Confectionary Application Technologist

Actalent; Addison (IL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Addison, IL is seeking a Confectionery Technologist to develop and optimize formulations for gummies, chocolate, licorice and other confectionery products. You will mentor technicians, lead strategic presentations, and support customer interactions.

This role requires 3–5 years in confectionery product development, bench-to-manufacturing scale-up, and strong project management. Travel up to 25% domestically to support customers, attend demonstrations, and participate in pilot plant

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of product development in confections, specifically in chocolate, gummies, licorice, hard and soft candy.
• Experience scaling from bench-top to commercial manufacturing.
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field.
• Strong project and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize confectionery formulations.
• Mentor laboratory technicians and junior technologists.
• Lead strategic customer presentations and trade shows.
• Travel up to 25% domestically to support customer visits and demonstrations.
• Answer technical questions about formulations, ingredients, and processes.
• Evaluate flavor performance and texture systems in confectionery applications.
• Develop new product ideas aligned with customer needs and company growth.
• Lead pilot trials and manage stability checks for shelf life.

Skills

Product development

Scale-up experience

Project management

Time management

Flavor masking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

Job Title: Confectionery Technologist

Job Description

We are seeking a skilled Confectionery Technologist to join our team. This role involves developing and optimizing formulations for various confectionery products including gummies, licorice, chocolate, and more. You will also mentor junior staff, lead strategic presentations, and support customer interactions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize formulations for gummies, nutraceutical gummies, licorice, chocolate, compound coatings, hard candy, soft candy, pectin systems, starch-molded confections, chews, and related confectionery products.
• Mentor laboratory technicians and junior technologists on confectionery formulation and processing techniques.
• Lead strategic customer presentations, product demonstrations, and trade shows.
• Travel up to 25% domestically to support customer visits, product demonstrations, manufacturing trials, pilot plant activities, and trade shows.
• Support customers by answering technical questions about formulations, ingredients, production processes, labeling, and compliance.
• Evaluate flavor performance, sweetness systems, masking technologies, texture systems, and color performance in confectionery applications.
• Develop new product ideas that align with customer needs and support company growth.
• Lead pilot trials and manage physical/chemical stability checks to determine shelf life reliability.
• Troubleshoot formulation, texture, processing, shelf-life, and flavor delivery challenges in confectionery systems.
• Support product development and applications teams in tastings, information sharing, concept development, training, and sample creation as needed.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records of formulations, processing parameters, project activities, stability studies, and test results.
• Conduct sensory evaluations and participate in internal tasting panels to assess flavor, texture, and overall product performance.
• Report any food safety or quality issues to appropriate personnel.

Essential Skills

• 3-5 years of product development in confections, specifically in chocolate, gummies, licorice, hard and soft candy.
• Ability to support scale-up activities from bench-top development through commercial manufacturing.
• Bachelors degree in Food Science, Confectionery Science, Culinary Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 2-3 years of confectionery product development or applications experience.
• Project management and time-management skills.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Preferred experience in flavor masking technologies and sweetness optimization for nutraceutical (gummy) products.
• Knowledge of chocolate processing, tempering, viscosity management.
• Open to more higher level roles with 5+ years of confectionery product development, applications, or commercialization experience, especially if they also have beverage product development experience.

Work Environment

The role is primarily based in a lab environment, with occasional visits to production areas. The lab is GMP regulated and moderately loud. PPE, including eye protection and steel-toed shoes, will be provided. The role involves working with the applications team and requires comfort with exposure to the big 9 allergens. The work involves frequent sitting and standing, some lifting of 20-30 pounds, and requires color perception. The lab has a moderate noise level.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Addison, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $43.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Addison,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 16, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.