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Food Science Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Calbee America, Inc.

Food Scientist

Madera, CA · On-site

$90K - $105K/yr

Passion for food science, innovation, and consumer-focused product design. * Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills. * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills ...

JRG Partners

Food Process Scientist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

The Food Science Scientist will be part of the AI Food team and will be reporting to the Director ... Partner with plant managers to design and implement key projects. ? Summarizing and synthesizing ...

Mackie Myers

CA · On-site

$120K - $145K/yr

Demonstrated success managing multiple technical projects simultaneously. * Ability to be on-site in Santa Cruz County Preferred Qualifications * Master's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or ...

Kosmos

Food Quality Manager

San Diego, CA

$115K - $140K/yr

... Science, Microbiology, food process engineering, or similar discipline · Solid track record of ... A Manager in the food industry with minimum 5 years in a USDA environment · Must be SQF ...

Kosmos

Food Quality Manager

Chula Vista, CA

$115K - $140K/yr

... Science, Microbiology, food process engineering, or similar discipline · Solid track record of ... A Manager in the food industry with minimum 5 years in a USDA environment · Must be SQF ...

Kosmos

Food Quality Manager

San Diego, CA

$115K - $140K/yr

... Science, Microbiology, food process engineering, or similar discipline · Solid track record of ... A Manager in the food industry with minimum 5 years in a USDA environment · Must be SQF ...

Archer Meat Snacks

Senior Food Scientist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$95K - $120K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Meat Science, or a related technical ... Strong analytical, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills. * Advanced ...

Chipotle

Food Safety Analyst, R&D

Newport Beach, CA

$77K - $110K/yr

... or food science environments, with exposure to FSQA, R&D, or product development processes * ServSafe Manager Certification is preferred; certification may also be obtained upon hire. * Sensory ...

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Food Science Manager information

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How much do food science manager jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for food science manager in California is $21.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $23.70 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges food science managers face when leading product development teams?

Food Science Managers often navigate the complex balance between innovation, regulatory compliance, and cost-effectiveness while leading product development teams. They must ensure that new formulations meet safety and quality standards, all while aligning with consumer trends and company goals. Effective communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams—such as marketing, procurement, and quality assurance—are crucial to address these challenges. Additionally, adapting to rapidly changing technologies and market demands can present ongoing hurdles that require flexibility and strategic planning.

What does a food science manager do?

A Food Science Manager oversees teams that develop, test, and improve food products to ensure quality, safety, and compliance with regulations. They manage research projects, coordinate with other departments like production and marketing, and implement quality control standards. Their role often includes supervising food scientists and technologists, analyzing data from experiments, and staying updated on industry trends. Food Science Managers play a key part in launching new products and maintaining the safety and nutritional value of foods.

What is the difference between Food Science Manager vs Food Technologist?

AspectFood Science ManagerFood Technologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or master's in food science, management experienceBachelor's in food science or related field
Work EnvironmentOversees teams, manages projects, strategic planningDevelops and tests food products, laboratory work
Employer & Industry UsageFood manufacturing, quality assurance, R&DProduct development, quality control, testing labs

Food Science Managers typically oversee teams and projects in food companies, requiring management skills and experience, while Food Technologists focus on product development and testing. Both roles are essential in the food industry but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a food science manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Food Science Manager, you need a solid background in food science, chemistry, or a related field, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree and experience in food product development or quality assurance. Familiarity with laboratory testing equipment, food safety regulations, and systems like HACCP or SQF is typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help you manage teams and collaborate across departments. These skills ensure the development of safe, high-quality products while maintaining regulatory compliance and effective team operations.
What are the most commonly searched types of Food Science jobs in California? The most popular types of Food Science jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Food Science Manager jobs in California? For Food Science Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Food Science Manager jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Food Science Manager jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Food Science Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Food Science Manager job openings:
Food Science Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Food Science Manager job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 26% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,154 per year, or $21.7 per hour.

Food Scientist

Calbee America, Inc.

Madera, CA • On-site

$90K - $105K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Position Summary:
The Food Scientist at Calbee America is responsible for leading product development initiatives across our branded portfolio - including Harvest Snaps (Extruded) and Asian-Style Chips (Potato Chips) - as well as our Co-Manufacturing (OEM) and Private Label (PB) businesses.
This role drives innovation through new product development, quality improvements, and cost-saving initiatives while conducting technical research, collaborating with third-party partners, and providing critical support for commercialization and plant trials.
The Food Scientist ensures product integrity from concept through commercialization, develops and refines raw material specifications, and maintains accuracy in Bill of Materials (BOMs) and related documentation. They will work cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Procurement to ensure alignment with Calbee's strategic objectives and high product standards.
Key Responsibilities:
Research & Development:
  • Lead formulation development from bench-top through commercialization, including cost tracking of ingredients for trials.

  • Accurately document all R&D activities, including formulations, processing parameters, and trial results.

  • Conduct validation studies, support product start-ups, and provide on-site technical assistance at Calbee plants.

  • Drive innovation through new product concepts, quality enhancements, productivity or cost-savings initiatives.

  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with business priorities and timelines.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Marketing, QA, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement) to ensure successful product launches.

  • Maintain technical expertise through ongoing research, industry benchmarking, and professional development.

  • Develop, refine, and standardize raw material specifications to ensure product consistency and quality.

  • Maintain a centralized database for raw material specifications accessible to all stakeholders.

  • Audit and correct existing BOMs in the system to ensure accuracy with actual formulations and production processes

Food Safety & Compliance:
  • Comply with all applicable regulatory requirements, including OSHA, EPA, FDA, HACCP, and SQF.

  • Understand and apply SQF and food safety standards in daily activities and documentation.

  • Support continuous improvement in food safety and quality processes across all R&D activities.

Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, Food Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.

  • Minimum of 3 years of product development experience in consumer-packaged goods (CPG); snack food or fried/extruded product experience strongly preferred.

  • Proven success in the development and commercialization of snack or similar food products.

  • Passion for food science, innovation, and consumer-focused product design.

  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work collaboratively across departments.

  • High attention to detail and adaptability in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

  • Knowledge of potato, pulse, rice, or corn-based snack technologies a plus.

  • Basic or conversational Japanese or Spanish preferred but not required.

  • Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Windows operating systems.

  • Familiarity with R&D and production equipment such as extruders, dryers, fryers, seasoning systems, and analytical instruments (e.g., salt analyzer).

Calbee North America is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, citizenship, ancestry, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or familial status or any other legally protected status.

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