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Research Chef Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Del Taco, LLC

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 of Culinary Research & Development LOCATION: Lake Forest, CA Test Kitchen SALARY RANGE : $89,000 ...

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 of Culinary Research & Development LOCATION: Lake Forest, CA Test Kitchen SALARY RANGE : $89,000 ...

Farm To People

Research & Development Chef

New York, NY

$22 - $25/hr

... chef on first iterations. ● Support new SKU ideation alongside procurement and marketing, contributing competitive research and SKU performance data. ● Commission, execute, and interpret food ...

PepsiCo

Jr Research Chef/Mixologist

Purchase, NY · On-site +1

$73K - $122K/yr

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, and R&D, to ensure mixology initiatives align with broader business objectives. * Enhance the consumer beverage experience by ...

PepsiCo

Jr Research Chef/Mixologist

Purchase, NY · On-site +1

$73K - $122K/yr

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, and R&D, to ensure mixology initiatives align with broader business objectives. * Enhance the consumer beverage experience by ...

PepsiCo

Jr Research Chef/Mixologist

Valhalla, NY · On-site +1

$73K - $122K/yr

Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, and R&D, to ensure mixology initiatives align with broader business objectives. * Enhance the consumer beverage experience by ...

KAGOME, Inc.

Business Development Chef

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$77K - $127K/yr

Work with Kagome R&D managers and scientists to develop products/ideas/applications that meet ... Certified Research Chef or Certified Culinary Scientist, a plus * Years and Type of Related ...

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Research Chef information

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$46K

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How much do research chef jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for research chef in the United States is $83,794.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,500.00 and $117,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a research chef?

A research chef, also known as a culinary scientist, combines culinary arts with food science to develop new recipes, food products, and menu items. They often work for food manufacturers, restaurant chains, or research and development labs, focusing on creating innovative foods that are both tasty and safe. Research chefs collaborate with food scientists, nutritionists, and marketing teams to ensure products meet quality standards, regulatory requirements, and consumer preferences. Their role is essential in bringing new food concepts from the kitchen to large-scale production.

How does a Research Chef typically collaborate with product development and marketing teams?

A Research Chef works closely with product development teams to translate culinary concepts into scalable food products, ensuring flavor, texture, and appearance meet both culinary and manufacturing standards. They also partner with marketing teams to align product features with current food trends and consumer preferences, often participating in taste panels and brainstorming sessions. This collaborative approach ensures that new products are both innovative and commercially viable, and fosters a dynamic work environment where ideas from multiple disciplines are integrated into the final product.

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

To thrive as a Research Chef, you need a strong background in culinary arts combined with food science knowledge, often supported by a culinary degree and experience in product development. Familiarity with food safety standards, recipe management software, and laboratory equipment is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you innovate and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure the successful development of safe, appealing, and market-ready food products that meet consumer and industry needs.

What Does a Research Chef Do?

A research chef is a culinary professional who oversees the research and development of new recipes and food products. As a research chef, your responsibilities include assessing current offerings, working with food scientists to brainstorm concepts, and developing new recipes and products. You work in a test kitchen, either alone or with a team, to develop and test new foods for restaurants or food manufacturers. Your job is to be innovative and creative in your quest to meet consumer desires and the manufacturer or restaurants needs.

What is the difference between Research Chef vs Food Scientist?

AspectResearch ChefFood Scientist
Required CredentialsCooking skills, culinary training, sometimes culinary degreesDegree in food science, chemistry, or related field
Work EnvironmentTest kitchens, culinary labs, food companiesLaboratories, research facilities, manufacturing plants
Employer & Industry UsageFood manufacturing, product development, culinary innovationFood production, quality control, research & development

Research Chefs focus on developing new food products through culinary expertise and practical testing, often working in kitchens and food companies. Food Scientists typically conduct scientific research to improve food safety, quality, and processing, working mainly in labs. Both roles are essential in food innovation but differ in their approach and work environment.

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Research Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Chef job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $83,794 per year, or $40.3 per hour.
Senior Research Chef & Food Scientist

Senior Research Chef & Food Scientist

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

New Brunswick, NJ • On-site

$101K - $129K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago

International Flavors & Fragrances rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 40 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

86th of 535 rated manufacturers

Job description

Job Summary
Are you passionate about creating impactful food solutions that bring together creativity, science, and customer success?
IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.
Taste: Crafting unique, technology-enabled flavor designs that define the identity of food and beverage brands, shape trends in flavor building, and fuel market success.
The role is based in South Brunswick, NJ. Join a collaborative, innovative, and solution-oriented team where your expertise contributes to meaningful products used around the world. Your potential is our inspiration.
Where You'll Make a Difference
  • High level of knowledge of recipe ingredients and raw materials and their function
  • Independently navigates both customer and internal projects from start to finish and acts as a project leader
  • Develops and improves application formulations and finished product formulations using knowledge of industrial standards, creativity, country specific and client requirements
  • Researches, refines and upgrades solutions for customer projects
  • Maintains and continuously renovates application-specific recipe database
  • Maximizes flavor and ingredients performance through recipe design
  • Provides flavors, food systems and ingredients driven solutions utilizing creative problem-solving skills
  • Reviews, renews and renovates flavor repositories in-line with established metrics
  • Identifies flavor repositories gaps and actions and addresses with appropriate expertise or resource
  • Continues to build flavor attribute and language knowledge and articulate with others in the team and on projects
  • Uses Creativity and Innovation skills for customer, industry and investor presentations
  • Able and willing to mentor others in the organization, including Food Designers and Research Chefs

What Makes You the Right Fit
  • B.S. or higher in Food Science or a related discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Culinary Science, Human Nutrition)
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in the industrial food or preferred flavor industry.
  • Experience as a Research Chef with developing products in an industrial food environment. However, we are equally interested in executive/head chefs with strong culinary expertise who have gained food science, product development, or R&D experience in Food Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturing
  • The ideal candidate combines deep culinary expertise with a strong foundation in food science and product development, and commercialization.
  • 2-3 years of experience working in cross-functional teams in roles such as project leader.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple, high-value projects independently with strong planning and decision-making skills.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills with internal and external stakeholders.

How Would You Stand Out?
  • Strong understanding of sensory evaluation, consumer insights, and their application to successful product design.
  • Experience contributing to global or regional innovation programs and technology platforms.
  • Recognized technical expertise with the ability to mentor and develop junior colleagues.

Why Choose Us?
  • Opportunity to work on high-impact, global customer projects.
  • Exposure to industry-leading technology, ingredients, and innovation platforms.
  • Continuous learning and professional development opportunities.
  • The chance to shape regional and global technical strategies.
  • Competitive total rewards aligned with experience and impact.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.
Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more
Salary Ranges:
97,916.00ㅤ-ㅤ139,880.00ㅤUSD

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