Food Scientist I - Nut Product R&D & Quality

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds; Lost Hills (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, based in California's Central Valley, seeks a Food Scientist to drive new product development, quality improvements, sensory analysis, shelf-life evaluation, and regulatory compliance. The role involves hands-on plant work, supporting trials, scale-ups, and launches with cross-functional teams.

You will apply engineering principles to nut-based products, manage projects from concept to commercialization, and ensure compliance with domestic and international

Qualifications

• BS or MS in food science/engineering with relevant coursework.
• Minimum 1–2 years in the food industry; internships count.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Willing to work in production environment with heat, noise, and dust.
• GMP/food safety knowledge and Excel skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Apply food science and engineering principles to develop pistachio and almond products.
• Plan bench, pilot, and plant trials and support scale-ups.
• Maintain project documentation and regulatory compliance data.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and operations for commercialization.
• Support shelf-life, sensory analysis, and regulatory compliance initiatives.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

B.S. in Food Science/Engineering

M.S. in Food Science/Engineering

Tools

Excel

Statistical analysis

Job description

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, based in California's Central Valley, seeks a Food Scientist to drive new product development, quality improvements, sensory analysis, shelf-life evaluation, and regulatory compliance. The role involves hands-on plant work, supporting trials, scale-ups, and launches with cross-functional teams.

You will apply engineering principles to nut-based products, manage projects from concept to commercialization, and ensure compliance with domestic and international