R&D Senior Formulator

The Judge Group; Santa Fe Springs (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Judge Group is seeking a Senior R&D Formulator to lead the formulation of nutritional bars on site in California. You will drive the full product lifecycle from bench-scale concept through pilot trials to full-scale production, serving as a technical resource for cross-functional partners and external customers.

Key responsibilities include scale-up, cost optimization, and strong mentorship, with a focus on cGMP, HACCP, SQF, and FDA guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum of 8+ years hands-on formulation experience in dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods, or OTC manufacturing.
• Proven track record developing and commercializing nutritional bars, including high-volume extrusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation, development, and commercialization of nutritional bars from concept to production.
• Direct pilot plant trials, scale-up, and technical transfer to high-speed production lines.
• Design and optimize formulas for stability, sensory profiles, shelf-life, and manufacturability while managing cost-reduction initiatives.
• Mentor junior formulators and provide hands-on technical leadership.
• Collaborate with Operations, QA, Regulatory, Procurement, and Sales to align R&D timelines with business goals.
• Provide customer-facing technical support during product development and specify product requirements.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, HACCP, SQF, and FDA guidelines (21 CFR Parts 101 and 111).
• Maintain meticulous R&D documentation and manage product specs in ERP/MRP; leverage AI tools to accelerate workflows.

Skills

Nutritional bar dev

Formulation depth

Process scale-up

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Customer-facing comms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

AI-enabled R&D tools

Job description

Senior R&D Formulator – Nutritional Bars

Position Summary

This senior-level R&D position serves as the lead formulation expert and technical champion for nutritional bar product lines. Based onsite, this role drives the entire product lifecycle from initial bench‑scale concept through pilot trials to full‑scale commercial production. This individual acts as a key technical resource for cross‑functional partners and external customers, balancing product innovation, ingredient functionality, and cost optimization with large‑scale manufacturing realities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• End‑to‑End Product Development: Lead the formulation, development, and commercialization of innovative nutritional bar products from initial concept to commercial production.
• Process Scale‑Up & Commercialization: Direct pilot plant trials, manufacturing scale‑up, and technical transfer activities, ensuring seamless transition of formulations to high‑speed production lines.
• Formulation & Cost Optimization: Design and optimize product formulas to enhance stability, sensory profiles, shelf‑life, and manufacturability while managing cost‑reduction and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Serve as the primary technical subject matter expert within the R&D division, providing hands‑on mentorship, guidance, and training to junior formulators.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Operations, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Procurement, and Sales teams to align R&D timelines with business goals and supply chain capabilities.
• Customer‑Facing Technical Support: Act as the primary technical point of contact for customers during product development, addressing technical inquiries, scoping product requirements, and leading collaborative formulation discussions.
• Compliance & Regulatory Standards: Ensure all raw materials, active ingredients, and finished formulations strictly adhere to cGMP, HACCP, SQF, and FDA guidelines (including 21 CFR Parts 101 and 111).
• Advanced R&D Documentation: Maintain meticulous R&D records, manage product specifications within ERP/MRP systems, and leverage modern digital/AI‑enabled tools to accelerate formulation workflows.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline. (Master’s degree preferred).
• Formulation Depth: Minimum of 8+ years of hands‑on formulation experience within the dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods, or OTC manufacturing industries.
• Nutritional Bar Expertise: Proven track record of developing and commercializing nutritional bars. (Direct experience with high-volume extrusion manufacturing processes is strictly required).
• Technical Scale‑Up Mastery: Strong command of food/supplement material science, technical transfer protocols, stability testing, and shelf‑life validation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Solid working knowledge of industry safety and compliance frameworks, specifically cGMP, HACCP, SQF, and FDA labeling/manufacturing regulations.
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex product development timelines simultaneously under tight commercialization deadlines.
• Travel: Ability to travel approximately 10–15% (primarily for trade shows and industry events).

Preferred Skills & Attributes

• Master’s degree in a relevant food science or scientific field.
• Active SQF or HACCP certifications.
• Experience utilizing AI‑enabled R&D tools to drive data analysis, ingredient screening, or workflow efficiency.
• Strong professional communication skills with comfortable, executive‑level customer‑facing presence.