Associate Principal Scientist, Innovation - Scientific Affairs

Liquid I.V.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 116,100 - 174,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical, dental and视

401k plan with company match

13+ paid annual holidays

Wellness classes

Employee Assistance Program

Monthly tech and wellness Reimburse

Infinite supply of Liquid I.V.

Job summary

Liquid I.V. is seeking an Associate/Principal Scientist, Innovation to lead and execute our new product innovation pipeline.

Reporting to the Manager of Innovation and Claims, this role works cross-functionally with R&D, Regulatory, Brand Innovation, and Unilever partners. The ideal candidate will deliver innovative concepts, ingredients and technologies that translate cutting-edge science into commercially compelling products, staying ahead of industry trends and communicating findings to both

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nutrition, exercise physiology, or a related field is required.
• 6+ years of experience in scientific affairs, R&D, or innovation within CPG or dietary supplements.
• Deep expertise with dietary supplement ingredients and functional formats is preferred.
• Experience supporting innovation from concept to commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Scientific Affairs lead in the innovation engine with cross‑functional partners.
• Scout globally for emerging science and ingredients to inform the pipeline.
• Assess scientific feasibility, ingredients rationale, dosing, and differentiation potential.
• Design and support claims substantiation aligned with regulatory needs.
• Influence formulation development for feasible and beneficial products.
• Help drive an innovation strategy and forward-thinking science.
• Maintain internal scientific databases and knowledge-sharing resources.
• Co‑develop technology tool-kits with Product Development, Marketing, and Supply Chain.

Skills

Scientific affairs

R&D

Innovation

Cross-functional collaboration

AI tools

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

PubMed

Education

Master’s degree in nutrition, exercise physiology, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Citation managers

PubMed

Job description

About Liquid I.V.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the role. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to the company’s mission, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Liquid I.V.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know that the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives that encourage new ways of solving problems, so we strive to attract and develop talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

About our Team

We are a world‑class team of innovators and passionate change‑makers, looking to develop transformative hydration solutions.

At Liquid I.V., we are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve.

Our team members enjoy a flexible and inclusive working environment, a highly collaborative and innovation‑forward culture, generous benefits and perks that empower employees to champion their wellbeing every day, as well as an infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for extraordinary hydration.

About the role

Liquid I.V. is looking for a creative and highly technical Associate/Principal Scientist, Innovation to help lead and execute delivery of our exciting new product innovation pipeline. Reporting to the Manager of Innovation and Claims, this role is highly cross functional and will engage with all levels of the organization cross‑functionally along with Unilever counterparts.

The ideal candidate will hold the bar high in delivering innovative concepts, ingredients and technologies leading to undeniable product superiority. They are well informed and plugged into industry trends. They are highly technical while maintaining a business‑forward approach and are not only capable of designing/executing experiments independently, but are also able to communicate their findings to both technical and non‑technical business partners.

The successful candidate is equal parts scientist, trend scout, and innovation strategist, someone who is passionate about translating cutting‑edge science into commercially compelling concepts.

They will continuously explore new ingredients, supplier capabilities, clinical evidence, and consumer trends, transforming insights into science‑backed product concepts that influence our innovation pipeline from ideation through commercialization.

This is an opportunity for someone who thrives on discovering what’s next and helping take Liquid I.V. to new heights through differentiated, science‑led innovation.

Functions and duties of this role include, but not limited to

• Serve as a Scientific Affairs lead in the innovation engine, partnering with R&D, Regulatory, Brand Innovation, and other cross‑functional teams to shape early‑stage concepts and sprint work
• Scout globally for emerging science, ingredients, technologies and white space opportunities to inform the innovation pipeline and support differentiated benefit platforms
• Contribute to pipeline prioritization by assessing scientific feasibility, ingredient rationale, dosing considerations, mechanism alignment, and differentiation potential
• Design and support claims substantiation strategies aligned with product concepts, regulatory requirements, and commercialization needs
• Influence formulation development by ensuring alignment between scientific rationale, technical feasibility, ingredient selection, and intended product benefits
• Influence Innovation Strategy to drive science forward innovative thinking
• Maintain internal scientific databases, evidence tools, and knowledge‑sharing resources to support efficient retrieval, reuse, and organizational learning
• Co‑develop technology tool‑kits and processes (i.e. ingredients, suppliers, formats, etc) with Product Development, Marketing, and Supply Chain to best enable rapid ideation and prototype work

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nutrition, exercise physiology, or related field
• 6+ years of relevant experience in scientific affairs, R&D, or innovation within CPG, dietary supplements, or functional foods with a strong track record of new product launches within the category
• Deep expertise and experience with a variety of dietary supplement ingredients, suppliers, and functional formats (preferred)
• Demonstrated experience supporting innovation engines from concept through commercialization
• Experience working cross‑functionally with brand innovation, product development, regulatory affairs and other business groups
• Experience leveraging AI tools and platforms
• Ability to assess scientific feasibility of concepts, ingredients, and benefit territories
• Strong knowledge of dietary supplements, functional foods, and health claims
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific information into clear and concise messages
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Citation Managers, and PubMed
• Detail‑oriented, organized, and self‑motivated

What We Give

• 100% company‑paid medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (PPO, HMO and Kaiser options)
• A 401k plan with company match, short and long‑term disability coverage
• A generous PTO and sick policy that includes 13+ paid annual holidays
• Wellness classes (fitness, mental health, nutrition, finance, etc.)
• An Employee Assistance Program, including membership for guided meditation for all employees
• Monthly tech and wellness reimbursement
• An infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for endless hydration

Work Environment

• This role is HYBRID (El Segundo, CA) office environment with flexibility for industry events; travel 20‑30% of the time

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Compensation

The compensation band for this position is $116,100 - $174,100 annually. The exact salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, internal company equity, and budget. The listed range is applicable only to the annual base salary and does not include additional perks, benefits, or applicable bonus eligibility comprising the total compensation package.

Liquid I.V. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

You can find the Unilever privacy note here