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Research And Development Food Jobs in Portland, OR

... R&D, Food Safety, Regulatory, Quality, Operations, Plant Purchasing, Commercialization, and suppliers to source ingredients that meet product performance, food safety, labeling, compliance ...

Group Leader

Portland, OR · On-site

$79K/yr

... food health and safety through the analytical testing services we provide to our clients. Mission ... Lead the research, development, and implementation of the latest technologies and methods.

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Research And Development Food information

See Portland, OR salary details

$51.4K

$108K

$175K

How much do research and development food jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for research and development food in Portland, OR is $107,953.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,200.00 and $123,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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 Portland, OR?

For Research And Development Food jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Research And Development Food jobs in Portland, OR look for?

The top searched job categories for Research And Development Food jobs in Portland, OR are:

Infographic showing various Research And Development Food job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 7% Internship, and 93% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $107,953 per year, or $51.9 per hour.

Director Wafer FIB-SEM Research and Development

Hillsboro, OR


Thermo Fisher Scientific
Biotechnology Research and Development • 10K+ employees

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 428 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

175th of 544 rated manufacturers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students


Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

How will you make an impact?

The Director of Semiconductor R&D Sample Prep and Analysis is a key leadership position of a global function accountable for defining, aligning and executing product roadmaps that achieve growth strategies of the Semiconductor Business Unit. The SP&A product line includes but not limited to various products derived from Scanning Electron Microscopes, Focused Ion Beam Microscopes, and DualBeam microscopes. This position is ideal for a senior manager or director who has managed an engineering organization to successfully develop and launch complex high technology products.

With a high degree of strategic and operational influence, The Director is responsible for working together with Semiconductor Business Unit Product Marketing, Central R&D, Advanced Technology, and other functions to translate STRAP into a winning product roadmap. The Director coordinates product development strategies and initiatives with other Directors of the Semiconductor R&D Product Lines. The Director develops and delivers products to the market by working seamlessly over the geographically complex functional groups in the Material and Structural Diagnostic division of Thermo Fisher, using the PMP as the core process.

Other key responsibilities include:

  • Develop team and organization through talent acquisition and development

  • Achieve quarterly and annual operation plan metrics

  • Competency management to support current and future development requirements

How will you get here?

Education

Engineering or Science degree. PhD/MBA or other advanced degree is preferred

Experience

  • 15 year's work experience in complex technology product development

  • 10 years management experience in complex technology product development

  • Proven ability to interact effectively with cross-functional and cross-cultural teams to achieve significant business objectives

  • Proven personnel leadership and employee development

  • Sophistication in data driven decision making

  • Excellent written and spoken communication with team members (i.e., subordinates), peers and senior management

  • Must have ability to obtain a valid passport and travel internationally if needed

  • Proficient in English (Czech or Dutch language is an advantage)



What Thermo Fisher Scientific employees say

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Benefits

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