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Recipe Testing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Process Engineer, Machinery & Automation

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Automate production cells with sensors, motion, recipe/batch control, interlocks, data logging, and ... testing (FAT) at vendor sites, site acceptance testing (SAT), installation, and ramp * Travel to ...

Process Engineer, Machinery & Automation

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Automate production cells with sensors, motion, recipe/batch control, interlocks, data logging, and ... testing (FAT) at vendor sites, site acceptance testing (SAT), installation, and ramp * Travel to ...

Process Engineer, Machinery & Automation

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Automate production cells with sensors, motion, recipe/batch control, interlocks, data logging, and ... testing (FAT) at vendor sites, site acceptance testing (SAT), installation, and ramp * Travel to ...

AOI Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$85K - $109K/yr

Support engineers in developing, testing, and optimizing new inspection recipes * Document recipe parameters, changes, and results * Ensure proper version control and traceability of recipes 3. ...

R&D Chef

Lake Forest, CA · On-site

$89K - $110K/yr

... testing and validation of current menu offerings. Skills required include a blend of highly ... Maintain and regularly update the internal recipe and recipe costing databases, yield calculations ...

... testing and validation of current menu offerings. Skills required include a blend of highly ... Maintain and regularly update the internal recipe and recipe costing databases, yield calculations ...

My name is Suneetha from Testing Xperts, we are a global staffing, consulting and technology ... Bill of Materials, Routings, MRP, Work Centers, Master Recipe, Batch Management, Production and ...

Jr. R&D Culinarian

Carson, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

Help run sensory panels, quality checks, and validation testing.Document formulation changes ... Ability to follow recipe, make adjustments, develop recipes.Experience:Line Cook: 1 year (Required)

Compounding Technician

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$20 - $30/hr

Prepare all parts of the recipe according to GMP guidelines, ensure subpart steps of the recipe are ... Provide a sample of final product to QC for pH and microbial testing, making time to work with QC ...

Production Assistant

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

... the recipe according to GMP guidelines, ensure subpart steps of the recipe are completed and ... microbial testing, and additionally making time to work with QC on pH adjustments that may be ...

Showing results 41-60

Recipe Testing information

How do you become a recipe tester?

To become a recipe tester, you should have strong cooking skills, attention to detail, and the ability to follow and evaluate recipes accurately. Gaining experience through cooking classes, food blogging, or culinary training can be helpful, and some positions may require knowledge of food safety and nutrition. Building a portfolio or submitting samples to food publications or companies can also improve your chances of getting hired.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recipe tester, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Recipe Tester, you need a strong background in culinary techniques, attention to detail, and the ability to accurately follow and evaluate recipes, often supported by culinary education or professional kitchen experience. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food safety standards, and digital platforms for documenting results are commonly required. Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills help you provide clear feedback and collaborate with recipe developers. These abilities ensure recipes are reliable, reproducible, and enjoyable for a wide audience.

What is recipe testing?

Recipe testing is the process of preparing and evaluating recipes to ensure they are accurate, reliable, and produce consistent results. Recipe testers follow a recipe exactly as written, noting any issues with instructions, ingredient measurements, timing, and overall taste or texture. The goal is to identify and fix any problems before the recipe is published or shared with others, ensuring a positive cooking experience for home cooks. Recipe testing can be done by professional testers, chefs, or enthusiastic home cooks, and is an essential step in cookbook publishing and food media.

How much do recipe testers get paid?

Recipe testers typically earn between $10 and $25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of the recipes. Some may be paid per project or receive a flat fee for testing specific recipes, especially in freelance or contract roles.

What is the difference between Recipe Testing vs Food Stylist?

AspectRecipe TestingFood Stylist
Primary RoleDevelops and refines recipes to ensure they work consistently and taste good.Prepares and styles food for photography or filming to enhance visual appeal.
Skills & CredentialsCooking skills, recipe development, food knowledge, often culinary training.Food presentation, styling techniques, creativity, photography knowledge.
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, culinary labs, or home kitchens.Photo studios, set locations, or on-location shoots.
Industry UsageUsed by food companies, publishers, and recipe developers.Used by advertising agencies, magazines, and food brands.

While both roles involve working with food, Recipe Testing focuses on creating and perfecting recipes, whereas Food Styling emphasizes making food visually appealing for media. Both roles often collaborate but serve different purposes in the food industry.

What are some common challenges faced by recipe testers, and how can they be managed effectively?

One of the main challenges recipe testers encounter is ensuring consistency and accuracy across multiple test runs, as small variations in ingredient brands, kitchen equipment, or environmental factors can impact results. Managing time efficiently is also important, since recipes often require multiple rounds of testing and detailed documentation. To address these challenges, successful recipe testers meticulously record every step, use standardized measurements, and communicate closely with developers and editors to clarify any ambiguities. Collaboration and attention to detail are key to producing reliable, user-friendly recipes.

What are popular job titles related to Recipe Testing jobs in California?

For Recipe Testing jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Recipe Testing jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Recipe Testing jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Recipe Testing jobs?

Cities in California with the most Recipe Testing job openings:

Infographic showing various Recipe Testing job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Process Engineer, Machinery & Automation

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 147 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
PROCESS ENGINEER, MACHINERY & AUTOMATION
SpaceX continues to revolutionize the launch industry by combining advanced technological developments with pragmatic and lean manufacturing. The Dispensary (in-house glue factory) produces silicone adhesives, paints, ablatives, and thermal protection materials that support Starship and programs across the company. As a Machinery & Automation Engineer for Starship Materials Production, you will own equipment and tooling from design and procurement through vendor buyoff, factory installation, automation, and production ramp. Scope covers powder systems, industrial mixers, liquid dispensing, and the custom tooling that makes those cells run at rate with minimal operator-dependent variation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Design, specify, procure, install, and commission powder handling/dispensing systems, industrial mixers, and liquid dispensing equipment for paints, adhesives, ablatives, sealants, fillers, and other formulated materials\
  • Own powder equipment including hoppers, feeders (screw, vibratory, loss-in-weight), weigh/batch systems, dust collection, pneumatic conveying, and powder-to-liquid incorporation
  • Own mixers and blending equipment (high-shear, planetary, dual-asymmetric, ribbon, paddle, vacuum, reactors) including agitation, vacuum/degassing, temperature control, seals, cleanability, and integration with upstream feed and downstream dispense/packaging
  • Own liquid dispensing systems including pumps, meters, valves, manifolds, tanks, pressure/vacuum and temperature control, and single- or multi-component meter-mix-dispense platforms
  • Automate production cells with sensors, motion, recipe/batch control, interlocks, data logging, and PLC/HMI/SCADA integration to maximize unattended or semi-attended operation
  • Design custom tooling and fixtures that enable automation (dispense/hold tooling, changeover tooling, transfer tooling, alignment jigs, poke-yoke, robot/gantry interfaces); take tooling from CAD through fabrication, tryout, and production release
  • Lead capital equipment projects cradle-to-grave: vendor selection, design reviews, SOWs, procurement, factory acceptance testing (FAT) at vendor sites, site acceptance testing (SAT), installation, and ramp
  • Travel to vendors to execute FATs, validate rate/accuracy/repeatability/cleanability/safety, and drive design corrections before shipment
  • Productionize equipment and processes for new product introductions (NPIs), including work instructions, control plans, and rate capability demonstration
  • Partner with materials, quality, production, and design to ensure formulations are mixable and dispensable at scale and meet flight quality requirements
  • Drive root cause analysis, design of experiments (DOE), and statistical process control (SPC) on mix and dispense performance; continuous improvement for throughput, changeover, cleanability, dust control, and cost
  • Develop and maintain process specifications, SOPs, and equipment documentation; train technicians and hand off reliable cells to production
  • Support hazardous materials handling, containment, and EHS requirements for solvent-based, reactive, and powder chemistries

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related technical discipline
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience with powder handling/dispensing, industrial mixers, liquid dispensing, fluid delivery, or chemical/materials production equipment

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Experience designing, specifying, or commissioning production equipment
  • Experience designing tooling or fixtures for manufacturing or automation
  • Experience across powder systems, mixers, liquid automation/dispensing, and tooling design for automation in a production environment
  • Powder systems: loss-in-weight or gain-in-weight feeders, hoppers, pneumatic convey, dust collection, powder weigh/batch, powder incorporation into liquids/pastes
  • Mixers: high-shear, planetary, dual-asymmetric, ribbon, paddle, vacuum, or reactor-style; mix scale-up; vacuum degassing; temperature-controlled mixing; multi-product changeover
  • Liquid automation: piston/progressive cavity/gear pumps, meter-mix-dispense (MMD), pressure pots, cartridge or spray systems, robotic/automated dispense, recipe-driven multi-component control
  • Tooling design for automation using 3D CAD (SolidWorks, NX, Inventor, or similar); GD&T and design for manufacturability
  • Equipment automation experience: PLC/HMI basics, sensors, recipe/batch control, interlocks, data acquisition, or defining automation requirements with controls engineers
  • Full project ownership from design/procurement through FAT/SAT and production implementation, including travel for vendor buyoffs
  • Familiarity with silicone RTVs, multi-part adhesives, paints, ablatives, filled systems, or thermal protection materials
  • NPI and scale-up from lab/pilot to high-rate production; lean manufacturing and changeover reduction
  • DOE, SPC, and statistical tools (JMP, Minitab, or equivalent); Six Sigma Green or Black Belt
  • Hazardous materials handling, chemical safety, and dust control; ERP/MRP exposure

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Must be able to wear and obtain certification in the wearing of an air respirator
  • Must be comfortable working with solvents, hazardous materials, inorganic acids and bases, reactive chemistries, and powder materials (including dust-generating operations)
  • Onsite role on the production floor; remote work not considered
  • Extended hours and weekends as needed to support installs, FATs, production ramps, and downtime recovery
  • Travel for vendor FATs, equipment buyoffs, and related work as needed
  • Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted; standing, climbing, bending, and working in production environments required
  • Ability to pass required site/background checks as applicable

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00
Level 2: $115,000.00 - $160,000.00
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
    Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to

What SpaceX employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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About SpaceX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US