Job Summary:
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.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
- 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:
Required
- 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
Desired
- 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
