Research & Development Lead (Remote)

Antelope; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is on the lookout for an experienced R&D professional to spearhead new product development in the pet food sector. This role offers a unique opportunity to innovate and refine pet food formulations, ensuring they meet high standards of nutrition and quality. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment and possess a deep understanding of regulatory compliance and ingredient sourcing. Join a passionate team dedicated to enhancing pet health and well-being, while enjoying a connected remote culture and a variety of perks that celebrate both pets and their owners.

Benefits

Flexible PTO

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401K employer match

Parental leave including 'pawternity'

Discounted Doggo pet insurance

Free treats

Qualifications

• 5-8 years in R&D, product formulation, or food science in the pet food industry.
• Hands-on experience with ingredient sourcing and quality control.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation and development of innovative pet food products.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee testing and validation to ensure product integrity.

Skills

R&D Experience

Product Formulation

Ingredient Sourcing

Regulatory Compliance

Quality Control

Nutritional Science

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science or related field

Tools

Analytical Testing Equipment

Job description

ABOUT ANTELOPE:

Antelope is an omnichannel pet consumer platform that was founded in August 2021 with the mission to elevate the lives of pets by delivering the highest quality products across all pet products and services via a buy-and-build strategy. “Ante” means to increase the stakes or consideration of, and “lope” means to leap with bounding steps together. Antelope is elevating the standards of pet care by buying, building, and growing high-quality, natural pet brands. The company is backed by Alpine Investors and have made five acquisitions so far (Bocce’s Bakery, Diggin’ Your Dog / Super Snouts, Doggo, My Perfect Pet and Ark Naturals), and they’re just getting started! Antelope has plans to acquire 5-15 additional all-natural, high-quality brands to become the one-stop shop for pet parents.

OVERVIEW:

Antelope is seeking an experienced and passionate R&D professional to support and lead new product development (NPD), renovation of existing formulas, and continuous improvement of our product portfolio. This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in formulation, ingredient sourcing, and regulatory compliance, who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. New Product Development (NPD) - lead the formulation and development of innovative pet food and treat products from concept to commercialization.
2. Product Renovation - evaluate and refine existing formulations to improve nutrition, palatability, ingredient quality, cost efficiency, and scalability.
3. Ingredient & Supplier collaboration - work with suppliers to source high-quality, functional ingredients that align with our clean-label and better-for-you philosophy.
4. Cross-Functional Partnership - collaborate with Operations, Sales, Brand Marketing teams to ensure formulations meet quality, cost, and regulatory requirements.
5. Regulatory & Compliance - ensure all formulations align with AAFCO, FDA, USDA, and other relevant regulatory guidelines.
6. Testing & Validation - oversee analytical testing, palatability trials, and shelf-life studies to ensure product integrity and performance.
7. Continuous Process Improvement - identify and implement ways to optimize production, reduce waste, and enhance quality control across our manufacturing network.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. 5 - 8 years of experience in R&D, product formulation, or food science within the human or pet food industry.
2. Strong understanding of clean-label formulation principles, functional ingredients, and nutritional science.
3. Experience working with co-manufacturers and suppliers to bring products from concept to market.
4. Deep knowledge of AAFCO, FSMA, HACCP, and other regulatory requirements.
5. Hands-on experience with ingredient sourcing, product testing, and quality control.
6. Passionate about pet health, nutrition, and creating better-for-you products.
7. Must love dogs or cats (& treats!).

WHAT WE OFFER:

1. Connected remote first culture with a highly engaged distributed workforce.
2. Flexible PTO.
3. Competitive compensation.
4. Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
5. 401K employer match.
6. Parental leave including “pawternity.”
7. Discounted Doggo pet insurance.
8. Free treats!