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Senior Food Scientist

New Culture

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Operations

San Leandro, CA, USA

Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2023

At New Culture, we make cow cheese without the cow. Dairy cheese is unsustainable and plant-based cheeses don’t work. Ours are sustainable, healthy, ethical, and indistinguishable from current dairy options in taste, texture, and function. Using fermentation to produce dairy proteins, food science to combine those proteins with natural ingredients, and traditional cheesemaking methods to make any cheese of choice, we are bringing about a new culture for the cheese industry.

We are a Bay Area-based, venture-backed startup in an exciting growth and rapid expansion phase. We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Food Scientist to join us in our mission of producing animal-free dairy cheese. By being one of our early employees, you will have significant say and responsibility in determining the success and outcomes of New Culture. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-moving collaborative environment, and will have a deep understanding of novel food research, design and development.

Learn more about our CULTURE here!

What will you be doing:

Work with cross-functional teams and external advisors to optimize and commercialize the world’s first animal-free dairy mozzarella cheese
Apply hands-on food chemistry, analysis, polymer science, microbiology, process development, and packaging to develop, evaluate and enhance cheese organoleptic quality, functional performance, and shelf-life
Investigate the protein biochemistry of our animal-free casein during storage and cheesemaking.
Optimize animal-free casein functionality in cheese for taste, appearance, mouthfeel, melt and stretch.
Conduct in-house sensory testing and organize external sensory panels
Collaborate with chefs and industry partners to craft and deliver internal and external product demonstrations and culinary events
Qualify ingredients for new formulations and alternate suppliers for existing ingredients
Utilize understanding of commercial-scale operations and implementation to participate in/lead the identification of product specifications, processing methods, and control parameters
Support scale-up and technology transfer to contract manufacturers
Participate in IP generation and applications development
Keep meticulous records of R&D activities (product iterations, new ingredient trials, processing methods, analytical assays and results)

What we expect from you:

PhD in Physics/Chemistry/Materials Science/Food Engineering (or other relevant area of study) with 2+ years of food industry product development experience - not including academic research and/or experience affiliated with academic pilot plant facilities
Experience with novel food product development and troubleshooting ingredient functionality
Technical expertise in ingredient chemistry as it relates to functionality and stability in food systems
Hands-on experience with texture analysis, rheology, and emulsification instruments and methods
Ability to design, perform, and troubleshoot experiments independently
Ability to review relevant literature and apply to DoE
Strong data analysis and interpretation skills
Familiarity with CGMP, HACCP, QA/QC standards and testing frameworks, and basic principles of food safety
Ability to deliver high-quality work under constraints of time and budget
Ability to work cross-functionally and adapt to dynamic workflows and shifting priorities
Creative and resourceful problem solving skills
Strong communication skills for sharing progress updates with stakeholders as well as for customer-facing events
Self-starter and goal-oriented with team-first mentality

Even better if you have:

Dairy R&D experience and have developed food and/or beverage products with plant or ideally dairy proteins
Concept to launch product development and commercialization experience in foodservice and retail
Familiarity with FDA (GRAS) standards and regulations for dairy and dairy alternatives
Experience coordinating and conducting sensory panels
Proficiency in Genesis R&D® Food Formulation & Labeling Software or equivalent, and familiarity with FDA nutrition and health claims
Previous experience at a start-up or small business
Scale-up experience - Managing co-manufacturer relations/networks & Liaising with internal and external parties to drive successful production trials and runs

How to know you are a great fit:

We look for candidates who are team players, learners, doers, and hungry to make a difference in the world. Creativity and resourcefulness, honesty and empathy go a long way. Our five core values guide us on our path to achieving our mission.

Determination with Kindness | Have the resolve, the drive, and the will to succeed, but do it with empathy, encouragement, and compassion. In the face of adversity we will only excel as a team by keeping kindness at the forefront of everything we do.

Creativity with Transparency | Creativity, persistence, questioning, and crazy ideas to solve hard problems are essential to our work. We do all of this out in the open while being honest and forthright about the new things we’re trying, getting feedback and input from our teammates along the way.

Teamwork with Rigor | Hold yourself and those around you to high standards and understand how your responsibilities are interconnected with others’. As much as you rely on your teammates, they’re relying on you, and only with consistent communication and rigorous teamwork will we achieve our goals together.

Speed with Focus | We move quickly, exploring new opportunities and incorporating new results to make progress rapidly. Remaining focused throughout our experimentations means making thoughtful decisions, listening to a range of perspectives, and moving forward as a unified team once we’ve committed to the path ahead.

Love the Product (not just the Science) | The science is cool but the product is even cooler. Our breakthroughs are always in the pursuit of better products. It’s by selling delicious dairy that we will bring about a successful future for New Culture and a positive impact for our customers and the planet.

New Culture is committed to promoting and creating a diverse, inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Diversity is the foundation of what we do at New Culture, enabling us to build a company that celebrates what makes each of us unique.