Food Science NPD Analyst & Innovation Specialist

Del Monte Foods; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Employerpaid life & disability insured

FSA

PTO

7 Company Paid Holidays

24/7 Telemedicine & EAP

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. seeks a Food Science Analyst to join its New Product Development team.

You will support formulation, testing, and commercialization of innovative food and fresh-cut fruit products, collaborating with QA, production, procurement, marketing, and food safety teams to ensure quality and regulatory compliance. The role involves conducting sensory and shelf-life tests, evaluating ingredients, and presenting findings to internal stakeholders to drive brand growth.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years in food/beverage product development or QA.
• Bachelor's in food science or related field.
• Knowledge of food processing and packaging tech.
• Experience with food safety testing methods.
• Familiarity with HACCP, GMPs, FDA/USDA.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPD product formulation and iterative testing to meet shelf-life goals.
• Conduct sensory and shelf-life testing to assess quality and stability.
• Analyze market products and reverse-engineer formulations for innovation.
• Support scale-up with production teams for efficiency.
• Prepare prototypes and samples for evaluations and sales pitches.
• Perform analytical tests (pH, Brix, organoleptic) to ensure compliance.
• Investigate new ingredients and preservation methods for quality.
• Coordinate with suppliers to source high-quality materials.
• Maintain NPD ingredient inventory for ongoing trials.
• Ensure compliance with labeling and safety standards.
• Support sensory panels and consumer testing feedback.
• Document results and present findings to stakeholders.
• Propose data-driven product recommendations to teams.
• Collaborate with suppliers to improve processes for viability.
• Promote an innovative, food-forward mindset.

Skills

Product development

Quality assurance

R&D

Analytical testing

HACCP

Food safety regs

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science

Job description

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. seeks a Food Science Analyst to join its New Product Development team.

You will support formulation, testing, and commercialization of innovative food and fresh-cut fruit products, collaborating with QA, production, procurement, marketing, and food safety teams to ensure quality and regulatory compliance. The role involves conducting sensory and shelf-life tests, evaluating ingredients, and presenting findings to internal stakeholders to drive brand growth.