Associate Food Scientist

JAI Development; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing company in New York is seeking an Associate Food & Beverage Scientist to join their team. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 1–3 years of experience in food and beverage R&D. You'll engage in hands-on formulation, ingredient research, and collaboration with project managers, contributing to innovative food and beverage products.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of relevant experience in food and/or beverage R&D.
• Familiarity with common food ingredients and lab-scale equipment.
• Passion for innovation and consumer-driven product development.

Responsibilities

• Execute formulation and bench top testing under senior R&D direction.
• Conduct ingredient research and assist in sourcing and evaluating components.
• Support development and refinement of prototypes to meet client briefs.

Skills

Organizational skills

Documentation skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Nutrition

Tools

Lab-scale equipment

Basic formulation tools

Job description

We are seeking a hands-on Associate Food & Beverage Scientist to join our growing team. This lab-based role is ideal for someone with foundational formulation experience who’s eager to grow in a collaborative, fast-paced innovation environment. You’ll support a variety of client-facing projects through benchtop development, ingredient research, and documentation—all while contributing to the creation of cutting-edge food and beverage products.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute formulation and bench top testing under the direction of senior R&D staff
  
  
• Conduct ingredient research and assist in sourcing, evaluating, and integrating new components
  
  
• Support the development and refinement of prototypes to meet client briefs and technical targets
  
  
• Accurately document formulations, test batches, and sensory observations
  
  
• Assist in maintaining lab cleanliness, inventory, and equipment calibration
  
  
• Collaborate with project managers and senior scientists to update clients on formulation progress
  
  
• Participate in tastings, stability assessments, and product trials
  
  
• Help prepare samples for internal reviews and external presentations
  
  
• Support quality checks and small-scale pilot runs when needed
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Nutrition, or a related field
  
  
• 1–3 years of relevant experience in food and/or beverage R&D
  
  
• Familiarity with common food ingredients, basic formulation tools, and lab-scale equipment
  
  
• Strong organizational and documentation skills
  
  
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, project-based environment with shifting priorities
  
  
• Excellent communication and team collaboration skills
  
  
• Passion for innovation, problem-solving, and consumer-driven product development
  
  Bonus Qualifications
  
  
  • Experience in beverage, powder, or functional product formulation
    
    
  • Exposure to clean-label, low-sugar, or plant-based development
    
    
  • Familiarity with regulatory labeling, nutritional panels, or quality systems
    
    
  • Previous work with startups or co-manufacturer partners