Senior Scientist - Color Innovation

Kalsec Inc.; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kalsec Inc. is seeking a Senior Scientist – Color Innovation to lead development of natural color systems for diverse food and beverage applications.

The role combines advanced food chemistry with hands-on product development to create stable, vibrant color solutions that meet regulatory requirements. The Senior Scientist will design experiments on pigment behavior, lead cross-functional projects across Processing, Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial teams, and translate lab findings into

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related scientific field.
• 2–5 years of experience in natural colors or related areas.
• Experience in food R&D with demonstrated work in product development, ingredient functionality, or new product development.
• Strong knowledge of food chemistry and ingredient interactions.
• Hands-on laboratory experience including formulation, extraction, and analytical testing.
• Ability to translate scientific data into practical, application-focused solutions.
• Strong experimental design, data analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Direct experience with natural colors, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, turmeric, spirulina, betanin, and related pigments.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of natural color systems for food and beverage applications with a focus on stability and scalability.
• Apply color systems in formulations across snacks, meat systems, sauces, dressings, breads, confectionery, dairy, and beverages.
• Design and execute experiments related to pigment behavior and formulation.
• Translate laboratory findings into prototype formulations and application-ready solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support scale-up and commercialization.
• Evaluate color stability and shelf life across matrices and processing conditions.
• Prepare technical findings and communicate results through reports and presentations.

Skills

Color chemistry

Experimental design

Data analysis

Lab troubleshooting

Regulatory awareness

Natural colors experience

Project management

Communication of findings

Education

MS or PhD in Food Science, Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related scientific field

Job description

The Senior Scientist – Color Innovation is responsible for the development and application of natural color systems across a wide range of food and beverage applications. This role combines strong food chemistry expertise with hands‑on product development to create stable, vibrant, and regulatory‑compliant color solutions.

The position leads formulation, experimental design, and application activities, translating scientific understanding of pigments, degradation pathways, and matrix interactions into commercially viable solutions. This role plays a critical part in advancing natural color technologies and supporting customer‑driven innovation.

• Lead the development of natural color systems for food and beverage applications for key customers, with a focus on stability, performance, and scalability
• Apply color systems in food formulations and contribute to product development across savory systems (snacks, meat systems, sauces, dressings, breads/batters, and related demo kits), as well as confectionery, dairy, and beverage applications
• Apply food chemistry principles (pH, oxidation, light/heat stability, ingredient interactions) to optimize color performance across different matrices
• Design and execute experiments related to pigment behavior, extraction, stabilization, formulation, and processing
• Apply technical and functional knowledge to design experiments and independently execute work across multiple projects and sub‑projects in parallel
• Evaluate color stability and shelf life across different product matrices and processing conditions
• Conduct analytical and stability testing (spectrophotometry, color measurement, degradation studies) and interpret results to guide development decisions
• Translate laboratory findings into prototype formulations and application‑ready solutions
• Support customer and internal projects, including troubleshooting color performance issues and recommending practical solutions
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (Processing, Quality, Regulatory, Commercial) to support scale‑up and commercialization
• Contribute to development of new technologies, processes, and potential intellectual property
• Stay current on industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies in natural colors and food ingredients
• Prepare and communicate technical findings through reports, presentations, and project updates
• Maintain accurate documentation and ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Food Science, Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related scientific field
• 2‑5 years of experience in natural colors or related areas
• Experience in food R&D with demonstrated work in product development, ingredient functionality, or new product development
• Strong knowledge of food chemistry and ingredient interactions
• Hands‑on laboratory experience including formulation, extraction, and analytical testing
• Ability to translate scientific data into practical, application‑focused solutions
• Strong experimental design, data analysis, and problem‑solving skills
• Direct experience with natural colors, including anthocyanins, carotenoids, turmeric, spirulina, betanin, and related pigments
• Understanding of mechanisms affecting color stability, including oxidation, pH effects, heat and light degradation, and metal interactions
• Experience in new product development, formulation development, and troubleshooting within real food systems
• Familiarity with ingredient labeling, regulatory considerations, and clean‑label trends

Working Conditions

• Laboratory‑based role involving work with liquids, powders, solvents, and food systems and processing
• Standing and laboratory work required for extended periods
• Occasional travel (up to 10%) as needed

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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