Food Technologist, R&D

About the Role

Aspire Bakeries is seeking a Food Technologist to join our R&D team at our Van Nuys, CA location. In this role, you will drive new product development and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring formulations meet customer expectations, regulatory standards, and operational feasibility. This position plays a critical part in bringing innovative, high-quality bakery products from concept to commercialization. The role requires onsite presence in Van Nuys, CA four days per week for hands-on collaboration with the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development initiatives from concept through commercialization, aligned to customer needs and business goals.
• Develop and optimize formulations within defined constraints (cost, labeling, shelf life, and quality requirements).
• Drive continuous improvement of existing products to meet evolving health, regulatory, and customer expectations.
• Partner cross-functionally with marketing, sales, operations, procurement, and regulatory teams to support product success.
• Serve as a technical resource by providing formulation expertise, training, and documentation to internal stakeholders.
• Conduct and interpret food quality and analytical testing to ensure product performance and compliance.
• Manage projects, timelines, and documentation within the concept-to-commercialization process.

Requirements

• AA/BS in Food Science or related field, or 1–2 years of industrial food development experience.
• Working knowledge of food formulation, ingredient functionality, and basic quality testing methods.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint (intermediate level).
• Basic math skills and ability to read and interpret formulas and specifications.
• Strong communication, organization, and time management skills.
• Ability to work in a production environment, including standing for extended periods and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 20%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional culinary or bakery product development experience.
• Familiarity with SAP, Genesis, OEC Graphics, or Discovery systems.
• Knowledge of current food trends, clean label initiatives, and health-focused reformulations.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Experience working within a concept-to-commercialization framework.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Company-paid life insurance and additional voluntary options.
• Paid parental leave, generous paid time off, and holidays.
• Competitive 401(k) with immediate company match.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• HSA and FSA plans to help manage everyday expenses.
• Performance incentive plans celebrating achievements across sales, bakery performance, and individual contributions.
• Learning and development programs for career growth.

Pay

Salary Range: $68,000 - $91,000. The final determination of starting pay will vary based on factors such as location, shift, education, skill, and experience within the job or industry.

About Aspire Bakeries

Aspire Bakeries creates foods that bring people together, including La Brea Bakery® artisan breads and Otis Spunkmeyer® cookies. With 13 commercial bakeries across North America, we foster a workplace culture built on care, ownership, and growth. Our team members take pride in their work, contributing to products enjoyed by millions daily.