Food / Protein Chemistry Scientist

Just Food Company; Emeryville (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health coverage

Flexible time off

Holidays

Job summary

Just Food Company in Emeryville, CA is seeking a Food/Process Chemist to advance our protein platforms. You will design and execute studies on protein extraction, structure-function, stability, and performance to translate findings into better ingredients and processes.

The role requires a PhD in a related field with 2+ years of industry experience or a Master’s with 5+ years. You will work hands-on, debug ambiguous issues, and collaborate with Product Development, Process/Manufacturing, QA.

Qualifications

• PhD in Food Science, Protein Chemistry, Chemistry or related field with 2+ years industry experience; or Master’s with 5+ years experience.
• Hands-on experience with protein extraction, purification, characterization, functionality, and/or process optimization in food contexts.
• Strong understanding of protein structure‑function and effect of processing on behavior.
• Experience with multiple protein characterization techniques (DSC, spectroscopy, rheology, SDS‑PAGE).
• Ability to design and execute multi-variable experiments using DOE or factorial designs.
• Familiarity with sequence- and structure-based bioinformatics tools (BLAST, alignment, ProtParam).
• Strong analytical judgment to synthesize data into actionable conclusions and recommendations.
• Excellent documentation and communication for technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize novel extraction and processing methods balancing protein functionality and yield.
• Apply analytical methods to understand structure‑function relationships and drivers of performance.
• Troubleshoot and improve protein functionality and stability across processes.
• Evaluate performance through processing, formulation, storage, and shelf life; translate to actionable guidance.
• Interpret complex results, form hypotheses, and plan next experiments.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Process/Manufacturing, and QA to scale findings.
• Maintain rigorous documentation and clearly communicate results to stakeholders.

Skills

PhD in Food Science

Protein Chemistry

Protein extraction

Protein purification

Protein characterization

DOE

Factorial designs

Bioinformatics tools

Data interpretation

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in related field

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

DSC

Fluorescence spectroscopy

Rheology

SDS-PAGE

Job description

Just Food Company is on a mission to build a healthier, safer, and more sustainable food system-starting with what's on your plate. From pioneering plant-based eggs to making real meat without slaughter, we’re reimagining the future of food in ways that are better for people and the planet.

We’re a lean, passionate team of scientists, chefs, engineers, and operators who believe that doing hard things well can make a meaningful difference. We’ve brought groundbreaking innovations to market, like Just Egg and GOOD Meat, and we’re just getting started.

If you’re excited by big challenges, real impact, and the chance to shape what the future tastes like-we’d love to meet you.

We are looking for a Food /Process Chemist to help advance the science behind our food and protein platforms.

This is a highly hands‑on role for someone who combines deep technical expertise in food chemistry and process science with strong experimental judgment and practical problem‑solving skills. You will design and execute studies to better understand protein structure, extraction, functionality, stability, and performance — and translate those findings into better ingredients, products, and processes.

We are looking for someone who doesn't simply execute experiments. You should be comfortable working through ambiguous technical challenges, developing hypotheses, determining what to test next, and turning complex data into clear recommendations that move the work forward.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and optimize novel extraction and processing approaches, balancing protein functionality, extraction yield, food‑grade requirements, scalability, and downstream processing constraints.
• Develop and apply analytical methods to understand protein structure‑function relationships and identify drivers of functional performance.
• Apply protein chemistry, food science, and computational approaches to troubleshoot technical challenges and improve protein functionality and stability.
• Evaluate protein performance through processing, formulation, storage, and shelf life, translating findings into actionable recommendations for product and process development.
• Independently interpret complex or ambiguous results, develop hypotheses, and determine the most valuable next experiments.
• Partner closely with Product Development, Process/Manufacturing, Quality, and other technical teams to translate laboratory findings into practical, scalable solutions.
• Maintain rigorous experimental documentation and clearly communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What You’ll Bring

• PhD in Food Science, Protein Chemistry, , Chemistry, or a closely related field, with a minimum of 2 years of relevant industry experience; or a Master’s degree with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong hands‑on experience with protein extraction, purification, characterization, functionality, and/or process optimization, ideally within food or food‑adjacent applications.
• Strong understanding of protein structure‑function relationships and how processing conditions influence protein behavior and performance.
• Direct experience with multiple protein characterization techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, rheology, SDS‑PAGE, or related analytical methods.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing multi‑variable experiments using DOE, factorial designs, or other systematic optimization approaches.
• Working knowledge of sequence‑and structure‑based bioinformatics tools such as BLAST, structure alignment tools, or ProtParam‑type sequence analysis.
• Strong analytical judgment and ability to synthesize complex experimental data into clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Excellent experimental discipline, documentation, and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both highly technical and non‑technical audiences.
• High degree of independence and self‑direction. You are comfortable determining the next question or experiment rather than relying on a predefined protocol.

Nice to Have

• Experience working specifically with plant, alternative, or novel proteins.
• Experience translating laboratory findings into food applications or scalable manufacturing processes.
• Experience working across both fundamental protein science and applied food/product development.
• Experience with food starch chemistry and/or purification.
• Bonus - Hands‑on experience with cell cultivation, fermentation, or fermentation‑derived proteins.

The Total Package

We develop compensation using market data, internal benchmarks, and candidate experience to ensure fairness and competitiveness.

Compensation:The expected base salary range for this role (Emeryville, CA) is $135,000 to 158,000- the level and respective final compensation will depend on experience and technical depth.

In addition, we offer:

• Equity
• Up to 100% employer‑paid medical, dental, and vision coverage (up to 90% for dependents)
• Flexible time off
• 9 Holidays +company closure between Christmas & New Years

Additional Information & Requirements

• This is a full‑time regular position basedonsite(5 days/week)at our headquarters inEmeryville, CA.We are prioritizing local candidatesat this time.
• At this time, Just Food Company is unable to sponsor or transfer employment visas.Candidates mustbe authorized towork in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.
• In compliance with federal law, all new hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Form I-9 upon hire.
• Just Food Companyand its subsidiariesparticipatein E-Verify.