ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Product Development Chef Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Taylor Nicole Professional

Be Seen First

Chocolatier & Confectionery Development Chef

Torrance, CA · On-site

$25 - $26/hr

This is not a production role for someone who simply follows recipes. We are seeking a professional ... Chef, R&D Chef, Pastry Chef, Chocolate Production, Candy Manufacturing, Caramel, Truffles ...

Taylor Nicole Professional

Be Seen First

Chocolatier & Confectionery Development Chef

Torrance, CA · On-site

$25 - $26/hr

This is not a production role for someone who simply follows recipes. We are seeking a professional ... Chef, R&D Chef, Pastry Chef, Chocolate Production, Candy Manufacturing, Caramel, Truffles ...

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.

Del Taco, LLC

R&D Chef

Lake Forest, CA

$89K - $110K/yr

JOB TITLE: R&D Chef FLSA STATUS: Exempt DEPARTMENT: Research and Development REPORTS TO: Director ... Identify and present opportunities to optimize Core Menu products, procedures or workflow. * Liaise ...

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 ... Identify and present opportunities to optimize Core Menu products, procedures or workflow. * Liaise ...

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 ... Production Control, Production, Costing, QC, QC_Shared, R & D Shared. Software: Office 365, VPN ...

Kagome Inc.

Business Development Chef

San Carlos, CA

The Business Development Chef provides culinary leadership, engages Kagome's strategic customers in ... Production Control, Production, Costing, QC, QC_Shared, R & D Shared. Software: Office 365, VPN ...

Amy's Kitchen, Inc.

R&D Chef's Assistant

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$26 - $36/hr

Discount on Amy's products * Opportunities to grow and advance your career * Competitive ... The Chef's Assistant will assist the R&D Chef and R&D Staff in the prepping and executing (cooking ...

Haliburton International

Culinary Chef

Ontario, CA · On-site

The Corporate Chef's position combines food and menu research, hands-on cooking and product development with live customer cooking presentations and demonstrations. Haliburton Corporate Chef's must ...

Vallarta Supermarkets

Culinary Field Chef

Downey, CA · On-site

Culinary Field Chef Classification: Exempt Reports to: Director of Culinary Job Summary: The ... Support product development and assist with implementation in the field * Identify operational ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsProduct Development Chef JobsProduct Development Chef Jobs in California

Product Development Chef information

See California salary details

$41.9K

$125.3K

$142.6K

How much do product development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for product development chef in California is $125,325.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,000.00 and $141,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Product Development Chef do?

A Product Development Chef creates and tests new food products for restaurants, food manufacturers, or retail brands. They blend culinary creativity with market trends, ensuring products are innovative, scalable, and cost-effective. Their work involves recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and collaboration with food scientists and marketing teams. Ultimately, they help bring new and exciting food concepts from the kitchen to consumers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Product Development Chef position, and why are they important?

To excel as a Product Development Chef, you need extensive culinary expertise, menu innovation experience, and knowledge of food science or nutrition, often supported by a culinary degree or relevant certifications. Familiarity with recipe development software, product testing equipment, and compliance with food safety regulations like HACCP is valuable. Strong creativity, collaboration, and project management skills help you work effectively with cross-functional teams and adapt to market trends. These competencies are critical to creating successful new food products that align with business goals and consumer demands.

What does a typical day look like for a Product Development Chef?

A Product Development Chef’s typical day involves collaborating with R&D, marketing, and production teams to brainstorm and refine new recipes or food products. You'll spend time in both the test kitchen, experimenting with ingredients and techniques, and in meetings to discuss market trends, feasibility, and scalability. The role often requires tasting, adjusting recipes, ensuring compliance with food safety standards, and documenting formulations for commercialization. It’s a dynamic environment that combines creativity with technical precision, making each day varied and engaging.

What are popular job titles related to Product Development Chef jobs in California? For Product Development Chef jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Product Development Chef jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Product Development Chef jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Product Development Chef jobs? Cities in California with the most Product Development Chef job openings:
Product Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Product Development Chef job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,325 per year, or $60.3 per hour.
Chocolatier & Confectionery Development Chef

Chocolatier & Confectionery Development Chef

Taylor Nicole Professional

Torrance, CA • On-site

$25 - $26/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Be Seen First

After you apply to this job, you can share why you’re interested to jump to the top of the candidate list.

Job description

Chocolatier & Confectionery Development Chef - Immediate openings

Location: Torrance CA
Schedule: Morning
Compensation: DOE - Depending on the level of your experience
Job Type: Temp-to-Hire


Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Chocolatier & Confectionery Development Chef who understands both the craft and science of chocolate and confectionery manufacturing.

This is not a production role for someone who simply follows recipes. We are seeking a professional who can develop new products, troubleshoot formulations, improve manufacturing processes, and solve production challenges.


Responsibilities

  • Develop new chocolate and confectionery products
  • Produce molded chocolates, truffles, caramels, fillings, and specialty confections
  • Temper milk, dark, and white chocolate
  • Troubleshoot production issues involving texture, consistency, appearance, and flavor
  • Improve recipes and formulations for production
  • Scale recipes from kitchen to manufacturing
  • Maintain accurate production documentation and recipes
  • Collaborate with Production and Quality teams during product launches


Qualifications

  • Professional chocolatier or confectionery development experience
  • Strong knowledge of chocolate tempering and confectionery techniques
  • Experience developing new products
  • Experience troubleshooting production and formulation issues
  • Understanding of ingredients, manufacturing equipment, and processing techniques
  • Passion for innovation and product development


Keywords

Chocolatier, Chocolate Maker, Confectionery Chef, Confectionery Development, Chocolate Development, Product Development Chef, R&D Chef, Pastry Chef, Chocolate Production, Candy Manufacturing, Caramel, Truffles, Chocolate Tempering, Confectionery Manufacturing

Company Description

Full service Staffing firm. Filling jobs for well established companies in the LA, and Orange County areas. Most of our jobs are temp to hire or direct hire placements. We are looking for Individuals seeking full time permanent work.