Product Development Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

About the Company

Our client is a rapidly growing, investor-backed consumer wellness company that has quickly established itself as a category leader in functional oral pouch products. The company is pioneering innovative performance-focused products that deliver functional benefits through a convenient oral delivery format and is experiencing significant growth as the category continues to expand.

This is an opportunity to join a highly entrepreneurial organization during a pivotal stage of growth and play a key role in developing next-generation products from concept through commercialization.

Position Summary

The Product Development Engineer will be a core member of the company's R&D team, responsible for the full product development lifecycle—from bench formulation and ingredient evaluation through scale-up, manufacturing transfer, and commercial launch.

This role combines formulation science, process development, sensory evaluation, and technical commercialization. The successful candidate will work closely with contract manufacturers, suppliers, quality, and operations teams to bring innovative products to market.

The ideal candidate is hands-on, technically strong, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where creativity, problem-solving, and execution are equally important.

Key Responsibilities

Formulation Development

• Develop and optimize formulations, flavor systems, and active ingredient delivery platforms.

• Evaluate ingredients and excipients for functionality, stability, performance, and regulatory compliance.

• Optimize product characteristics including pH, water activity, dissolution, and sensory performance.

• Maintain detailed development records, batch documentation, and formulation specifications.

Ingredient & Supplier Evaluation

• Source and evaluate new ingredients, flavors, excipients, and functional actives.

• Review supplier documentation including COAs, SDSs, and technical specifications.

• Assess ingredient quality, performance, and regulatory status.

• Support qualification of new suppliers and raw materials.

Commercialization & Scale-Up

• Lead technical transfer of formulations to manufacturing partners.

• Develop manufacturing instructions, product specifications, and critical quality attributes.

• Support pilot runs, scale-up activities, and commercial production trials.

• Troubleshoot manufacturing challenges and drive resolution during commercialization.

• Serve as a primary technical liaison with contract manufacturing partners.

Sensory & Product Performance

• Design and execute sensory evaluations focused on taste, texture, mouthfeel, and overall product experience.

• Analyze sensory data and identify opportunities for product improvement.

• Translate consumer and panel feedback into formulation enhancements.

Quality & Regulatory Support

• Assist with development of product specifications and testing protocols.

• Support compliance with dietary supplement GMP requirements and internal quality standards.

• Ensure development documentation supports successful commercialization and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Food Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline.

• 2+ years of hands-on formulation experience in oral pouch products or related oral delivery systems.

• Experience supporting product scale-up and manufacturing transfer.

• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.

• Experience operating laboratory and analytical equipment independently.

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.

Preferred

• Experience with oral delivery technologies such as pouches, buccal, sublingual, lozenges, or dietary supplement delivery systems.

• Sensory science or structured sensory panel experience.

• Working knowledge of dietary supplement regulations and 21 CFR Part 111.

• Experience with dissolution testing, release testing, or bioavailability-focused product development.

• Experience working with contract manufacturers in a regulated environment.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Join a category-leading, high-growth wellness company.

• Work directly on innovative products from concept to launch.

• Significant exposure to formulation, commercialization, manufacturing, and product strategy.

• Highly entrepreneurial environment with direct impact on product success.

• Opportunity to help shape the future of an emerging consumer health category.