Research & Development Chef

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : R&D Chef

Location :   Tracy, CA

Salary :   $105K - $115K (DOE)

Benefits :  Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

About Company / Opportunity :

We are looking to add an R&D Chef to the team at a mission-driven fresh food manufacturer dedicated to becoming America’s favorite producer of salads and healthy, fresh foods.

What do we seek?

The ideal candidate will have strong culinary expertise, a passion for creating new recipes and products, and the ability to manage multiple projects from concept to commercialization. They should be detail-oriented, able to document and analyze testing results, and develop products that meet both quality and cost targets. Staying on top of food trends, manufacturing processes, and emerging ingredients is essential, as is leading tastings, plant trials, and sample production.

Responsibilities :

• Manage multiple work streams with confidence
• Provide culinary expertise through concept creation and product development
• Contribute across all product development stages, from ideation to manufacturing
• Accurately document testing and analytical data
• Research and share food trends and culinary innovations monthly
• Maintain project scope and coordinate formula approval with commercialization
• Develop products within cost targets through accurate ingredient costing
• Lead and support product tastings, plant trials, and sample production
• Manage project timelines, deliverables, and support broader deadlines
• Maintain an organized, clean workspace per SOPs
• Report weekly plans and progress to the Culinary Director