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Research Development Chef Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Talis Group, Inc.

Foodservice R&D Specialist

Louisville, KY · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Talis Group's client, a respected and innovative company searching for a Foodservice R&D Specialist who combines hands-on chef experience with a passion for research and product development. This is ...

Winston Industries LLC

R&D Culinary Specialist

Louisville, KY · On-site

$32K - $43K/yr

We're looking for an R&D Culinary Technologist to own how Winston equipment is tested, validated ... Well, at Winston, we have quite a few chefs in the house. It's awesome, but you need to be able to ...

Winston Industries LLC

$90 - $120/hr

We're looking for an R&D Culinary Technologist to own how Winston equipment is tested, validated ... Well, at Winston, we have quite a few chefs in the house. It's awesome, but you need to be able to ...

Winston Industries LLC

R&D Culinary Specialist

Louisville, KY · On-site

$33K - $45K/yr

We're looking for an R&D Culinary Technologist to own how Winston equipment is tested, validated ... Well, at Winston, we have quite a few chefs in the house. It's awesome, but you need to be able to ...

CRAFTS & VINES LLC

Kitchen Associate

Covington, KY · On-site

$15 - $18.50/hr

Training & development * Employee discounts * Flexible schedule * Free food & snacks Benefits/Perks ... Collaborate with the chef to create menus according to season and customer research * Set up the ...

CV in

Chief Operating Officer (Northern)

Eastern, KY · On-site

We offer chef-crafted, science-backed Mains and functional Drizzles designed to support lifelong ... Partner with Culinary, Veterinary Nutrition, R&D, and Product to bring new physical products from ...

FHLB Des Moines

$60 - $100/hr

... or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class Sales Team and ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

Sysco

Sales Consultant - USBL - US

Louisville, KY

... or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class Sales Team and ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

Sysco

... or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class Sales Team and ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

FHLB Des Moines

$65 - $95/hr

... or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class Sales Team and ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

Sysco

... or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class Sales Team and ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

Sysco

... or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class Sales Team and ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

Sysco

... or Chef looking for career development opportunities? Join Sysco's World Class Sales Team and ... Research customer business needs and develops a mix of products and service to meet needs.

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsResearch Development Chef JobsResearch Development Chef Jobs in Kentucky

Research Development Chef information

See Kentucky salary details

$42.1K

$88.4K

$143.3K

How much do research development chef jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for research development chef in Kentucky is $88,411.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,300.00 and $101,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a research development chef do?

A Research Development Chef is responsible for creating, testing, and refining new food products, recipes, and menu items, often for restaurants, food manufacturers, or retail brands. They blend culinary creativity with food science and market trends to develop innovative and scalable food concepts. Their role involves experimenting with ingredients, improving flavors, ensuring product consistency, and considering factors like cost, nutrition, and production feasibility.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a research development chef?

To thrive as a Research Development Chef, you need comprehensive culinary expertise, a deep understanding of food science, and often a degree in culinary arts or food technology. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, recipe management software, and food safety certifications like ServSafe is highly valuable. Creativity, problem-solving skills, and strong collaboration abilities help you excel when designing innovative recipes and working with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure you can successfully develop new food products that meet both culinary standards and market demands.

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Development Chef jobs in Kentucky?

The most popular types of Research Development Chef jobs in Kentucky are:

What are popular job titles related to Research Development Chef jobs in Kentucky?

For Research Development Chef jobs in Kentucky, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Research Development Chef jobs in Kentucky look for?

The top searched job categories for Research Development Chef jobs in Kentucky are:

What cities in Kentucky are hiring for Research Development Chef jobs?

Cities in Kentucky with the most Research Development Chef job openings:

Research Development Chef jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Development Chef job openings in Kentucky as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, and 13% Part Time. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,411 per year, or $42.5 per hour.

Foodservice R&D Specialist

Talis Group, Inc.

Louisville, KY • On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Do you love creating, testing, and improving food while working with cutting-edge commercial kitchen equipment? Talis Group's client, a respected and innovative company searching for a Foodservice R&D Specialist who combines hands-on chef experience with a passion for research and product development.
This is a unique opportunity to move beyond the kitchen and help shape the next generation of commercial cooking equipment. You'll partner with Engineering, Sales, and Marketing to validate equipment performance, develop new applications, and demonstrate innovative culinary solutions for customers across the foodservice industry.  This position will also train customers on how to use equipment to successfully create their menu items.
If you enjoy experimenting, solving problems, and bringing culinary ideas to life, this could be the perfect career move.  This position offers 40-45 hours during the week with about 20% travel to customer sites, conventions or other.  The company offers full benefit package and strong salary for this role.

Highlighted Duties:
  • Design and execute food and equipment testing to validate product performance using structured research methods.
  • Develop new cooking applications and evaluate food quality, yield, consistency, and operational efficiency.
  • Document testing procedures and results to support product development and future applications.
  • Partner with Engineering to troubleshoot, improve, and validate new equipment designs.
  • Conduct customer demonstrations, product evaluations, and culinary presentations.
  • Support Sales, Marketing, and Training by creating application guides, educational materials, and product content.
  • Maintain a professional test kitchen that is organized and customer-ready.
  • Stay current on food trends, culinary techniques, and foodservice innovations to support ongoing product development.

Highlighted Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science or a related field preferred; Culinary degree with significant R&D experience will also be considered.
  • 5+ years of experience in restaurant operations, foodservice R&D, commercial kitchen equipment, or a related field.
  • Professional chef or commercial cooking experience is required.
  • Previous Research & Development experience within the foodservice, food manufacturing, or commercial kitchen equipment industry is required
  • Strong knowledge of commercial kitchen operations, food preparation, and food science principles.
  • Experience conducting structured product testing and documenting results.
  • Ability to evaluate food quality, yield, cost, and production performance.
  • Creative mindset with the ability to develop innovative culinary applications and solutions.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to work across technical and non-technical teams.

This information is a brief job summary for recruiting purposes only and does not constitute the entire job description, duties, or requirements.

Talis Group is an equal opportunity employer.  All registrants are considered based upon their skills, performance, potential, and other qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.