1

Research And Development Food Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Utah Food Handlers Permit will be needed and we can help with the process if you don't have a UT ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Utah Food Handlers Permit will be needed and we can help with the process if you don't have a UT ...

Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development the R&D Chef will execute daily tasks ... Utah Food Handlers Permit will be needed and we can help with the process if you don't have a UT ...

Be Seen First

Research & Development (R&D) Technician Do you love experimenting, solving problems, and bringing ... Experience in a lab, food science, chemistry, manufacturing, or product development environment is ...

Bachelors degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 23 years of relevant experience. * Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food or ...

Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2-3 years of relevant experience. * Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food ...

Director of R&D

Salt Lake City, UT · On-site

$100K - $125K/yr

Bachelor's degree in microbiology, Biotechnology, food science, biology, or a related field, plus 2-3 years of relevant experience. * Relevant industry experience R&D, and commercialization of food ...

JOB PURPOSE: Alphia, one of the nation's leading custom pet food manufacturing companies, is looking for a skilled R&D Scientist. The R&D Scientist is responsible for managing research and ...

JOB PURPOSE: Alphia, one of the nation's leading custom pet food manufacturing companies, is looking for a skilled R&D Scientist. The R&D Scientist is responsible for managing research and ...

Job Purpose The R&D Scientist is responsible for driving the development and optimization of ... food product development with an emphasis on commercialization of chocolate and confectionery ...

The Food Scientist is responsible for managing research and development projects involving new product and process development, production trials, least-cost formulation, product/process improvement ...

The Food Scientist is responsible for managing research and development projects involving new product and process development, production trials, least-cost formulation, product/process improvement ...

R&D Assistant Chef supports the development, testing, production, and presentation of innovative ... Assists the Food Styling team as needed. * Ability to understand recipe development, detect and ...

R&D Assistant Chef supports the development, testing, production, and presentation of innovative ... Assists the Food Styling team as needed. * Ability to understand recipe development, detect and ...

R&D Assistant Chef supports the development, testing, production, and presentation of innovative ... Assists the Food Styling team as needed. * Ability to understand recipe development, detect and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Research And Development Food information

How does a research and development food professional typically collaborate with other departments within a food company?

In a food company, Research and Development (R&D) Food professionals work closely with multiple departments such as Quality Assurance, Marketing, Production, and Procurement. They often collaborate with marketing teams to align new product formulations with market trends and customer preferences, and with production staff to ensure that prototypes can be efficiently scaled for mass manufacturing. This cross-functional teamwork is essential for successfully taking a product from concept to launch, making strong communication and project management skills highly valuable in this role.

What does a research and development food professional do?

A Research and Development (R&D) Food professional is responsible for creating and improving food products, recipes, and processes. They conduct experiments to develop new flavors, enhance nutritional value, and improve product safety and shelf life. Their work often involves collaborating with food scientists, technologists, and regulatory teams to ensure products meet industry standards and consumer preferences. R&D Food professionals play a key role in innovation within the food industry, helping companies stay competitive and compliant.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research and development food professional?

To thrive as a Research and Development Food Scientist, you generally need a degree in food science or a related field, strong analytical skills, and a solid understanding of food chemistry and product formulation. Familiarity with laboratory instrumentation, sensory evaluation software, and food safety regulations such as HACCP is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving ability, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for innovating and refining food products. These competencies are vital for developing safe, high-quality foods that meet consumer demands and regulatory standards.

What is the difference between Research And Development Food and Quality Assurance Food?

AspectResearch And Development FoodQuality Assurance Food
Primary FocusDeveloping new food products and improving existing recipesEnsuring food products meet safety and quality standards
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, product development kitchensQuality control labs, production facilities
Required CredentialsFood science degree, culinary skills, R&D experienceFood safety certifications, quality management training
Industry UsageFood manufacturing, product innovationFood safety, compliance, and quality assurance

Research And Development Food professionals focus on creating and improving food products, while Quality Assurance Food specialists ensure these products meet safety and quality standards. Both roles are essential in the food industry but serve different purposes in the product lifecycle.

What are popular job titles related to Research And Development Food jobs in Utah? For Research And Development Food jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Utah are hiring for Research And Development Food jobs? Cities in Utah with the most Research And Development Food job openings:
Infographic showing various Research And Development Food job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 66% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Research & Development Manager

Thrive Foods

American Fork, UT • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Job Title: Research and Development Manager

Department: Quality

Reports to: Vice President of Quality

Location: American Fork, Utah

Position Summary

The Research & Development (R&D) Manager is responsible for leading innovation, product development, process optimization, and technical commercialization for Thrive Freeze Dry’s portfolio of human and pet food products. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customers to deliver safe, high-quality, and scalable freeze-dried ingredients and finished goods. The R&D Manager ensures that all new products, reformulations, and process improvements align with Thrive’s strategic goals, meet customer expectations, and comply with regulatory and certification standards across our North American manufacturing network.

Product Innovation & Development
  • Lead the design, development, and testing of new freeze-dried ingredients, meals, snacks, and formulations for human and pet applications.
  • Translate customer needs, market trends, and internal strategy into actionable R&D roadmaps and prototypes.
  • Manage bench-top trials, pilot tests, and plant-scale validations to ensure product performance, stability, and manufacturability.
  • Maintain responsibility for ingredient functionality, sensory attributes, nutritional profiles, and shelf-life performance.
  • Other duties as assigned
Commercialization & Process Optimization
  • Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to define processing parameters for new and existing products.
  • Lead commercialization efforts from concept through first production, ensuring a smooth transition to full-scale manufacturing.
  • Identify opportunities to improve yield, reduce waste, enhance throughput, and optimize cost without compromising product quality.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives across the freeze-drying process, blending, packaging, and handling systems.
Regulatory, Compliance & Documentation
  • Ensure all R&D activities align with FSMA, HACCP, FDA, USDA, Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher, SMETA, and customer-specific requirements.
  • Collaborate with the Quality team to verify that product specifications, formulations, processing instructions, and change controls are accurate and compliant.
  • Create and maintain R&D documentation, including formulas, spec sheets, SOPs, work instructions, and experimental summaries.
  • Support customer audits, technical reviews, and documentation requests related to new or existing products.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Project Management
  • Manage R&D teams across Thrive Freeze Dry’s North American network.
  • Manage multiple concurrent R&D projects across categories, customers, and manufacturing sites.
  • Facilitate communication between Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Sales to ensure alignment and efficient execution.
  • Provide technical leadership to plant teams during scale-ups, troubleshooting, and process validations.
  • Represent R&D during customer visits, technical presentations, and collaborative development sessions.
Qualifications & Experience
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Nutrition, or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in the food industry, including pet food and/or functional ingredients; experience in both areas and within a freeze-drying environment preferred.
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading, managing, and developing a team.
  • Strong technical understanding of freeze-drying process parameters, product formulation, ingredient interactions, and analytical testing methods.
  • Experience managing technical projects from ideation to commercialization.
  • Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and apply them to product design and documentation.
  • Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational skills.
  • Ability to travel between manufacturing sites and customer locations as needed, including international, 25%-50%.

Physical Requirements – Must be able to perform the following functions with or without accommodations:

  • Consistent and reliable attendance
  • Physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching; and frequent fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity: 40% or more sitting, 40% or more walking, and 40% or more standing.
  • The job is performed under occasional temperature variations and in a food manufacturing office environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.