FMCG Product Development Scientist — Innovate & Impact

Placements24; Rustenburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Advanced lab facilities

Medical & retirement benefits

Generous leave policy

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Product Development Scientist for its Rustenburg-based FMCG R&D team. The role covers concept-to-commercialization, formulating and optimizing recipes, conducting tests, and ensuring product excellence in a fast-paced environment.

You will collaborate with marketing, QA, and manufacturing to deliver market-leading consumer products while staying compliant with safety and quality standards. This is a hands-on, impact-driven position in a state-of-the-art lab.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline.
• 3–5 years of product development experience in FMCG.
• Proven formulation, testing, and process scale-up experience.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and quality control principles.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and development activities for new and existing FMCG products.
• Formulate and optimize product recipes and processes to meet quality, cost, and performance targets.
• Perform laboratory experiments, pilot trials, and shelf-life studies.
• Analyze product samples and interpret test results, ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with marketing to understand consumer needs and market trends for product innovation.
• Work with manufacturing and QA teams to ensure smooth scale-up and production.
• Document all research, development, and testing activities accurately.
• Troubleshoot product-related issues during development and production.
• Stay updated on new technologies, ingredients, and best practices in product development.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in R&D.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Communication

Attention to detail

Laboratory techniques

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Food Science/Related field

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Product Development Scientist for its Rustenburg-based FMCG R&D team. The role covers concept-to-commercialization, formulating and optimizing recipes, conducting tests, and ensuring product excellence in a fast-paced environment.

You will collaborate with marketing, QA, and manufacturing to deliver market-leading consumer products while staying compliant with safety and quality standards. This is a hands-on, impact-driven position in a state-of-the-art lab.