Food Scientist

Tyson Foods; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401(k) plans

Health benefits

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Tyson Foods in Springdale is seeking Food Scientists I or II to drive development from concept to commercialization. You will develop samples, optimize products, and ensure regulatory labeling and food safety across projects.

The role requires coordinating with marketing, FSQA, operations and suppliers, conducting cook validations, and presenting results to stakeholders. Travel and growth opportunities are included.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Food Science or related field; strong knowledge of food processing.
• Experience with product development, labeling, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to conduct experiments, analyze data, and present results to teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and commercialize new products and processes under guidance.
• Plan and execute cook validations across lines and fry platforms.
• Write product specs, ensure labeling, and compile cost analyses.
• Collaborate with marketing, FSQA, operations, and suppliers.
• Lead development projects from concept to commercialization.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Data analysis

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

MS Office

Education

BS in Food Science

MS in Food Science

PhD in related field

Alt. Protein science

Tools

MS Office

Lab data software

Job description

Job Details

Applying to this requisition will put you into consideration for Food Scientist I or Food Scientist II – Level will be determined through the interview process.

Summary

The Food Scientist is responsible for developing and commercializing new and improved products and/or processes through guidance from their manager. This covers all stages of product development and process development including writing new product specifications, and ensuring regulatory labeling and food safety requirements are met. Additional responsibilities include developing samples/prototypes of new products, modifying existing products, optimizing existing products, developing specifications for product production labeling, and compiling cost analysis information. The person in this position will have a strong working knowledge of the scientific methods and is expected to leverage knowledge related to ingredients, product formulation and food processing to support best in class development of new, innovative food products. In addition, the person in this role will lead and execute cook validations for products in support of commercialization workstreams. This will include planning, conducting, documenting, and communicating cook validation studies across products, production lines, and fryer platforms to verify food safety, enable optimized cooking procedures, and support consistent restaurant quality.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Working with and strongly influencing marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations and purchasing departments, coordinating with suppliers of ingredients, ensuring smooth start‑up for new product production processes
• Modifying or optimizing existing products, developing specifications for product production labeling, and compiling cost analysis information.
• Work multiple development and optimization projects of moderate complexity, independently, from concept through commercialization with guidance from manager. This includes planning, executing experiments, analyzing data, reporting results.
• Execute the development process with activities that include bench top development, pilot plant testing, and scale‑up production at a federally inspected research facility and final commercialization at full scale production facility
• Strong working knowledge of the following is a plus: poultry new product development and optimization including battered and breaded products
• Help team to identify innovation that is treated as IP that can give Tyson a competitive edge in the industry
• Analyze data to build product specifications that are process capable
• Present technical data or concepts to laypersons on their level of understanding
• Compile cost analysis information and provide to product management
• Ensure costing structure meets the financial expectations of projects
• Work on cross functional teams across the organization for project completion that will ultimately help achieve our growth and EBIT strategies
• Travel to plant production facilities
• Take on and complete special projects as needed.
• Develop culinary samples/prototypes of new products, modifying existing products, optimizing existing products, developing specifications
• Develop product production labels and compile cost analysis information
• Strong working knowledge of the scientific methods and is expected to leverage knowledge related to ingredients, product formulation and food processing to support best in class development of new, innovative food products
• Work with and influence cross functional team members (marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations and purchasing departments, coordinating with suppliers of ingredients) while ensuring smooth start-up for new product production processes
• Work with process development to develop process flow charts for engineering
• Ability and Initiative to grow within the organization and develop a personal development plan with your manager

Requirements

Food Scientist II — Education & Experience

BS, MS or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering or related field. Alt. Protein science or equivalent. PhD with no experience. M.S. with minimum of 2 years of relevant experience. B.S. with minimum of 3 years of relevant experience. No degree with minimum of 8 years relevant experience.

Food Scientist I — Education & Experience

BS, MS or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering or related field. PhD or M.S with no experience. B.S. with minimum of 2 years of relevant experience. No degree with minimum of 8 years relevant experience.

Computer Skills

Requires good computer skills with ability to fully utilize MS Office products and Tyson systems (or like systems).

Communication Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills required, presentation skills required, must have the ability to effectively communicate with cross functional business partners

Special Skills

Strong critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills, strong project management skills. Strong numerical skills, understanding of product formulation, food processing and the Research and Development process, understanding of regulatory labeling and food safety requirements

Supervisory

May supervise a team of hourly technicians that support a team of scientists.

Travel

25–50%. Travel will be required to accomplish our internal and external customer needs. This includes customer meetings, visiting production facilities for testing and commercialization of new products, process troubleshooting and any other regular business needs.

Position Specific Requirements

• Applicants should either upload a resume to their application on Workday OR make sure their Career Profile in Workday is up to date and complete.
• Must reside in the United States to be considered.
• Must sponsorship is not available for this position.

Relocation Assistance Eligible

Yes

Work Shift

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

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