Head of R&D & Product Quality

About the role

The Role Mezcla is expanding our Operations Team!! We’re looking for a Head of R&D & Product Quality to lead both product development and product quality programs at Mezcla. This person will play a critical role in shaping and optimizing our products—from improving flavor and texture to ensuring consistency and quality over time. You’ll work closely with an external food safety consultant and cross-functional partners to bring new ideas to life and continuously improve our existing products.

Product Development & Innovation

• Lead innovation across our product portfolio, including developing new formulas, flavors, and product concepts
• Optimize formulations for taste, texture, shelf life, and overall performance (e.g., aging, stability)
• Drive continuous improvement of existing products based on data and insights
• Partner with manufacturing and supply chain to ensure scalable, efficient production

Product Quality & Sensory Program

• Own and build Mezcla’s product quality program
• Design and manage sensory evaluation processes (taste, texture, appearance over time)
• Analyze sensory and quality data to inform product development decisions
• Establish quality standards, benchmarks, and testing protocols

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with operations, manufacturing partners, and external consultants
• Act as the internal expert on product performance and quality
• Help build processes and systems as we scale

What We're Looking For

• 5–10 years of experience in food R&D and/or product quality
• Direct experience working on protein bars (strongly preferred)
• Strong understanding of formulation, shelf life, and sensory evaluation
• Experience working with co-manufacturers and scaling food products
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, hands-on startup environment
• Builder mindset—someone who enjoys creating systems from the ground up

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to shape the future of a fast-growing food brand
• High ownership and impact from day one
• Work on products people genuinely love

Mezcla

Mezcla is the crispy protein treat you’ve actually been looking for. Bold flavor, satisfying crunch, 10–11g of plant protein. Light enough to want another one. Always gluten-free, plant-based, Non-GMO, and kosher.

Mission Plant-Based Snack Brand Making Flavorful, Feel-Good Food

Location New York, NY
Open to remote