Innovation R&D Lab Technician — Food Science

Simple Mills; Mill Valley (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Health benefits

Wellness programs

Time off

Job summary

Simple Mills is seeking a highly motivated Lab Technician for our Innovation R&D team in Mill Valley, CA. You will support development, testing and continuous improvement of our foods, collaborating with food scientists to bring high‑quality products to market.

The role reports to the Senior R&D Manager. Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor’s in food science or related field, 0–1 year lab experience, strong organization, Excel familiarity, and a collaborative mindset.

Qualifications

• 0-1 year of lab, test kitchen, or similar experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field required or preferred.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Collaborative mindset and strong interpersonal communication.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks and timelines.
• Experience in the CPG food industry or culinary environments is a plus.
• Familiarity with R&D data tools such as TraceGains or ELN.
• Personal alignment with Simple Mills mission.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute benchtop and pilot plant tests for new product development.
• Prepare, test, and evaluate food and ingredient samples.
• Maintain lab records, data sheets, and documentation.
• Coordinate experiments with attention to food safety standards.
• Support equipment troubleshooting and issue escalation.
• Own ingredient inventory, sample tracking, and lab cleanliness.
• Order lab supplies and organize raw materials and tools.
• Lead daily lab workflows and process documentation.
• Contribute to improvements in lab operations and efficiency.
• Share results in team meetings and use Excel/TraceGains for tracking.

Skills

Lab testing

Inventory management

Excel

Data tracking

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science or related

Tools

TraceGains

Electronic Lab Notebooks

Microsoft Office

Job description

Simple Mills is seeking a highly motivated Lab Technician for our Innovation R&D team in Mill Valley, CA. You will support development, testing and continuous improvement of our foods, collaborating with food scientists to bring high‑quality products to market.

The role reports to the Senior R&D Manager. Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor’s in food science or related field, 0–1 year lab experience, strong organization, Excel familiarity, and a collaborative mindset.