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Test Kitchen Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Excel Fitness

Procurement & Supply Chain Director

Austin, TX · On-site

$177K - $200K/yr

Source menu ingredients and inputs in partnership with the Concept leadership and test kitchen, ensuring specification integrity, supply continuity, and competitive pricing as the menu develops.

White Lodging

Dishwasher/Kitchen Steward Supervisor

Austin, TX · On-site

$14.25 - $17.75/hr

... Kitchen, Restaurants, Banquets, IRD and the Rooms areas. Oversees the team in operation of the ... sink with test strips to ensure our sanitizers are working properly and log it down into the ...

AccorHotel

HVAC-Refrigeration-Kitchen Tech

Austin, TX · On-site

... and Kitchen Equipment Technician to join our Engineering team. This role is responsible for ... test for leaks; calibrate equipment; and perform emergency repairs as needed. * Read and interpret ...

The Kitchen

Prep Cook

Austin, TX · On-site

$17 - $24/hr

Prep Cook Summary The Kitchen Bistro in Austin is a community gathering spot featuring a seasonal ... Test the temperature of foods at specified intervals. * Cleans, organizes and maintains ...

FAIRMONT

HVAC-Refrigeration-Kitchen Tech

Austin, TX

... and Kitchen Equipment Technician to join our Engineering team. This role is responsible for ... test for leaks; calibrate equipment; and perform emergency repairs as needed. * Read and interpret ...

AccorHotel

HVAC-Refrigeration-Kitchen Tech

Austin, TX · On-site

... and Kitchen Equipment Technician to join our Engineering team. This role is responsible for ... test for leaks; calibrate equipment; and perform emergency repairs as needed. * Read and interpret ...

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Test Kitchen information

See Austin, TX salary details

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How much do test kitchen jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for test kitchen in Austin, TX is $25.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.00 and $28.37 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a test kitchen?

A test kitchen is a professional space where chefs, food scientists, and culinary experts develop, test, and refine recipes, food products, and cooking techniques before they are released to the public. These kitchens are often used by food companies, restaurants, magazines, and appliance manufacturers to ensure quality, consistency, and safety. The work in a test kitchen involves experimenting with ingredients, adjusting cooking methods, and documenting results to create reliable and replicable recipes.

What are test kitchen jobs?

Test kitchen jobs focus on the preparation and use of ingredients, particularly when trying to create a new recipe for others to follow. These positions typically involve a significant amount of culinary expertise, and you may be asked to taste and cook a wide variety of new or unfamiliar foods. Many test kitchen jobs have additional requirements based on the needs of the company. For example, test kitchens for chain restaurants need to set up a supply chain for every ingredient, so there may be limits on the types of ingredients available. Other restaurants may work with less skilled chefs, so the recipes must be written to accommodate these skill levels. Balancing the creation of good food with operational limitations is one of the most important aspects of a test kitchen job.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in a test kitchen, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in a test kitchen often face challenges such as tight deadlines for recipe development, balancing creativity with strict nutritional or cost guidelines, and ensuring recipes are reproducible at scale. Collaboration with chefs, food scientists, and marketing teams is essential, as feedback loops can be fast-paced and iterative. Staying organized, maintaining clear documentation, and being open to constructive critique can help navigate these challenges and contribute to successful product launches.

What is the difference between Test Kitchen vs Test Engineer?

AspectTest KitchenTest Engineer
Required CredentialsExperience with testing tools, basic scripting, sometimes certifications in quality assuranceEngineering degree, certifications in testing or quality assurance, technical expertise
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, quality assurance labs, agile environmentsDevelopment teams, R&D departments, product testing labs
Industry UsageSoftware development, DevOps, continuous integrationSoftware, hardware, manufacturing industries
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for testing roles in software projectsCompared for technical testing and quality assurance roles

Test Kitchen is primarily a testing tool used by developers and QA teams to automate and manage testing environments, especially in software development. Test Engineer, on the other hand, is a professional role involving designing, executing, and managing testing processes. While both focus on testing, Test Kitchen is a tool, and Test Engineer is a job title requiring broader technical skills and certifications.

How do I get a job in a test kitchen?

To get a job in a test kitchen, candidates typically need relevant culinary or food science experience, strong tasting and evaluation skills, and familiarity with recipe development and testing. Many positions require a culinary degree or related certification, along with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and collaborate with a team.
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For Test Kitchen jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Test Kitchen jobs near you
Infographic showing various Test Kitchen job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Full Time, and 67% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $52,225 per year, or $25.1 per hour.

Procurement & Supply Chain Director

Excel Fitness

Austin, TX • On-site

$177K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design and establish the end-to-end supply chain supporting store openings and multi-unit scaling, including distribution strategy, service levels, and lead-time planning.

  • Lead selection, negotiation, and contracting of distribution partners, and define logistics strategies as units and markets expand.

  • Own key supplier relationships, including qualification, negotiation, performance management, and sourcing of packaging, ingredients, and equipment.

Job description

Duties and Responsibilities:
Quick Serve F&B Concept Supply Chain Leadership (primary focus)
  • Design and stand up the end-to-end supply chain supporting first-store opening and subsequent multi-unit scaling, including distribution strategy, service levels, and lead-time planning.
  • Lead selection, negotiation, and contracting of broadline and specialty distribution partners; define distribution center and third-party logistics strategy as unit count and markets expand.
  • Establish cold chain requirements and controls with distribution and logistics partners to protect product quality and consistency.
  • Own key supplier relationships, including qualification, negotiation, pricing structures, and ongoing performance management.
  • Source packaging, cups, smallwares, uniforms, and branded merchandise, balancing brand standards, unit economics, and lead-time reliability.
  • Source menu ingredients and inputs in partnership with the Concept leadership and test kitchen, ensuring specification integrity, supply continuity, and competitive pricing as the menu develops.
  • Partner with the Development/Construction teams to support sourcing of equipment and owner-provided items for new builds.

Centralized Procurement Function Build-Out
  • Design and implement the operating model for a centralized procurement function serving multiple brands, including scope, service model, intake process, and expectations.
  • Author and implement enterprise procurement policy, including spend thresholds, approval authority, competitive bidding requirements, sole-source justification, and contract standards.
  • Transition decentralized, department-managed purchasing into a governed central process, sequencing categories by value, risk, and organizational readiness.
  • Establish sourcing playbooks, RFx templates, negotiation standards, and supplier onboarding and qualification workflows.
  • Define the procurement roadmap and department plan that scales the function.

Systems & Process Ownership
  • Drive system and process adoption in partnership with stakeholders, including training content, quick reference materials, and ongoing reinforcement.
  • Measure and report procurement compliance, such as PO compliance rate, on-contract spend, catalog utilization, and receiving completion, and close gaps through process change and coaching.
  • Evaluate and recommend additional procurement and supply chain technology to support growth.

Supplier & Contract Management
  • Lead supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, and performance management as assigned.
  • Establish service level agreements, scorecards, and business review cadence for key suppliers.
  • Partner with Legal on contract lifecycle management, risk allocation, insurance and indemnity requirements, renewal tracking, and compliance.
  • Translate sourcing activity into quantified business impact and report results to the ELT.

Leadership & Business Partnership
  • Lead, develop, and scale the procurement function as it matures.
  • Set priorities, KPIs, and performance expectations and establish a reporting cadence.
  • Serve as a credible, responsive partner to stakeholders.

Qualifications:
Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, Operations, or a related field is required. Equivalent related work experience or combination of experience and education may be considered in lieu of Bachelor's degree.
  • At least 7 years of progressive procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience, including responsibility for supplier negotiation and contracting.
  • At least 2 years of experience managing, directing, and developing a procurement team preferred.
  • Direct quick-service restaurant, fast casual, or food and beverage supply chain experience, including distributor management and multi-unit replenishment.
  • Demonstrated experience building or materially rebuilding a procurement or supply chain function, rather than only operating an established one.
  • Multi-site, multi-unit operating experience in restaurant, retail, hospitality, or fitness.
  • Working knowledge of procure-to-pay platforms (Coupa, R365, Crunchtime, MarginEdge, Marketman, or similar), including workflow configuration and adoption.
  • Strong financial acumen and the ability to translate procurement actions into quantified P&L and working capital impact.
  • Proven ability to influence cross-functionally and drive process change in an organization moving from decentralized to centralized practice.
  • Comfort operating hands-on with limited support in a fast-moving, growth-stage environment.

Preferred
  • Experience supporting a new concept or brand launch from pre-opening through scaling.
  • Beverage or cold chain category experience.
  • Experience supporting construction and development procurement, including equipment and owner-provided items.
  • Prior experience in a private equity-backed or high-growth multi-brand platform.
  • Professional certification such as CPSM, CSCP, CPM, CPIM, etc.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position will directly oversee all in the procurement department and is responsible for the performance management and hiring of all individual team members.
Budgetary Responsibility: This position prepares an annual budget and is accountable for all department expenditures and variances.
Work Environment: This job primarily operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that a Team Player must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
  • Regularly required to talk and hear.
  • Frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
  • Occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
  • Must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 25 pounds.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time, exempt position. Under the Regulations, Part 541, an exempt Team Player is one who is not entitled to the minimum wage or overtime pay protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Standard work days and hours are Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. This position may work outside of normal business hours, including evenings and weekends.
Travel: Approximately 25% of travel is expected for this position. Must be willing to travel based on company need to all locations. Overnight trips may be necessary.
EEO Statement: Excel Fitness is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the policy of equal employment opportunity in recruitment, hiring, career advancement, and all other employment practices.
Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the Team Player for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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