Gluten-Free Bakery R&D Scientist

BFree Foods Limited; Crossmaglen; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

BFree Foods Limited, based in Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland, is seeking a Food Scientist to lead development of gluten-free bakery and snacking products. You will drive projects from concept to launch, collaborating with Food Science, Innovation, Operations, and external partners to deliver differentiated products for domestic and international markets.

The role requires a degree in Food Science and at least 5 years’ experience in product development, with strong knowledge of gluten-free

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science or related discipline.
• Min. 5 years’ experience in food product development.
• Experience in bakery, snacks, or cereal-based products.
• Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality and food manufacturing.
• Product formulation and recipe optimisation.
• Gluten-free ingredient systems and functionality.
• Project management and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the technical development of new gluten-free products from concept to launch.
• Design, formulate and optimise recipes to achieve quality, nutritional and cost targets.
• Conduct ingredient evaluations and factory trials.
• Develop expertise in gluten-free ingredient systems including hydrocolloids, starches, fibres, proteins, enzymes, and fermentation technologies.
• Understand and optimise dough and baking systems to improve texture, shelf life, nutritional quality and manufacturing robustness.
• Investigate emerging ingredients and technologies that enhance the functionality of gluten-free products.
• Support scale-up, troubleshooting and commercialisation activities.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, allergen and labelling requirements.
• Own the day-to-day operation and continuous improvement of the development laboratory/test bakery, ensuring equipment, methodologies, safety standards and experimental practices support efficient product development.
• Support sensory evaluation programmes and consumer testing activities.
• Benchmark products against competitive and adjacent category offerings.
• Identify innovation opportunities within bakery, snacking, and health-focused categories.

Skills

Food product development

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Ingredient functionality

Quality and safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science

Job description

BFree Foods Limited, based in Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland, is seeking a Food Scientist to lead development of gluten-free bakery and snacking products. You will drive projects from concept to launch, collaborating with Food Science, Innovation, Operations, and external partners to deliver differentiated products for domestic and international markets.

The role requires a degree in Food Science and at least 5 years’ experience in product development, with strong knowledge of gluten-free