Food Scientist: Thermal Processing & Product Innovation Lead

Furmano's; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Health savings account

401(k)

401(k) matching

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Referral program

Vision insurance

Job summary

Furmano Foods is seeking a Food Scientist to lead thermal processing operations, develop new shelf-stable products, and ensure finished products meet quality and safety standards. You will supervise a lab team, drive efficiency, and help scale innovation while upholding Furmano’s values of safety, gratitude, honesty, and teamwork.

The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, product formulation, trials, and documentation across a canning-focused portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years of food R&D experience.
• Experience leading and supporting thermal processing operations.
• 5+ years as a Process Authority in an acidified and/or low-acid canning operation.
• Experience with canned sauces, beans, soups, chili, tomato products, etc.
• Experience with Canning, UHT, and Aseptic Operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement thermal process systems.
• Assure plant batch and continuous retorts operate in regulatory compliance.
• Participate in development of thermal processes for new/improved products.
• Evaluate heat penetration data and process deviations.
• Prepare regulatory correspondence and reports.
• Support plant audits and regulatory inspections.
• Develop/test formulas for new products, quality improvements, and cost reductions.
• Execute plant trials and validations.
• Conduct shelf-life studies and sensory evaluations.
• Reformulate products for taste, nutrition, compliance, or cost.
• Troubleshoot production and quality issues.
• Maintain PLM specifications and nutrition software data.
• Review and approve labels and nutritional claims.
• Maintain accurate formulation and trial documentation.
• Lead finished product testing and grading laboratory and team members
• Maintain laboratory inventory and ensure GMP compliance
• Support production record review as needed
• Collaborate with Quality, Culinary, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations
• Provide quantitative insights to support continuous improvement initiatives

Skills

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Interpersonal communication

Team leadership

Coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Food Engineering

Tools

PLM software

Nutrition software

GMP systems

Job description

Furmano Foods is seeking a Food Scientist to lead thermal processing operations, develop new shelf-stable products, and ensure finished products meet quality and safety standards. You will supervise a lab team, drive efficiency, and help scale innovation while upholding Furmano’s values of safety, gratitude, honesty, and teamwork.

The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, product formulation, trials, and documentation across a canning-focused portfolio.