Senior Food Scientist

Tyson Foods; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401(k)

Health, dental, vision and life cover

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Tyson Foods in Springdale, AR is seeking Senior Food Scientist I/II to drive development and commercialization of innovative food products. The role covers bench top to full scale, including cook validations and labeling compliance.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food science, meat science, or related engineering, with progressive R&D experience and demonstrated project leadership across cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering or related field.
• Senior II requires ~8+ years of R&D experience; Senior I requires 2–5 years (MS/BS specifics).
• No degree with 15+ years applicable experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and commercialize new products and improved processes from concept to launch.
• Prepare product specifications, labeling, and cost analyses during development.
• Lead cook validations and scale‑up studies across lines and Fryer platforms.
• Collaborate with marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, ops and purchasing.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Project management

Education

BS in Food Science/Meat Science/Food Engineering

MS in Food Science/Meat Science/Food Engineering

PhD in Food Science/Meat Science/Food Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Tyson systems

Data analysis tools

Job description

Job Details:Applying to this requisition will put you into consideration for Senior Food Scientist I or Senior Food Scientist II – Level will be determined through the interview process.SummaryThe Senior Food Scientist is responsible for developing and commercializing new and improved products and/or processes through guidance from their manager. This covers all stages of product development and process development including writing new product specifications, and ensuring regulatory labeling and food safety requirements are met. Additional responsibilities include developing samples/prototypes of new products, modifying existing products, optimizing existing products, developing specifications for product production labeling, and compiling cost analysis information. The person in this position will have a strong working knowledge of the scientific methods and is expected to leverage knowledge related to ingredients, product formulation and food processing to support best in class development of new, innovative food products. In addition, the person in this role will lead and execute cook validations for products in support of commercialization workstreams. This will include planning, conducting, documenting, and communicating cook validation studies across products, production lines, and fryer platforms to verify food safety, enable optimized cooking procedures, and support consistent restaurant quality.Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesWorking with and strongly influencing marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations and purchasing departments, coordinating with suppliers of ingredients, ensuring smooth start‐up for new product production processesModifying or optimizing existing products, developing specifications for product production labeling, and compiling cost analysis information.Work multiple development and optimization projects of moderate complexity, independently, from concept through commercialization with guidance from manager. This includes planning, executing experiments, analyzing data, reporting results.Execute the development process with activities that include bench top development, pilot plant testing, and scale‐up production at a federally inspected research facility and final commercialization at full scale production facilityStrong working knowledge of the following is a plus: poultry new product development and optimization including battered and breaded productsHelp team to identify innovation that is treated as IP that can give Tyson a competitive edge in the industryAnalyze data to build product specifications that are process capablePresent technical data or concepts to laypersons on their level of understandingCompile cost analysis information and provide to product managementEnsure costing structure meets the financial expectations of projectsWork on cross functional teams across the organization for project completion that will ultimately help achieve our growth and EBIT strategiesTravel to plant production facilitiesTake on and complete special projects as needed.Develop culinary samples/prototypes of new products, modifying existing products, optimizing existing products, developing specificationsDevelop product production labels and compile cost analysis informationStrong working knowledge of the scientific methods and is expected to leverage knowledge related to ingredients, product formulation and food processing to support best in class development of new, innovative food productsWork with and influence cross functional team members (marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations and purchasing departments, coordinating with suppliers of ingredients) while ensuring smooth start-up for new product production processesWork with process development to develop process flow charts for engineeringAbility and Initiative to grow within the organization and develop a personal development plan with your managerRequirements:Senior Food Scientist II — Education & Experience:BS, MS or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering or related field. Related degree with minimum of 8 years relevant Research and Development work experience. No degree with minimum of 15 years relevant experience.Senior Food Scientist I — Education & Experience:BS, MS or PhD in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering or related field. PhD with minimum of 2 years of relevant experience. M.S. with minimum of 3 years of relevant experience. B.S. with minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. No degree with minimum of 10 years relevant experience.Other Requirements:Computer Skills:Requires good computer skills with ability to fully utilize MS Office products and Tyson systems (or like systems).Communication Skills:Good verbal and written communication skills required, presentation skills required, must have the ability to effectively communicate with cross functional business partnersSpecial Skills:Strong critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills, strong project management skills. Strong numerical skills, understanding of product formulation, food processing and the Research and Development process, understanding of regulatory labeling and food safety requirementsSupervisory:May supervise a team of hourly technicians that support a team of scientists.Travel:25–50%. Travel will be required to accomplish our internal and external customer needs. This includes customer meetings, visiting production facilities for testing and commercialization of new products, process troubleshooting and any other regular business needs.Position Specific Requirements:Applicants should either upload a resume to their application on Workday OR make sure their Career Profile in Workday is up to date and complete.Must reside in the United States to be considered.Sponsorship is not available for this position.Relocation Assistance Eligible:YesWork Shift:1ST SHIFT (United States of America)Certain roles at Tyson require background checks. If you are offered a position that requires a background check you will be provided additional documentation to complete once an offer has been extended.Hourly Applicants ONLY -You must complete the task after submitting your application to provide additional information to be considered for employment.The successful candidate(s) must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.Tyson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.We provide our team members and their families with paid time off; 401(k) plans; affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; and more.If you would like to learn more about your data privacy rights and how you may use that information, please read our Job Applicant Privacy Notice here .Unsolicited Assistance: Tyson Foods and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for open positions within the United States. Any resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee or applicant tracking system at Tyson Foods or its subsidiaries, without a valid written request and search agreement approved by HR, will be considered the property of Tyson Foods. No fees will be paid if the candidate is hired due to an unsolicited referral.