R&D Meat Scientist: Product Innovation & Trials

Indiana Packers Corporation; Owensboro (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health care plans

401K with employer match

Paid time off

Educational assistance

Advancement opportunities

Job summary

Indiana Packers Corporation (IPC) is seeking a hands-on R&D Meat Scientist to lead applied research and product development across our value-added portfolio. This onsite role partners with Operations, Engineering, QA, Sales & Marketing, and Regulatory to move concepts from idea to commercialization while meeting quality and food-safety standards.

You will design plant trials, optimize formulations, and document specifications and process parameters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Meat Science, Food Science, Animal Science, or related discipline; Master's or PhD preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in meat/food product development, pork formulation preferred.
• Strong understanding of meat functionality (protein bind, blending, water activity, cook loss, emulsions) and processing systems.
• Experience in USDA-regulated facilities; working knowledge of USDA‑FSIS regulations, HACCP, and food-safety management systems.
• Proven ability to translate scientific results into practical, commercial solutions, with strong documentation and communication skills.
• Experience in pork processing preferred but not required.
• Additional skills: cured, smoked, and further‑processed product expertise; sensory validation; DOE; data-driven decisions; clean-label formulations

Responsibilities

• Design and execute applied R&D projects focused on product quality, yield improvement, shelf‑life extension, and process optimization
• Develop and optimize formulations, processes, and product specifications to meet customer, quality, regulatory, and operational requirements
• Lead plant trials and scale‑up, troubleshooting processing issues such as bind, emulsion, purge, texture variability, yield, and cook loss
• Own precise documentation of formulas, specifications, protocols, and process parameters, and prepare clear technical reports
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, QA, Sales and Marketing, and Regulatory to translate business and customer needs into technical solutions
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive products to identify opportunities

Skills

Meat science

R&D

Product development

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Meat Science, Food Science, Animal Science, or related discipline

Master's or PhD preferred

Job description

Indiana Packers Corporation (IPC) is seeking a hands-on R&D Meat Scientist to lead applied research and product development across our value-added portfolio. This onsite role partners with Operations, Engineering, QA, Sales & Marketing, and Regulatory to move concepts from idea to commercialization while meeting quality and food-safety standards.

You will design plant trials, optimize formulations, and document specifications and process parameters.