Culinary R&D Associate Los Angeles, CA

Lab37; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company-paid life and disability insurance

401(k)

Discretionary vacation days

8 paid holidays per year

Job summary

Lab37 Robotics in Los Angeles is seeking a Culinary Developer to drive innovative recipes and culinary strategies for its robotic food production. You will collaborate with different teams to develop and iterate recipes, ensuring high standards are met while rapidly converting market opportunities into executable culinary solutions.

This position requires a passion for both culinary arts and innovation, as well as a structured approach to recipe testing and development. Benefits include medical insurance, 401(k), and discretionary vacation days.

Qualifications

• 2 years culinary experience, with at least 4 years in recipe development.
• Strong knowledge of different cuisine types.
• Ability to develop, test, and iterate recipes quickly without sacrificing quality.
• Methodical and organized in recipe development.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a culinary roadmap aligned with company goals.
• Lead the R&D pipeline for new and core brands.
• Research supplier opportunities to reduce costs.
• Partner with multiple teams to ensure flawless execution of launches.

Skills

Culinary experience

Recipe development

Systems thinking

Speed in development

Consultative skills

Job description

Lab37 Robotics is a technology company focused on the development and deployment of robots designed specifically for direct-to-customer food production. Our mission is to revolutionize the food industry by creating innovative robotic solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction. We are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology to deliver cutting‑edge products that meet the evolving needs of our clients.

You’re the culinary engine behind everything we build — new brands, core brands, and everything in between. You translate market opportunities and brand briefs into real food: the component systems, recipes, and operational playbooks that make our brands cook at scale. This isn’t just an R&D role — you’re helping define the culinary roadmap for a business with ambitions of X+ locations, household‑name brands, and the gold standard in digital‑first dining. You’ll own the full pipeline from first sketch to production‑ready, and launch execution.

What you’ll do

• Define and execute a cohesive culinary roadmap — new brands, core brands, and LTO strategy — aligned with our long‑term goals: X+ locations, highly profitable, the gold standard in digital‑first
• Lead the R&D pipeline for both new and core brands
• Develop and execute an LTO strategy that balances culinary innovation with the realities of small, extremely high‑volume footprints
• Develop, test, and iterate recipes from base testing through production‑scale validation (COGS + labor); parameterize and certify for robotic systems
• Build prep task libraries, order guides, and weekly production plans from PMIX models
• Research supplier opportunities to reduce costs and improve ingredient quality
• Build and maintain the component library — identify cross‑brand reuse opportunities to maximize efficiency
• Collaborate with Ops to establish and enforce elite standards for prep, presentation, and safety (HACCP)
• Partner with Brand Manager, Designer, Ops, and Tech to ensure new launches are executed flawlessly in every kitchen

What we are looking for

• 2 years culinary experience, with at least 4 years in a recipe development and culinary R&D.
• Strong and diverse knowledge of different cuisine types — you can crank out an amazing smash burger and turn around and dish out a green curry that feels like sitting on the streets of Bangkok.
• Strong systems thinking — you design components, not just dishes
• Experience working at speed: you can develop, test, and iterate fast without sacrificing quality
• Methodical recipe developer: you build a quarterly roadmap and translate into weekly sprint schedules, stay rigorously organized, and test with intention — only running tests that matter under requirements that are clearly defined upfront so nothing is wasted.
• Can put on a consultant hat, go into kitchen operations, and/or receive ratings feedback, identify opportunities for continuous improvement, and translate those insights into the team’s roadmap.
• You gather data continuously throughout the process to capture every necessary output, and you document with precision and detail so the final recipe lands production‑ready, the first time
• Passion for building something new, not just executing someone else’s playbook
• Demand for online food delivery is growing really fast! In the last 5 years, just in the US, the overall market has expanded 10X from $10B to $100B, and could expand to $500bn‑ $1T by 2030.
• Changing the restaurant industry: You’ll be part of a team that helps restaurants succeed in online food delivery.
• Collaborative environment: You will receive support and guidance from experienced colleagues and managers, helping you to learn, grow and achieve your goals, and you’ll work closely with other teams to ensure our customer’s success.

This role is based in our Los Angeles office. As a company driven by invention and continuous change - we are constantly reimagining our industries, building new products, and refining how we operate. We do our best work together. That’s why all of our office‑based teams work onsite, five days a week.

The base salary range for this role is $70,000 - $110,000 per year. Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, and qualifications. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for equity awards and an annual performance‑based bonus.

Benefits Summary (USA Full‑Time Exempt Employees)

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plans, incl. HSA options).
• Company‑paid life and disability insurance (short‑ and long‑term).
• Voluntary insurance: accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity.
• Optional supplemental life insurance for self, spouse, and children.
• 401(k).
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)
• Discretionary vacation days
• 8 paid holidays per year

Benefits are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

As set forth in Lab37’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.