Who We Are

At Voyage Foods, our mission is to make delicious, sustainable, and accessible foods that are better for people and the planet. All of our products work together to support and sustain a food system designed for everyone, now and into the future. We're a team of food scientists, CPG experts, and professionals with a passion for making good food available for generations to come. What do peanut butter, chocolate, and coffee have in common? They're some of our favorite foods but are often inaccessible and unsustainable. That's why we created our Nut-Free Spreads, Cocoa-Free Chocolate, and Bean-Free Coffee. From food allergies to climate change and unjust labor practices, the foods we love are in serious need of an upgrade. Our future-proofed foods are always top-9 allergen-free, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, affordable, and most importantly, utterly delicious.

How We Work

We're a rapidly growing team of people who value diversity in all its forms. We love adding new perspectives and appreciate those who ask questions that help us challenge assumptions, explore new directions, and improve what we've already built. We are a group of like-minded difference makers. Curiosity drives our development. We have tenacity and a risk-taking mentality at every level of our organization to keep challenging normalcy. We believe it's our responsibility to create an environment in which every person can bring their full, authentic selves to work. We push each other to be our best and do our products proud.

About the Role

We are looking for a technical process-oriented food scientist or chemical engineer to join our R&D team. You will play a critical role in key departmental projects for current and future product categories. You will engage in research, innovation, and commercialization goals. As we are a start-up and small team, responsibilities can vary daily and will also include general operations. This is a great opportunity for an individual looking to develop in their career within a fast-paced and rapidly growing organization.

This is an on-site position based in Oakland, CA.

This is an exempt, individual contributor position based at our Oakland, CA HQ, reporting directly to the Director of Research and Innovation.

What You'll Do

• Lead scalable food process design and build a deep understanding of underlying systems. Leverage this expertise to develop more effective experimental roadmaps in collaboration with the Director of Research and Innovation.
• Manage and lead multiple technically complex projects: create technical plans, risk management, and mitigation plans from concept to commercialization
• Design and execute rigorous R&D experiments to develop and optimize process and formulations, leveraging alternative materials and novel technologies to achieve targeted sensory and functional outcomes.
• Plan and execute pilot plant and factory trials, translating bench-scale findings into robust, scalable processes and supporting successful technical transfer to production. Work closely with Operations, Capital Projects, and Maintenance teams to design processes at pilot and industrial scale.
• Apply strong technical expertise in food processing systems (e.g., thermal processing, particle size reduction, and material transformations) to inform formulation and process decisions. Scope and propose new processes and optimizations that enhance Voyage's tech platform.
• Continuously refine and improve formulations and processes, integrating feedback from cross-functional partners and production insights
• Document experimental work comprehensively, communicate technical findings effectively, and contribute to building robust product and process documentation. Create clear, standardized documentation for process parameters and performance targets to ensure alignment across teams.

What Makes You Successful / What Makes a Great Candidate

• 3-5 years of hands-on R&D experience in food science and product development fields- chocolate, coffee, confectionery, or related experience a plus. Graduate degree in Food Science or related field a plus.
• Proven track record developing and commercializing new food products, with demonstrated ownership of projects from bench to launch.
• Strong expertise in food product processing fundamentals & processing effects on product quality.
• Strong foundation in formulation, ingredient interactions, and food production, with working knowledge of flavor chemistry, rheology, and particle size distribution
• Experience executing pilot plant trials and translating lab formulations to manufacturing scale.
• Analytical mindset with ability to design experiments, interpret data, and draw actionable conclusions.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail in documentation and data management. Project management experience is a plus.
• Strong scientific background with excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence outcomes through technical expertise.
• Proficiency in Google Suite with experience with statistical or experimental design software (e.g., JMP, Minitab, or similar) a plus.

Physical Demands

• Tasting and evaluating a wide range of food products (including cocoa-free chocolate, bean-free coffee, and other food matrices) for sensory attributes such as flavor, aroma, texture, and appearance.
• Prolonged periods of standing or sitting during laboratory work, pilot plant operations, and computer-based analysis.
• Travel up to 25% of the time (can be domestic or international)

Compensation

The annual salary for this role is between $80K to $125K plus immediate participation in our benefits program (health, dental, 401k, and many others), a generous paid time off policy, and, where applicable, participation in our incentive programs. Actual compensation will be determined by a variety of factors including relevant experience, skills, qualifications, All employees are owners of Voyage Foods and receive an equity grant as part of their total package. At Voyage Foods, we approach each individual's compensation with a promise of fair market value and internal equity commensurate with experience and specific skill set.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• STD/LTD, Life and AD&D policies
• FSA, HSA, HRA, and Mental Health Program Benefits
• Generous Paid Time Off
• 401k Program
• Commuter Benefits
• Paid Family Leave Program

Voyage Foods is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Voyage Foods is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Voyage Foods will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background check.