find our products on fast-casual menus, frozen meals, retail deli, meal kits and RTE bagged salads.


We co-create and supply our partners with hot-cooked products including sauces, cheese sauces, soups, chilis and marinades. Our cold-processed products include dressings, sauces, spreads and batters.


We are a fast-growing food organization with 2 production facilities in So Cal.



Department:

Culinary



Reports To:

Director of Culinary R&D



Job Location:

Orange/ Fullerton, CA



Hours/Week:

Monday through Friday 40+


FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Prepared Date:

06/15/2026



Benefits



  • 401(k)
  • Dental Insurance
  • Health Insurance
  • Fringe Benefits
  • Paid Holidays

  • Free Snacks
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Paid Vacation
  • Life Insurance


Safety and Quality


Stir Foods employees are committed to safety and quality. We adhere to, promote, and improve quality and safety policies and practices within the department and throughout the facility. Safety and quality are at the forefront of our culture.


Job Purpose

Work under the direction of the Director and assigned direct reports. Position is responsible for developing samples on the bench and with training over time begin specific areas of modifying recipes, manufacturing processes, and technical documents of food products. Working with existing and newly discovered ingredients and technologies to support development of new recipes and white paper culinary concepts.


Job Functions


  • Navigate our software platforms to pull up formulas, specifications, and answer to internal emails.
  • Generate specific samples assigned by the Director and/or specific direct reports.
  • Research current consumer markets, ingredients, and technolosies to develop new product concepts.
  • Ability to create documentation to repeat processes, ensure safety and consistency as well as optimize products.
  • Create new or optimized food products on white paper concepts to present to customers based on specific requests from Director and Sales.
  • Carrying out process support and development, new product development, and documentation of quality attributes.
  • Liaising and cooperating with technical and commercial colleagues in procurement, sales, and technical services, marketing and distribution.


Competencies


  • Team Player: Great communication skills
  • Ethical: Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to set of values and accepted standards.
  • Accountable: Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/ her actions
  • Ability to inspire oneself and others to reach a goal and or perform to the best of their ability.
  • Ability to actively attend to, convey and understand the comments and questions of others.
  • Technical Aptitude: Ability to comprehend complex technical topics and specialized information.
  • Resource management (People & Equipment): Ability to obtain and appropriate the proper usage of equipment, facilities, materials, as well as personnel.
  • Applied Learning: ability to participate in needed learning activities in a way that makes the most of the learning experience.
  • Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
  • Organized: Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task
  • Process and Detail Oriented: Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
  • Safety Awareness: Ability to identify and correct conditions that affect employee safety.




Skills

  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office is needed Word, Outlook, Excel.
  • Must be able to manage multiple priorities and provide direction to accomplish tasks as necessary.
  • Strong understanding of GMP, Food Science, and Food Safety best practices.
  • Experience utilizing common kitchen equipment used for handling food the research and development process.



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Work Content

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.


Lifts Weight or Exerts Force Work Environment

The employee will occasionally lift to 15 pounds.


Visions

Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision; Distance vision; Ability to adjust focus.


Work Environment

This is a fast-paced, constantly changing environment. Warehouse, Distribution, and office centre that is subject to exposure to extreme temperature changes, moisture, noise, orders, and moving equipment.


Qualification


Qualifications


Education and Experience

Years of Experience

Minimum of 2 years’ experience in the field of Food Manufacturing, Product Development field or with a Bachelors: 12 plus months of experience in Food Manufacturing, Product Development.


Education

High School Graduate or General Education Degree: Required associate’s degree, A.A. or A.S Required Bachelor’s Degree (University or Technical School) related filed of study: Food Science, Culinary or related discipline. Food handlers’ certificate and HACCP certification preferred.


AAP/EEO Statement




Other Duties


We are an EEO employer.


Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.