Food Technology Specialist

Pluckk; Mumbai; On-site; INR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A food technology company is seeking a Food Technology Specialist to ensure product safety and innovation in recipe formulations. The successful candidate will manage compliance with FSSAI standards, lead new product development, and collaborate across teams to align products with market strategies. This role requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Technology and 4-6 years of relevant experience, preferably in packaged foods or FMCG.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of experience in food product development, QA, or R&D.
• Experience in packaged foods, FMCG or health-focused products preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop new product formulations aligned to brand vision.
• Ensure 100% FSSAI compliance for all developed SKUs.
• Liaise with brand, design, and sales teams for product alignment.

Skills

New product formulations

Consumer needs translation

Lab and pilot trials

Vendor sourcing

FSSAI compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Food Technology or related fields

Job description

The Food Technology Specialist will be responsible for ensuring product safety, quality, and compliance while driving innovation in recipes, formulations and shelf-life improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new product formulations aligned to brand vision — juices, soups, snacks, smoothies, frozen, healthy snacking
• Translate consumer needs and trends into differentiated clean-label product ideas
• Run competitor benchmarking and ingredient research for new concept feasibility
• Own lab and pilot trials, shelf-life studies, and texture/taste optimization
• Work closely with chefs, nutritionists, and vendors for culinary and functional balance
• Lead documentation of BOMs, SOPs, yield, nutritional information, and production readiness
• Troubleshoot issues related to processing, storage, preservation, and scalability
• Source and onboard vendors for functional ingredients, packaging materials, and co-packers
• Negotiate and align timelines, MOQs, and quality specs
• Ensure test runs are executed efficiently with measurable outcomes

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure 100% FSSAI compliance for all developed SKUs including labeling, shelf life, and nutritional claims
• Coordinate with labs for nutritional, microbiological, and heavy metal testing
• Support documentation required for audits, licensing, and packaging approvals

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Liaise with brand, design, and sales teams to ensure product alignment with marketing claims and go-to-market strategies
• Support marketing with inputs for storytelling, ingredient claims, and innovation messaging
• Ensure innovation timelines are met with rapid prototyping and commercial readiness.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, or related fields.
• 4–6 years of experience in food product development, QA, or R&D.
• Experience in packaged foods, FMCG, or health-focused products preferred.