R&D Specialist

KANZEN MEAL (U.S.A.), INC.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

KANZEN MEAL (U.S.A.), INC. is seeking an R&D Specialist to support product development and commercialization within a Consumer-Packaged Goods environment. The role focuses on food formulation, product evaluation, process development, and plant trials to deliver manufacturable products.

The successful candidate will demonstrate initiative, logical problem solving, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with cross‑functional teams across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or related field.
• 2–3 years in food product development or related area preferred.
• Experience in CPG/food manufacturing a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop, evaluate, and formulate products for frozen, chilled, and dry foods.
• Conduct trials and process development to enable manufacturability.
• Collaborate with suppliers, SCM, and cross‑functional teams to control costs.
• Perform shelf-life tests and ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
• Prepare test reports, standard formulations, and commercialization documents.
• Train junior staff and assist in lab upkeep and safety.

Skills

Food formulation

Product development

Quality assurance

Data analysis

Education

B.S. in Food Science

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Company Description

KANZEN MEAL (U.S.A.), INC. is inspired by the Japanese philosophy of balance, where complementary elements create harmony rather than conflict. The company focuses on achieving an optimal balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and micronutrients to support overall well-being. KANZEN MEAL brings this vision to life by developing Optimized Nutrient-Dense Meals that are both flavorful and health-focused. The brand emphasizes satisfaction of both body and mind, aiming to make complete, convenient nutrition accessible to modern consumers.

Summary:

The R&D Specialist supports product development and commercialization activities within a Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) environment. This role is responsible for food formulation, product evaluation, process development, and plant trial support to deliver manufacturable products.

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate initiative, logical problem-solving skills, and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

Essential Functions- Job Duties:

The following duties are considered essential to the job. Qualified individuals must have the ability- with or without reasonable accommodation- to perform the following duties but not limited to:

• Understand various cuisines and develop, analyze, and formulate products through both traditional and innovative approaches. Benchmark competitor products.
• Perform product development activities, including concept development, formulation, prototype evaluation, optimization, standardization, cost calculation, commercialization, and product launch. Product categories include frozen, chilled, and dry foods.
• Assist in evaluating new materials and work with suppliers and procurement teams and current materials, updating material lists or vendors as needed with the goal of reducing the cost of the current materials.
• Design and test products to ensure shelf-life stability and all aspects of products (flavor, color and texture, nutritional content etc.).
• Conduct variety of applicable tests and analyses on products to determine inherent properties and present analysis of results to the department for further product development and improvement.
• Research on consumer awareness or trends relating to product development (including legal issues).

Execution of research on consumer taste preference through validation internally and/or externally.

• Collaborate with supply chain management (SCM), R&D department at Nissin Foods (USA), process engineers, plant management, marketing specialists and external customers in order ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget.
• Conduct production trials to ensure successful launch of new and revised products.
• Monitor production to confirm plant capability and conformance to design criteria and train plant operation.
• Understand general requirements of quality control and set appropriate quality standards for products.
• Understand general requirements of laws and regulations related to but not limited to food labeling and food additives. Collaborate with external regulatory consultant to understand regulations.
• Report and present oral and written updates including product demonstrations to teams and customers.
• Prepare all necessary documents such as, but not limited to, test report, Standard Formulation, Standard Process, any other necessary standard/process in commercialization and ensuring food safety.
• Manage materials (including the purchase and shipping of lab apparatus) and supply inventory.
• Maintain R&D equipment, monitor maintenance needs, and ensure a clean and organized kitchen, laboratory, and storage environment.
• Receive/Send documents & packages and file request forms.
• Other job duties as assigned.
• Train assigned associate and check completeness and quality of his/her work and report an immediate supervisor about his/her performance.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or a related discipline is required, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in food product development, food manufacturing, quality assurance, or a related field is preferred. Experience within a Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) or food manufacturing environment is a plus. Working knowledge of food formulation, product development processes, and commercial manufacturing operations is desirable.

Experience in frozen food product development is preferred. Exposure to plant trials, production scale-up, factory start-up activities, or manufacturing transfer projects is highly desirable.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents, business communications, and regulatory information. Ability to prepare reports, presentations, and technical documentation, and effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders. Bilingual proficiency in English and Japanese is preferred.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to perform mathematical calculations and data analysis required for product development and business operations. Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as percentages, ratios, statistical analysis, and data interpretation to practical situations. Strong quantitative and analytical skills are preferred.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to identify and analyze problems, evaluate relevant information, and develop practical solutions. Ability to manage multiple variables, interpret technical and business information, and make sound decisions based on available data and established procedures.

Computer Skills:

Advanced computer proficiency is preferred, particularly in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, and Outlook. Ability to effectively utilize spreadsheet functions, data analysis tools, presentation software, and other digital platforms to support product development, reporting, and project management activities.

Physical Demands:

The employee is regularly required to sit, communicate, and use hands for laboratory and office activities. The position may require standing, walking, lifting, carrying, tasting, and handling food products and ingredients. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in office, laboratory, kitchen, and manufacturing environments. The noise level is typically moderate.