Now Hiring: Food Scientist / Product Developer

Position Title

Food Scientist / Product Developer

Reports To

Senior Manager of Quality and Innovation

Location

Austin, Texas

Position Scope

Force of Nature (FON) is a category-disrupting brand that has quickly become the fastest growing brand in meat. Founded to accelerate the creation of a global regenerative supply network, we are revolutionizing the industry to not just improve, but to create positive returns for land, animal welfare, communities, and consumers. As the Food Scientist / Product Developer, you will be a creative and technical force behind bringing innovative, on-trend, and regeneratively sourced products to life. You will lead the end-to-end product development process — from ideation and formulation through pilot trials, scale-up, and commercialization — while ensuring products meet FON's quality, regulatory, and brand standards. This role requires a hands-on food scientist with deep expertise in meat and protein product formulation, sensory evaluation, and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment.

Major Responsibilities

Note that responsibilities may be added or adjusted over time.

Product Formulation & Development

• Lead the conceptualization, formulation, and iterative development of new meat, poultry, and protein-based products aligned with FON's regenerative mission and consumer insights.
• Design and execute bench-top and pilot-scale trials, documenting formulations, processing parameters, and results with precision.
• Develop and refine product prototypes to achieve target sensory profiles, nutritional targets, functionality, and cost-of-goods parameters.
• Manage ingredient sourcing and evaluation, partnering with Procurement and supplier partners to identify and qualify regenerative, on-brand inputs.
• Maintain a comprehensive formulation database and version-control system for all active and archived product development records.

Scale-Up & Commercialization

• Translate bench-scale formulations into scalable manufacturing processes, collaborating closely with co-manufacturers and Operations to support successful commercialization.
• Conduct and lead plant trials, troubleshoot processing challenges, and document scale-up learnings to inform future development.
• Partner with FSQA to develop product specifications, shelf-life protocols, and quality standards for all new and reformulated SKUs.
• Support the creation of manufacturing process guides, SOPs, and technical documentation required for production handoff.

Product Renovation & Quality Issue Resolution

• Lead renovation projects on existing SKUs to address quality complaints, cost, ingredient, or process changes, ensuring reformulated products meet or exceed original specifications.
• Lead root cause investigations for product quality issues and consumer complaints, partnering with FSQA and Operations to identify formulation, ingredient, or process drivers and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Own product consistency across production runs and co-manufacturing sites, monitoring formulation and process adherence to minimize variability and recurring quality issues.

Sensory Evaluation & Consumer Insights

• Design and manage internal sensory evaluation panels and coordinate external consumer testing to guide product decisions.
• Translate consumer feedback and market trends into actionable formulation improvements and new product concepts.
• Lead shelf-life and end-of-life product evaluations, documenting results and recommending corrective actions as needed.
• Monitor competitive landscape and emerging ingredient technologies to keep FON's innovation pipeline current and differentiated.

Regulatory & Label Compliance

• Ensure all new and reformulated products comply with applicable FDA, USDA/FSIS, and state regulations, including labeling, claims, and ingredient standards.
• Partner with FSQA and Marketing to develop accurate, compliant product labels, including Nutrition Facts Panels, ingredient statements, and on-pack claims.
• Support claim validation programs (e.g., clean label, non-GMO, grass-fed, regenerative) through appropriate testing and documentation.
• Assist with FSIS label submissions and maintain organized records of regulatory approvals and supporting documentation.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Manage multiple concurrent development projects against aggressive timelines, keeping stakeholders informed and projects on track.
• Act as the technical point of contact for cross-functional teams including Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, and FSQA throughout the product development process.
• Own the technical elements of product lifecycle management (PLM) for assigned SKUs, including formulation records, specifications, and revision history, ensuring product consistency from initial launch through ongoing production.
• Partner with Engineering on equipment, line capability, and process design considerations that affect formulation feasibility and product consistency at scale.
• Conduct gap analyses and process improvement initiatives across R&D workflows and systems.
• Prioritize innovation pipeline projects in alignment with Product Marketing roadmaps and business objectives, working closely with the Product Marketing Manager (PMM); the Food Scientist / Product Developer owns formulation, technical feasibility, and product specifications, while the PMM owns market positioning, consumer-facing claims strategy, and go-to-market timing.

Professional Development & Technical Expertise

• Monitor emerging food science, ingredient technology, and regulatory trends relevant to meat, poultry, and alternative proteins.
• Build and apply scientific expertise to solve complex formulation and processing challenges across a range of product formats.
• Support knowledge sharing and informal mentorship of junior team members within the R&D and Innovation functions.

Professional Knowledge, Education & Experience

Proven ability to develop innovative products from concept through commercialization in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of meat, poultry, and protein product formulation, processing, and commercialization.
• Demonstrated ability to excel in a hands-on, fast-paced startup or emerging brand environment.
• In-depth knowledge of:
  • Meat and poultry product formulation, processing technologies, and ingredient functionality.
  • Sensory science, shelf-life testing, and quality evaluation methodologies.
  • FDA, USDA/FSIS regulatory requirements, food labeling, and HACCP/FSMA principles.
  • Root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) methodologies for resolving product quality issues.
  • Product lifecycle management (PLM) systems and processes, including specification management and version control.
  • Nutritional profiling, Nutrition Facts Panel generation, and claims compliance.
  • Ingredient sourcing, supplier evaluation, and cost-of-goods management.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Retail product life-cycle management and stage-gate development processes.
  • Cross-functional collaboration in an innovation-driven environment.
  • Regenerative agriculture, clean label, and sustainability-forward product positioning (preferred).
• Demonstrated self-starter with an active passion for food innovation and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated desire to constantly expand and improve skills, knowledge, and technical expertise.
• BA/BS degree in Food Science (emphasis in Sensory Science), Meat Science, Animal Science, Nutrition, or a related field plus 4–6 years of relevant product development experience. Extensive and directly applicable professional experience in meat or protein product development may be considered in lieu of formal education requirements.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Conveys and/or consults on issues of moderate to significant complexity with clarity and confidence.
• Highly effective communicator — able to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences including Marketing, Sales, and Leadership.
• Communicates formulation, project, and technical investigation information in a clear, concise, and organized fashion.
• Regularly interacts with colleagues, suppliers, and co-manufacturers up to leadership level.
• Collaborates effectively across functions to achieve shared objectives and ensure seamless information flow.
• Effectively presents information and responds to questions in both one-on-one and group meeting settings.
• Operates with the highest level of integrity and is widely trusted.

Teamwork & Collaboration

• Participates in and actively contributes to team and cross-functional innovation projects.
• Positively impacts overall team effectiveness and culture of innovation.
• May provide informal support and mentorship to less experienced team members.
• Networks with key contacts outside own area of expertise to bring new ideas and perspectives to the team.
• Builds strong relationships with senior-level stakeholders and external partners.
• Is dedicated to exceeding the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.

Project Management

• Advanced understanding of product development project management methodologies, stage gates, and timelines.
• Proven ability to plan, estimate, organize, and monitor multiple concurrent projects effectively.
• Ability to identify and help overcome barriers that may delay project timelines or product launches.
• Keeps projects on track relative to budget, formulation targets, sensory objectives, and stakeholder deadlines.

Organization & Business Knowledge

• Understands trends and emerging challenges in the consumer packaged goods, meat, and regenerative food sectors.
• Applies business and market context to focus product development efforts on highest-impact opportunities.
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge of the FON product portfolio, supply base, and retail positioning.
• Maintains an entrepreneurial, resourceful mindset to efficiently achieve innovation goals in a lean organization.
• Is enthusiastic about the company's mission and maintains unquestioned credibility with the entire team.
• Adheres to FON values and beliefs in every interaction with employees, partners, and customers during both good and challenging times.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

• Must be able to read and interpret recipes, weigh ingredients on scales, perform basic math, and assess color, texture, aroma, and taste for sensory and quality evaluation purposes.
• Travel including overnight trips may be required to visit co-manufacturers, supplier facilities, and industry events.
• Tasks may be performed in operating manufacturing facilities and product inspection in warehouse operations under varying conditions (hot, cold, wet, elevated environments, etc.).
• Must be able to occasionally lift and carry up to 60 lbs.
• Ability to physically perform general office requirements.
• Passion for an active health & wellness lifestyle.

Proficiencies

• Expert understanding of Google and Microsoft Office applications (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Excel, Word).
• Experience working with formulation management software, project management tools, product lifecycle management (PLM) platforms, and/or ERP systems.
• Proficiency with nutritional analysis software and web-based specification systems.
• Familiarity with USDA/FSIS online portals and regulatory submission platforms preferred.

Please email cover letter and resume to: info@forceofnaturemeats.com