Job Description

67 West Street, Suite #415, Brooklyn, NY 11222

[email protected]

JAIDEVELOPMENT.COM

Job Description : Research and Development Food and Beverage Scientist

Location: Brooklyn, NY (On-Site)

Reports To: Director of Operations

About Us:

JAI Development is a leading food and beverage innovation lab based in Brooklyn, NY. We specialize in product formulation and production operations management, supporting a wide range of food and beverage categories. Our strength lies in helping emerging CPG brands develop and commercialize high-quality, scalable products through a mix of technical expertise, creative thinking, and strategic execution. Backed by a robust network of industry professionals, we serve as a collaborative partner from concept through commercialization.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a full-time Food Scientist to join our innovation team in Brooklyn. This is a hands-on, lab-based role focused on research, formulation, and client-facing development. You’ll be responsible for bringing new food and beverage concepts to life, conducting bench-scale experiments and prototyping, managing project timelines and documentation, and working closely with both internal teams and external clients to deliver high-impact products that meet technical, sensory, and business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct ingredient research, ideation, and formulation of new products based on scientific principles, nutritional targets, and client briefs.
• Translate product requirements into actionable development plans; refine formulations based on feedback and testing.
• The majority of the role will be dedicated to bench-scale experiments and development of prototypes for assigned projects, with attention to ingredient functionality, stability, scalability, and sensory performance.
• Engage directly with clients to define product goals, communicate technical progress, present exploratory pathways, and incorporate feedback for final formulation approval.
• Manage and update project management software, all relevant project documentation, including formulation records, batch notes, and technical briefs.
• Collaborate with lab leadership to prioritize tasks and manage workload in alignment with broader project timelines.
• Lead or support technical research initiatives to identify new ingredients, technologies, and methodologies to inform and enhance formulation work.
• Train and mentor junior lab staff and assistants, providing hands-on guidance in formulation execution and lab practices.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and well-organized lab environment, including routine equipment cleaning and maintenance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Product Development, or a related field and 5+ years of hands-on formulation experience in a food and beverage product development role.
• Strong understanding of food technology, ingredient interactions, and functional systems across a variety of product categories.
• Demonstrated R&D and formulation experience with beverages, powders, functional ingredients and protein. 
• Excellent client management and communication skills — able to translate technical work into clear, actionable updates.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a cross-functional team.
• Highly organized with strong analytical and documentation skills.
• Comfortable managing multiple active projects in a deadline-driven setting.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience in low sugar, low calorie, functional and plant-based product development
• Familiarity with claim substantiation, regulatory compliance, and nutritional labeling
• Experience working with co-manufacturers or supporting pilot/scale-up runs

What We Offer

• A mission driven company to help good people create great products and offering consumers more meaningful choices
• A dedicated, supportive and collaborative team culture
• A dynamic environment where science, creativity, and strategy converge
• The opportunity to work on and contribute to a diverse range of client projects with real-world impact
• Exposure to emerging brands and forward-thinking product concepts
• Competitive compensation and opportunities for career growth within a growing company

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