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Food Product Development Internship Jobs (NOW HIRING)

PR · On-site

$66.80K - $82.90K/yr

The Executive Chef - Kitchen Manager - Food Product Development role is a multifaceted leadership position responsible for overseeing all culinary operations within the kitchen while driving ...

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Food Product Development Internship information

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How much do food product development internship jobs pay per hour?

As of May 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for food product development internship in the United States is $21.19, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Food Product Development Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Food Product Development Intern, you need a background in food science or a related field, with knowledge of food safety, ingredient functionality, and basic research methods. Familiarity with lab equipment, formulation software, sensory evaluation tools, and regulatory guidelines is typically required. Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills help you work effectively on cross-functional teams and present findings. These skills are vital to innovating safe, appealing products and advancing projects from concept to market.

What are typical projects and responsibilities for a Food Product Development Intern?

As a Food Product Development Intern, you can expect to assist with a variety of hands-on projects, such as formulating new recipes, conducting sensory evaluations, and supporting shelf-life testing. You'll likely collaborate closely with food scientists, quality assurance teams, and marketing professionals to refine product concepts and ensure they meet both regulatory and consumer requirements. Interns often help with ingredient sourcing, documentation, and compiling data for analysis, providing a well-rounded experience that supports skill development and exposes you to the full product development lifecycle. This role is a great stepping stone for learning industry standards and gaining practical experience in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

What is a Food Product Development Internship?

A Food Product Development Internship is a temporary position designed for students or recent graduates interested in the food industry. Interns work alongside food scientists and product developers to create, test, and improve new food products. The role often involves tasks like sensory evaluation, recipe formulation, ingredient research, and quality control. This experience provides valuable hands-on learning about the product development process and helps interns build practical skills for future careers in food science or related fields.

What is the difference between Food Product Development Internship vs Food Product Development Coordinator?

AspectFood Product Development InternshipFood Product Development Coordinator
CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduate in food science, nutrition, or related fieldBachelor's degree in food science, culinary arts, or related field; some experience preferred
Work EnvironmentInternship setting within food companies, labs, or R&D departmentsFull-time role in food companies, overseeing product development projects
ResponsibilitiesAssisting in product testing, research, and documentationManaging product development processes, coordinating teams, and ensuring project timelines

The Food Product Development Internship is an entry-level position designed for students or recent graduates gaining hands-on experience. In contrast, the Food Product Development Coordinator is a full-time professional role with greater responsibilities in managing product projects. Both roles are essential in the food industry, but they differ mainly in experience level and scope of duties.

More about Food Product Development Internship jobs
What cities are hiring for Food Product Development Internship jobs? Cities with the most Food Product Development Internship job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Food Product Development jobs? The most popular types of Food Product Development jobs are:
What states have the most Food Product Development Internship jobs? States with the most job openings for Food Product Development Internship jobs include:
Infographic showing various Food Product Development Internship job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,083 per year, or $21.2 per hour.

Cosmetic Product Development Internship

Panther Life Sciences Corporation

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

About Panther:
Panther is unlocking the tremendous biological powers of our skin to deliver a wide range of shelf-stable treatments. Panther's precisely engineered microarray patches (MAPs) are focused on: i) Skin Health, treating coloration, wrinkles, scars, wounds, etc.; and ii) Therapeutics, treating ailments along the immunological spectrum, including infectious diseases, cancer, allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Panther's MAPs are designed to deliver superior efficacy and high levels of usage/adherence, and enable automated data integration across its ecosystem of consumers, providers and treatment developers. Panther's AI enabled platform provides personalized customer care and accelerated treatment discovery. Via advanced GMP manufacturing, direct-to-consumer distribution and consumer self-application, Panther's MAPs are affordable, simultaneously enabling universal access and commercial success. Panther is led by accomplished tech, biotech and health professionals
The Opportunity:
Panther Life Sciences is seeking a Product Development Intern to support user research and usability validation for our cosmetic microneedle array patch (MAP) platform ahead of commercialization. This role will sit at the center of product development, focusing on how consumers and dermatologists interact with at-home aesthetic devices. The intern will design and execute user interviews, conduct competitive benchmarking, and evaluate the usability of Panther's system to ensure it is intuitive, safe, and effective for self-application. This is a highly hands-on opportunity to directly influence product design, user experience, and go-to-market readiness in a fast-paced startup environment.
This is a three-month summer position commencing June 1, 2026, with a flexible end date aligned to the candidate's return to school.
Responsibilities
  • Design and execute structured user interviews to identify unmet needs, usability challenges, and pain points with existing cosmetic products
  • Recruit and manage study participants, including both consumers and dermatologists
  • Develop interview guides, observation protocols, and real-world usage scenarios
  • Conduct competitive benchmarking of at-home cosmetic and aesthetic devices
  • Administer usability evaluations of Panther's microneedle patch system with target users
  • Conduct targeted interviews with dermatologists to understand recommendation drivers and patient guidance practices
  • Synthesize qualitative research into clear, actionable design and product recommendations
  • Deliver a final report outlining usability insights, competitive findings, and prioritized improvements for the product development team

Qualifications
  • Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in Biomedical Engineering, Human Factors Engineering, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Business Administration or a related field
  • Coursework or hands-on experience in human factors, usability engineering, or user-centered design
  • Experience with structured interviews, user research, or task-based evaluation methods
  • Ability to independently recruit, schedule, and facilitate user sessions with both consumers and clinical professionals
  • Strong written communication skills with the ability to synthesize qualitative insights into actionable recommendations

Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience conducting qualitative consumer research
  • Exposure to consumer product or medical device development (internship, co-op, research, or capstone)
  • Familiarity / Interest with at-home skincare or aesthetic devices as a user or researcher
  • Familiarity / Interest with FDA human factors guidance (HFE/UE Guidance, 2016)

What We offer
  • Exposure to breakthrough health technology and insight into how next-generation drug delivery systems move from concept to product.
  • Real impact from day one. Work on projects that directly contribute to Panther's microneedle array platform and product development.
  • Hands-on experience participating in the design, development, and testing of real technologies alongside senior engineers and scientists.
  • Meaningful ownership of discrete projects with clear outcomes and the opportunity to present your work to the team.
  • Startup-level responsibility within a small, fast-moving team where your ideas and contributions genuinely matter.
  • Work alongside a small group of thoughtful, curious people who care a lot about the mission. We collaborate closely, help each other out and work together.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Panther Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or partnership status, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, or any other characteristic protected by law.