Food Innovation & Systems Architect (Part-time, Equity only - No pay till funds)

PD Consulting; India; On-site; Part time

Job summary

A food innovation startup in India is seeking a Food Innovation & Systems Architect for a part-time, equity-based role. This position involves designing unique cooking methods, developing custom kitchen devices, and building systems that enhance food quality. Ideal candidates will have hands-on R&D experience and a passion for innovative food solutions. This is not a routine chef or quality control position but a chance to significantly impact product innovation and brand defensibility through patentable ideas.

Qualifications

• Hands-on R&D or innovation experience in food tech, mechanical, product, biotech, or applied research.
• Ability to think in systems rather than following recipes.
• Comfortable working in early-stage, low-resource environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop novel cooking methods that preserve nutrients and gut health.
• Conceptualize and prototype custom cooking utensils and devices.
• Build core Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for food preparation.
• Identify patent-worthy ideas and support drafting technical documentation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute innovations.

Skills

Innovation

Cooking

Device prototyping

Fermentation techniques

Job description

Food Innovation & Systems Architect (Part-time, Equity only - No pay till funds)

2 days ago – Be among the first 25 applicants

About Kefilo

Kefilo is building a next-generation food & nutrition ecosystem focused on clean cooking, gut health, transparency, and scalable systems. We are not just a food brand—we are building processes, devices, and IP that redefine how food is cooked, preserved, and served at scale without compromising nutrition.

Role Objective

To design, develop, and systematize unique cooking methods, kitchen devices, SOPs, and processes that are:

• Nutritionally superior
• Operationally scalable
• Difficult to replicate
• Patentable / IP-protectable

Key Responsibilities

• Food R&D & Process Innovation
  • Develop novel cooking methods that preserve nutrients, gut bacteria, and texture
  • Experiment with low-heat, fermentation-based, batch-optimized cooking techniques
  • Innovate alternatives to commercial processing while maintaining shelf life & safety
• Device & Utensil Innovation
  • Conceptualize and prototype custom cooking utensils, vessels, or kitchen devices
  • Redesign traditional tools for modern, scalable, hygienic use
  • Work with fabricators, engineers, or local manufacturers when needed
• SOP & System Architecture
  • Build core SOPs for:
    • In-house protein prep (tofu, paneer, curd, etc.)
    • Fermentation & storage
    • Batch cooking & portioning
    • Hygiene & safety workflows
  • Convert tacit cooking knowledge into repeatable systems
• Patent & IP Enablement
  • Identify patent-worthy ideas across:
    • Devices
    • Processes
    • Cooking techniques
    • Food system workflows
  • Support drafting of:
    • Invention disclosures
    • Prior art research inputs
    • Technical documentation for patent filing (Legal filing handled separately)
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with:
    • Kitchen team
    • Nutrition & wellness team
    • Founders
  • Translate innovation into real kitchen execution, not lab-only ideas

Who This Role Is For

• Someone with hands-on R&D or innovation experience (food tech, mechanical, product, biotech, or applied research)
• Thinks in systems, not recipes
• Comfortable working in early-stage, low-resource environments
• Obsessed with “how can this be done differently and better?”
• Interested in building IP, not just products

What This Role Is NOT

• ❌ Not a routine chef role
• ❌ Not a quality control-only role
• ❌ Not a corporate R&D desk job

Compensation Structure

• Equity-based founding role
• No fixed salary in the initial phase
• Equity finalized through:
  • Multiple discussion rounds
  • 1-month NDA-based working cohort
  • Cofounder / core-member agreement
  • Equity vesting post company structuring & funding

Impact of This Role

• Direct ownership of Kefilo’s core IP moat
• Long-term influence on:
  • Product innovation
  • Brand defensibility
  • Technology roadmap
• Opportunity to co-create patented food systems, not just meals

Skills

innovation, cooking, devices, fermentation