Research & Development Lead (Remote)

Antelopepets; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is seeking a passionate R&D Lead to spearhead product development in the pet food industry. This role involves leading the formulation of new products, improving existing formulas, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food science and a love for pets, contributing to the mission of enhancing pet health through high-quality products. Join a dynamic team that values creativity and collaboration in a remote-first environment, where your contributions will significantly impact the future of pet care.

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 or product formulation in the food industry.
• Strong knowledge of clean-label principles and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development from concept to commercialization.
• Collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional teams for quality assurance.
• Ensure compliance with AAFCO, FDA, and USDA regulations.

Skills

Product Formulation

Ingredient Sourcing

Regulatory Compliance

Nutritional Science

Quality Control

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Food Science

Master's in Food Science

Job description

Join to apply for the Research & Development Lead (Remote) role at Antelope

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 has 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:

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

QUALIFICATIONS:

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

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Connected remote first culture with a highly engaged distributed workforce
• Flexible PTO
• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K employer match
• Parental leave including “pawternity”
• Discounted Doggo pet insurance
• Free treats!

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Other

Industries

Manufacturing