1

Food Product Development Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

The Senior Food Scientist is a hands-on technical leader responsible for driving the development ... Reporting to the VP of R&D, this role owns projects from concept through production scale-up, leads ...

The Senior Food Scientist is a hands-on technical leader responsible for driving the development ... Reporting to the VP of R&D, this role owns projects from concept through production scale-up, leads ...

Manager in Training OR

Corvallis, OR · On-site

$19 - $28.38/hr

... food/product matters in the HOH area, HOH staff planning and HOH Team Member development. They must maintain a safe environment and improve bottom line profitability through appropriate revenue and ...

Manager in Training OR

Medford, OR · On-site

$19 - $28.38/hr

... food/product matters in the HOH area, HOH staff planning and HOH Team Member development. They must maintain a safe environment and improve bottom line profitability through appropriate revenue and ...

... food/product matters in the HOH area, HOH staff planning and HOH Team Member development. They must maintain a safe environment and improve bottom line profitability through appropriate revenue and ...

Manager in Training OR

Portland, OR · On-site

$19 - $28.38/hr

... food/product matters in the HOH area, HOH staff planning and HOH Team Member development. They must maintain a safe environment and improve bottom line profitability through appropriate revenue and ...

Manager in Training OR

Tualatin, OR · On-site

$19 - $28.38/hr

... food/product matters in the HOH area, HOH staff planning and HOH Team Member development. They must maintain a safe environment and improve bottom line profitability through appropriate revenue and ...

Manager in Training OR

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$19 - $28.38/hr

... food/product matters in the HOH area, HOH staff planning and HOH Team Member development. They must maintain a safe environment and improve bottom line profitability through appropriate revenue and ...

Manager in Training OR

Salem, OR · On-site

$19 - $28.38/hr

... food/product matters in the HOH area, HOH staff planning and HOH Team Member development. They must maintain a safe environment and improve bottom line profitability through appropriate revenue and ...

... Product Development with an emphasis on continuous improvement, consumer/customer requirements, and continuous product quality. Act as the official back-up for the Plant Quality and Food Safety ...

Sr. Food Safety Specialist

Canby, OR · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Supervise daily QA and food safety activities, including oversight, training, and development of the quality team * Monitor production, laboratory, and microbiological results to verify product ...

Production Associate I

Eugene, OR · On-site

$15 - $19/hr

... and food); product availability and quality; efficiency of production; and development of people and processes in all activities in the Production Department while actively striving to help the ...

Showing results 21-40

Food Product Development information

See Oregon salary details

$44.9K

$134.3K

$152.8K

How much do food product development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for food product development in Oregon is $134,262.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,100.00 and $151,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a food product development?

A Food Product Development job involves creating new food products or improving existing ones by experimenting with ingredients, formulations, and processing techniques. Professionals in this field work closely with food scientists, marketers, and manufacturers to ensure products meet consumer preferences, regulatory standards, and cost requirements. They conduct research, test recipes, and oversee production trials to bring safe, high-quality, and marketable food items to store shelves.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in food product development?

Food Product Development professionals often encounter challenges such as balancing taste, nutrition, cost, and shelf-life while adhering to strict food safety and regulatory standards. They may need to quickly adapt to changing consumer preferences and troubleshoot issues that arise during product testing or manufacturing scale-up. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as marketing, quality assurance, and supply chain, is key to overcoming these obstacles and launching successful products. This dynamic environment requires flexibility and a continual willingness to learn and innovate.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in food product development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Food Product Development, you need expertise in food science, sensory evaluation, and recipe formulation, typically backed by a degree in food science, nutrition, or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, food safety regulations, and product lifecycle management software is often required. Strong project management, creativity, and teamwork skills help individuals excel in this role. These abilities are essential because they ensure products are innovative, safe, and compliant while meeting consumer demands and business objectives.

How to get into food product development?

To enter food product development, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in food science, culinary arts, or a related field. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level roles in food manufacturing or research helps develop relevant skills such as product formulation, sensory evaluation, and knowledge of food safety standards. Proficiency with product development tools and strong teamwork are also valuable for success in this field.

What do you do as a food product developer?

A food product developer designs, tests, and refines new food products to meet consumer preferences and safety standards. They conduct research, create prototypes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams using tools like sensory analysis and food science techniques to bring products from concept to market.

What are the most commonly searched types of Food Product Development jobs in Oregon?

The most popular types of Food Product Development jobs in Oregon are:

What are popular job titles related to Food Product Development jobs in Oregon?

For Food Product Development jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Oregon are hiring for Food Product Development jobs?

Cities in Oregon with the most Food Product Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Food Product Development job openings in Oregon as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,262 per year, or $64.5 per hour.

Senior Food Scientist (61026)

Tofurky

Hood River, OR • On-site

$93K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

Come work with Tofurky! We are the Nation's leading manufacturer of plant-based proteins and dairy-free cheeses. Our range of 35+ products can be found in more than 25,000 grocery stores throughout North America. We're on a mission to erase the myth that people have to make a choice between enjoying tasty food OR taking care of themselves and the planet. We can do both.
Tofurky is hiring a Senior Food Scientist to join our Research & Development team. This position is full-time and onsite at our location in Hood River, Oregon.
The Senior Food Scientist is a hands-on technical leader responsible for driving the development, improvement, and commercialization of our plant-based protein and dairy-free cheese products. Reporting to the VP of R&D, this role owns projects from concept through production scale-up, leads plant trials, drives cost-savings and quality initiatives, and serves as a senior technical resource across the R&D team. This position is designed for an experienced food scientist who can work autonomously, lead multiple projects in parallel, and thrive in a fast-moving, small-team environment.
The ideal candidate is curious, detail-oriented, and highly organized. You document your work meticulously because you know reproducibility matters and that institutional knowledge must survive turnover. You're an easy-going team player who is comfortable in a startup-like environment, moving fast, prioritizing effectively, and leading projects from bench to shelf.
Essential Functions
Formulation and Product Development
  • Develop product formulations, processing procedures, and product specifications for new products, line extensions, product improvements, and cost-savings projects.
  • Work collaboratively to execute development from bench to production scale, finding ingredient alternatives, optimizing formulas, and improving ingredient functionality to reduce cost while protecting quality.
  • Design and execute product quality and stability experiments; analyze and interpret data to make sound technical recommendations on product and process.
  • Document processes, formulas, ingredients, and results related to production tests, samples, and product evaluations.
  • Evaluate prototypes provided by 3rd party partners and assist in quality, product improvement, and productivity initiatives for co-manufactured (CO-MAN) products.
  • Work with outside suppliers and vendors to source and evaluate ingredients.

Scale-Up and Manufacturing Support
  • Design and lead in-house and plant trials, create analytical reports, organize sensory tastings, and draw conclusions and recommendations for next steps.
  • Translate bench formulas to pilot and production scale, including working with co-manufacturing partners.
  • Understand production equipment constraints (e.g., sizing, slicing, shredding, binding) to ensure formulations are manufacturable.
  • Partner with operations to provide technical support that drives quality and value improvement in processes.
  • Collaborate with production, maintenance, and QA to improve current products by creating and implementing new quality parameters (e.g., temperature and time data, amperage testing).
  • Partner with operations to implement cost-optimization approaches focused on waste reduction.

Testing and Analysis
  • Design and run shelf-life studies, including product performance under various conditions.
  • Conduct quality evaluations and contribute to quality disposition decisions on existing products.
  • Support sensory programs: prepare samples for internal and external tasting and analyze results to inform formulation decisions.

Documentation and Regulatory
  • Create nutritional specs, ingredient specs, and allergen statements for in-house Tofurky products across the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia using Genesis software.
  • Review nutritional claims, identify gaps and non-compliance, and recommend action plans to ensure compliance; support non-GMO Project verification.
  • Establish and maintain systems and processes for storing, reviewing, and sharing labeling information.
  • Support food safety initiatives through knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and HACCP principles, and help maintain regulatory compliance for domestic and international markets.
  • Maintain internal R&D documentation: systematically record experiments, formulations, trial outcomes, sensory evaluations, and observations.

Project Management and Leadership
  • Independently manage time and projects for assigned tasks; develop weekly work-plans to manage projects and ensure deadlines are met.
  • Lead and prioritize multiple projects in parallel, adjusting based on Tofurky's dynamic needs.
  • Manage external consultants engaged on R&D projects.
  • Lead training and onboarding of new R&D team members and QA techs on current product formulations and processes.
  • Communicate project status, results, and recommendations clearly to stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Marketing/NPD: translate technical results and constraints to marketing partners; support New Product Development timelines and participate in feasibility discussions.
  • Supply Chain & QA: partner on ingredient sourcing, supplier qualification, and continuity planning; help qualify secondary suppliers and develop test plans for new ingredients; communicate R&D ingredient needs early.
  • Finance: ensure R&D cost-savings projects are tracked and reported correctly.
  • Prepare product prototypes and samples for sales events, trade shows, and internal reviews.

Qualifications
  • Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related discipline, with experience scaled to the degree level:
    • Bachelor's degree and 7-8+ years of food product development experience; or
    • Master's degree and 5+ years of food product development experience; or
    • Ph.D. in a related field and 2-3+ years of industry product development experience (this is an experienced, hands-on role - recent Ph.D. graduates without industry experience are not a good fit).
  • A proven track record of developing and commercializing successful food product formulations in a manufacturing or CPG environment.
  • Demonstrated experience executing development from bench to production scale for new products, product improvements, and cost-savings projects.
  • Experience designing and conducting plant trials and new product start-ups.
  • Strong ability to find ingredient alternatives, optimize formulas, and enhance ingredient functionality for cost savings.
  • Knowledge of food processing technology, ingredient functionality, formulation techniques, sensory analysis, food cost and scaling, and food storage and packaging.
  • Working knowledge of food safety (GMP, HACCP) and regulatory/labeling requirements; experience with nutritional labeling software (Genesis preferred).
  • Excellent project management skills with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects independently in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience with plant-based or alternative protein/dairy products is highly desired.

Work Environment and Physical Demands
This job operates in an office and laboratory setting with frequent exposure to production areas. This role routinely uses standard office and lab equipment. This position is frequently required to enter production and warehousing floors and must follow personnel procedures pertaining to dress and code of conduct in those areas.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a salaried, exempt position. Typical days and hours of work are Monday through Friday. Flexibility in work schedule is required to accommodate business needs. Occasional extended hours and weekend work may be required. This is a full-time, onsite position at our Hood River, Oregon location.
Travel
Occasional travel may be required to support plant trials, co-manufacturing partners, and supplier visits.