R&D Product Development (Food)

Integrated Resources, Inc ( IRI ); Warrendale (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Integrated Resources, Inc (IRI) is seeking an experienced R&D Product Development professional for Food to lead benchtop research, formulation, and project execution within our North America AFH portfolio.

The role emphasizes collaboration across Packaging, Quality, Operations, Project Management, Marketing, and Sales, with a focus on innovation and renovation. The candidate will apply scientific principles to new situations and manage multiple tasks with minimal guidance, onsite Monday–Friday.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field.
• 3–4 years of real-world product development experience.
• Strong benchtop formulation capabilities.
• Hands-on bench experiments and related laboratory techniques.
• Strong understanding of Design of Experiments.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments concurrently with minimal guidance.
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving, communication, and investigation skills.
• Self-starter with a passion to learn.
• Ability and willingness to work onsite Monday–Friday.
• Ability to travel 15% to factory locations; travel reimbursed.

Responsibilities

• Conduct benchtop experiments and analytical measurements in the lab.
• Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, shelf life, and compliance with standards.
• Support development and commercialization of new and improved products across the Condiments and Sauces unit.
• Collaborate with Packaging, Quality, Operations, Project Management, Marketing, and Sales to implement projects.
• Conduct feasibility assessments, prototype development, costing, factory trials, recipe and label development, and technical approval.

Skills

Benchtop formulation

Bench experiments

Design of Experiments

multitask management

Communication

Detail-oriented

Self-motivated

Onsite work Monday–Friday

Travel up to 15%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in food science or related field

Job description

Job Title: R&D Product Development (Food)

Duration: 12 months, possibility of extension

Schedule: Mon - Fri; 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Job Description:

• This is a research-based technical development role providing direction for and execution of projects across our North America Zone AFH.
• The candidate will support technical projects to meet business initiatives focused on Innovation and Renovation.
• The candidate must have a technical background and excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to apply prior learning or scientific principles to new situations.
• This position requires an individual to manage multiple assignments/tasks concurrently and demonstrate the ability to complete work with minimal guidance.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to apply creative solutions are essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct benchtop experiments and analytical measurements in the lab.
• Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, shelf life, and adherence to government and industry standards.
• Support the development and commercialization of new and improved products, evaluate existing products and ingredients, and deliver cost savings across the Condiments and Sauces unit.
• Work collaboratively with Packaging, Quality, Operations, Project Management, Marketing, and Sales to Product and implement projects that meet business objectives.
• Conduct feasibility assessments, prototype development, costing, factory trials, recipe and factory documentation development, recipe and label development, technical approval, shelf-life assessments, and technical support for initial factory production.

Must-Have Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Dairy Science, Meat Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related/equivalent field.
• Minimum 3–4 years of real-world product development experience.
• Strong benchtop formulation capabilities.
• Hands-on experience conducting bench experiments, prototype development, analytical measurements, and related laboratory techniques.
• Strong understanding of Design of Experiments.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and projects concurrently, execute independently with minimal guidance, and seek direction as needed.
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and investigation skills.
• Self-starter with a passion to learn.
• Ability and willingness to work onsite Monday–Friday, with full availability expected.
• Ability to travel 15% to factory locations; travel is reimbursed.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications:

• Internship, co-op, or full-time experience in product development within the food or consumer products industry.
• Experience with condiments and sauces, soups, and mac & cheese.
• Exposure to foodservice/away-from-home (AFH) product categories.
• Demonstrated adaptability and versatility across product types or R&D environments.
• Experience with sensory testing, shelf-life studies, or analytical/nutritional testing.