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Sr Food Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary The Senior Food Scientist is responsible for developing and commercializing new and improved products and/or processes through guidance from their manager. This covers all stages of product ...

New

Summary The Senior Food Scientist is responsible for developing and commercializing new and improved products and/or processes through guidance from their manager. This covers all stages of product ...

New

Senior Food Scientist

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Senior Food Scientist We are recruiting for a Senior Food Scientist at a growing gluten-free and allergen-controlled snack manufacturer. This is a hands-on role owning product development from ...

Senior Food Scientist

Aurora, CO · On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

Senior Food Scientist Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ...

Senior Food Scientist

Aurora, CO · On-site

$100 - $110/hr

Senior Food Scientist Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ...

Senior Food Scientist

Aurora, CO · On-site

$100 - $110/hr

Senior Food Scientist Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ...

The Opportunity: Sr. Food Scientist The Sr Food Scientist will be responsible for leading all aspects of new product development from concept to commercialization, along with supporting value ...

The Opportunity: Sr. Food Scientist The Sr Food Scientist will be responsible for leading all aspects of new product development from concept to commercialization, along with supporting value ...

Senior Food Scientist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

The Senior Food Scientist will work closely with Olam Food Ingredient (OFI) Ingredient and Culinary teams to provide solutions for customer projects. This position will support customers as well as ...

Senior Food Scientist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105K - $130K/yr

As a Senior Food Scientist at Feastables , you will play a crucial role in the development and commercialization of innovative and high-quality food products. Reporting to the Director of Product R&D ...

Applying to this requisition will put you into considering for Food Scientist I, Food Scientist II, Senior Foods Scientist I, or Senior Food Scientist II - Level will be determined through the ...

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Sr Food Scientist information

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How much do sr food scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr food scientist in the United States is $90,961.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $100,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Sr Food Scientist?

A Sr Food Scientist is an experienced professional who leads the development, improvement, and testing of food products. They work on formulating recipes, ensuring food safety and quality, and often manage projects or teams in research and development. Sr Food Scientists collaborate with cross-functional teams such as marketing, production, and quality assurance to bring new food products from concept to market. Their work often involves analyzing ingredients, optimizing processes, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sr Food Scientist?

To thrive as a Sr Food Scientist, you need advanced knowledge of food chemistry, product development, and regulatory standards, typically supported by a degree in food science or a related field. Expertise in laboratory analysis, sensory evaluation tools, and familiarity with food safety certifications like HACCP or SQF are commonly required. Strong project management, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication with cross-functional teams are vital soft skills. These competencies are essential for ensuring innovative, safe, and high-quality food products that meet both regulatory and consumer demands.

What are some common challenges Sr Food Scientists face when leading product development projects?

Sr Food Scientists often encounter challenges such as balancing innovation with regulatory compliance, managing cross-functional teams, and meeting tight project deadlines. They must ensure new products meet both quality standards and consumer expectations, which can involve troubleshooting formulation issues and adapting to supply chain constraints. Effective communication with marketing, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams is essential to drive projects forward smoothly and deliver successful product launches.

What is the difference between Sr Food Scientist vs Food Scientist?

AspectSr Food ScientistFood Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Food Science, experience preferredBachelor's or Master's in Food Science or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, product development, quality assuranceResearch labs, production facilities, quality control
Employer & Industry UsageFood manufacturing, R&D departments, large food companiesFood manufacturing, research institutions, smaller companies

The main difference between a Sr Food Scientist and a Food Scientist lies in experience level and responsibilities. A Sr Food Scientist typically has more experience, takes on leadership roles in product development, and may oversee projects. In contrast, a Food Scientist is often an entry- to mid-level role focused on research and testing. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work in comparable environments, but the senior position involves greater responsibility and expertise.

More about Sr Food Scientist jobs

What cities are hiring for Sr Food Scientist jobs?

Cities with the most Sr Food Scientist job openings:

What states have the most Sr Food Scientist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Sr Food Scientist jobs include:

Infographic showing various Sr Food Scientist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, and 30% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,961 per year, or $43.7 per hour.

Senior Food Scientist

Tyson Foods

Springdale, AR

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New


Tyson Foods rating

6.4

Company rating: 6.4 out of 10

Based on 556 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

299th of 444 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Job Details:

Applying to this requisition will put you into consideration for Senior Food Scientist I or Senior Food Scientist II - Level will be determined through the interview process.

Summary

The Senior Food Scientist is responsible for developing and commercializing new and improved products and/or processes through guidance from their manager. This covers all stages of product development and process development including writing new product specifications, and ensuring regulatory labeling and food safety requirements are met. Additional responsibilities include developing samples/prototypes of new products, modifying existing products, optimizing existing products, developing specifications for product production labeling, and compiling cost analysis information. The person in this position will have a strong working knowledge of the scientific methods and is expected to leverage knowledge related to ingredients, product formulation and food processing to support best in class development of new, innovative food products. In addition, the person in this role will lead and execute cook validations for products in support of commercialization workstreams. This will include planning, conducting, documenting, and communicating cook validation studies across products, production lines, and fryer platforms to verify food safety, enable optimized cooking procedures, and support consistent restaurant quality.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

  • Working with and strongly influencing marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations and purchasing departments, coordinating with suppliers of ingredients, ensuring smooth startup for new product production processes
  • Modifying or optimizing existing products, developing specifications for product production labeling, and compiling cost analysis information.
  • Work multiple development and optimization projects of moderate complexity, independently, from concept through commercialization with guidance from manager. This includes planning, executing experiments, analyzing data, reporting results.
  • Execute the development process with activities that include bench top development, pilot plant testing, and scaleup production at a federally inspected research facility and final commercialization at full scale production facility
  • Strong working knowledge of the following is a plus: poultry new product development and optimization including battered and breaded products
  • Help team to identify innovation that is treated as IP that can give Tyson a competitive edge in the industry
  • Analyze data to build product specifications that are process capable
  • Present technical data or concepts to laypersons on their level of understanding
  • Compile cost analysis information and provide to product management
  • Ensure costing structure meets the financial expectations of projects
  • Work on cross functional teams across the organization for project completion that will ultimately help achieve our growth and EBIT strategies
  • Travel to plant production facilities
  • Take on and complete special projects as needed.
  • Develop culinary samples/prototypes of new products, modifying existing products, optimizing existing products, developing specifications
  • Develop product production labels and compile cost analysis information
  • Strong working knowledge of the scientific methods and is expected to leverage knowledge related to ingredients, product formulation and food processing to support best in class development of new, innovative food products
  • Work with and influence cross functional team members (marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations and purchasing departments, coordinating with suppliers of ingredients) while ensuring smooth start-up for new product production processes
  • Work with process development to develop process flow charts for engineering
  • Ability and Initiative to grow within the organization and develop a personal development plan with your manager

Requirements:

Senior Food Scientist II - Education & Experience:

BS, MS or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering or related field. Related degree with minimum of 8 years relevant Research and Development work experience. No degree with minimum of 15 years relevant experience.

Senior Food Scientist I - Education & Experience:

BS, MS or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering or related field. PhD with minimum of 2 years of relevant experience. M.S. with minimum of 3 years of relevant experience. B.S. with minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. No degree with minimum of 10 years relevant experience.

Other Requirements:

Computer Skills:

Requires good computer skills with ability to fully utilize MS Office products and Tyson systems (or like systems).

Communication Skills:

Good verbal and written communication skills required, presentation skills required, must have the ability to effectively communicate with cross functional business partners

Special Skills:

Strong critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills, strong project management skills. Strong numerical skills, understanding of product formulation, food processing and the Research and Development process, understanding of regulatory labeling and food safety requirements

Supervisory:

May supervise a team of hourly technicians that support a team of scientists.

Travel:

25-50%. Travel will be required to accomplish our internal and external customer needs. This includes customer meetings, visiting production facilities for testing and commercialization of new products, process troubleshooting and any other regular business needs.

Position Specific Requirements:

  • Applicants should either upload a resume to their application on Workday OR make sure their Career Profile in Workday is up to date and complete.

  • Must reside in the United States to be considered.

  • Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Work Shift:

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

Certain roles at Tyson require background checks. If you are offered a position that requires a background check you will be provided additional documentation to complete once an offer has been extended.

Hourly Applicants ONLY -You must complete the task after submitting your application to provide additional information to be considered for employment.


The successful candidate(s) must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.


Tyson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.


We provide our team members and their families with paid time off; 401(k) plans; affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; and more.


If you would like to learn more about your data privacy rights and how you may use that information, please read our Job Applicant Privacy Notice here.


Unsolicited Assistance: Tyson Foods and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for open positions within the United States. Any resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee or applicant tracking system at Tyson Foods or its subsidiaries, without a valid written request and search agreement approved by HR, will be considered the property of Tyson Foods. No fees will be paid if the candidate is hired due to an unsolicited referral.


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