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Food Product Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Inventure

Product Manager

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

Fremont, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

Alameda, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

Hayward, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

Sonoma, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

San Jose, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Inventure

Product Manager

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

... of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill ... You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering ...

Disney Experiences

Lead Product Manager

Glendale, CA

$148K - $198K/yr

... Food & Beverage, Resorts & Transportation, and Merchandise lines of business as well as other ... Collaborate with Engineering and QA to deliver product releases and updates, ensuring timely and ...

StudyFetch

Product Intern

Beverly Hills, CA · On-site

$3.5K/mo

Collaborate with product, engineering, and design to define and refine requirements as an idea ... PERKS Food Complimentary dinner every night past 6pm + lunch every Friday Location Beverly Hills ...

Oobli

Food Technologist, Product Development

Davis, CA · On-site

$60K - $90K/yr

Food Technologist, Product Development Davis, CA, Full-time, on-site Role Description You will be a ... We're a team of biologists, engineers, food-lovers, health advocates & environmentalists on a ...

Grindr

Senior Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$134K - $178K/yr

Designers here work directly alongside product and engineering leadership - shaping what gets built ... Monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch About ...

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All JobsFood Product Developer JobsFood Product Developer Jobs in California

Food Product Developer information

See California salary details

$26.2K

$96.1K

$205.3K

How much do food product developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for food product developer in California is $96,104.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,100.00 and $115,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a food product developer do?

A Food Product Developer creates and improves food products by researching ingredients, testing formulations, and ensuring quality and safety standards. They work closely with food scientists, marketers, and manufacturers to bring new products to market. Their role involves sensory testing, cost analysis, and compliance with food regulations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a food product developer?

To thrive as a Food Product Developer, a strong background in food science, nutrition, and culinary arts—often supported by a related degree—is essential. Experience with formulation software, sensory evaluation techniques, and familiarity with food safety regulations or certifications like HACCP are highly valued. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and responding to market trends. These qualifications allow professionals to successfully develop innovative, safe, and market-ready food products in a dynamic industry.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a food product developer?

A Food Product Developer typically spends their days researching food trends, conceptualizing new or improved recipes, and running tests in laboratory kitchens to refine formulations. They work closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, quality assurance, and production, to ensure products meet both consumer expectations and regulatory standards. Regular tasks also involve sensory evaluations, sourcing new ingredients, and documenting product specifications. This collaborative and hands-on environment provides a dynamic mix of creative and scientific work, making each day varied and engaging.

How to become a food product developer?

To become a food product developer, typically a bachelor's degree in food science, nutrition, or a related field is required. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions in food manufacturing or research helps develop skills in product formulation, testing, and quality control. Knowledge of food safety regulations and proficiency with product development tools are also important for success in this role.

What degree do you need to be a food product developer?

A food product developer typically needs at least a bachelor's degree in food science, nutrition, culinary arts, or a related field. Relevant skills include knowledge of food safety, product formulation, and laboratory techniques, and some positions may prefer candidates with a master's degree or industry certifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Food Product Developer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Food Product Developer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Food Product Developer jobs in California?

For Food Product Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Food Product Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Food Product Developer jobs in California are:

Food Product Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Food Product Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,104 per year, or $46.2 per hour.

Product Manager

Inventure

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$185K - $215K/yr

Other

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Product Manager, Commercial Hardware | San Francisco Bay Area (Onsite) | $185K–$215K base


We've partnered with a well-resourced hardware company on a mission to take a serious bite out of food waste, turning everyday kitchen scraps into a reusable resource rather than landfill. Having proven the concept in the home, they are now bringing the technology into commercial kitchens: restaurants, institutional food service, and beyond. It is a real, physical product moving from late-stage development into commercial launch, with early customers already in the field and a roadmap of new SKUs and accessories ahead.


This is a rare opportunity to own a commercial hardware program end to end, from current development through customer launch to the next generation of products. You'll be accountable for defining what the product should do and why, then keeping Engineering, Operations and Sales rowing in the same direction week after week. It is a true execution seat for someone who loves the details, thrives on hard tradeoffs, and gets energy from closing the loop between the field and the factory.


The Role

As a Product Manager, Commercial Hardware, you will:


  • Define and maintain clear product requirements across the full cycle, from the current hardware phase through commercial launch, grounded in customer needs, field learnings and business constraints.
  • Partner deeply with Mechanical, Electrical, Systems and Firmware Engineering and with Industrial Design so the product looks, feels and performs the way commercial customers expect.
  • Champion cost, user experience, serviceability and reliability, making and documenting the hard product decisions in weekly hardware and program reviews.
  • Turn field learnings into improvements fast with Operations, and translate what early customers need into deployment-ready requirements with Sales.
  • Own the roadmap beyond Gen 1, including accessories, and define the metrics that track both development and in-market performance.


About You

  • You have 5 to 7 years in product management, with at least 3 on hardware or electromechanical products, and you've taken a product through late-stage development, pilot and into commercial deployment.
  • You're a strong cross-functional executor with real executive presence: you keep Engineering, Operations and Sales aligned, run meetings that produce clear decisions, and communicate cleanly both up to leadership and down to the ground.
  • You have genuine technical depth: comfortable in a room full of engineers, able to engage on tradeoffs and knowing when to escalate, even though you're not designing the hardware yourself.
  • You've supported early field deployments, you know what breaks in the real world, and you close the feedback loop quickly.
  • One of these backgrounds fits you: a PM from large-scale commercial hardware where you owned the whole product end to end, for example commercial coffee or brewing equipment, aerial or nautical drones, ebikes, or powered mopeds. Large scale plus full ownership is what matters, so consumer handheld devices or single-module automotive experience alone won't be enough.


Nice to have: experience with commercial food service, institutional kitchens or food waste equipment; field-serviceable or IoT-connected hardware; or time at an early-stage hardware startup.


You'll be based in the San Francisco Bay Area, or ready to relocate there, and comfortable working onsite. Candidates already authorised to work in the US are ideal; a visa situation is not an automatic barrier, though straightforward authorisation is preferred given current processing timelines.


The team is moving quickly with this hire. If you're interested in owning a commercial hardware roadmap that turns food waste into something useful and scaling it into a new market, apply now or send your CV directly to will@inventurerecruitment.com.

Apply