Food Scientist Jobs
Food Scientist jobs are open across food and beverage manufacturing, ingredient suppliers, contract research organizations, and consumer packaged goods companies, from entry-level to principal and director, with specializations in product development, sensory science, and food safety. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 55+ Food Scientist jobs
Job Description
About this Position:
The Human Food Division of MDARD has a mission to protect public health by ensuring a safe and wholesome food supply, while working to maintain a viable food industry. Food safety is the division's top priority. The Food Safety Inspector (Food Industry Field Scientist) is a field-based position that performs food safety regulatory inspections and related work within an assigned work area. This position requires the incumbent to live in Van Buren, Allegan, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ionia, or Ottawa County or within 15 minutes OR be willing to re-locate to this area within 10 months of hire.
Click to learn more about becoming an MDARD Food Inspector:
Job Summary:
This field-based position functions from a home workstation and is required to follow established standard operating procedures and meet quantity, quality and timeliness standards for assigned work.
The ideal candidate will possess and be able to demonstrate key position-critical skills and abilities, including: enhanced observation, listening, and communication skills; the ability to project confidence; the ability to utilize and implement sound decision-making skills; the ability to prioritize risk; the ability and/or developing ability to handle conflict-type situations effectively; and, a professional demeanor and composure in all situations.
Position Description (Download PDF reader)
MAP - Food Section - Wholesale Food Regions (Download PDF reader)
About MDARD:
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is comprised of four Bureaus that use a customer-driven, solution-oriented approach to cultivate and expand new economic opportunities for the food and agricultural sector; safeguard the public's food supply; inspect and enforce sound animal health practices; control and eradicate plant pests and diseases threatening the $125.8 billion food and agriculture system; preserve the environment by which the farming community makes their living and feeds consumers; and protect consumers by enforcing laws relating to weights and measures.
MDARD is committed to a department-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion program that builds upon our values and invests in our employees. We provide an inclusive culture through involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized.
The State of Michigan offers a competitive benefits package for all career employees that include medical, dental and vision coverage, along with paid parental leave, flexible spending accounts, retirement and much more. Click the following link to learn more:
State of Michigan – Employee Benefits
Required Education and Experience
Additional Requirements and Information
Information provided in your application, resume, cover letter, transcripts, and any other documentation provided will be used to verify responses to the supplemental questions. Unsupported responses may not be considered further.
Your application for any position does not guarantee that you will be contacted by the Department/Agency for further consideration. Only those applicants interviewed will be notified of the results.
Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact the ADA coordinator (Download PDF reader) for the agency that posted this position vacancy.
Job Description
About this Position:
The Human Food Division of MDARD has a mission to protect public health by ensuring a safe and wholesome food supply, while working to maintain a viable food industry. Food safety is the division's top priority. The Food Safety Inspector (Food Industry Field Scientist) is a field-based position that performs food safety regulatory inspections and related work within an assigned work area. This position requires the incumbent to live in Van Buren, Allegan, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ionia, or Ottawa County or within 15 minutes OR be willing to re-locate to this area within 10 months of hire.
Click to learn more about becoming an MDARD Food Inspector:
Job Summary:
This field-based position functions from a home workstation and is required to follow established standard operating procedures and meet quantity, quality and timeliness standards for assigned work.
The ideal candidate will possess and be able to demonstrate key position-critical skills and abilities, including: enhanced observation, listening, and communication skills; the ability to project confidence; the ability to utilize and implement sound decision-making skills; the ability to prioritize risk; the ability and/or developing ability to handle conflict-type situations effectively; and, a professional demeanor and composure in all situations.
Position Description (Download PDF reader)
MAP - Food Section - Wholesale Food Regions (Download PDF reader)
About MDARD:
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is comprised of four Bureaus that use a customer-driven, solution-oriented approach to cultivate and expand new economic opportunities for the food and agricultural sector; safeguard the public's food supply; inspect and enforce sound animal health practices; control and eradicate plant pests and diseases threatening the $125.8 billion food and agriculture system; preserve the environment by which the farming community makes their living and feeds consumers; and protect consumers by enforcing laws relating to weights and measures.
MDARD is committed to a department-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion program that builds upon our values and invests in our employees. We provide an inclusive culture through involvement and empowerment, where the inherent worth and dignity of all people are recognized.
The State of Michigan offers a competitive benefits package for all career employees that include medical, dental and vision coverage, along with paid parental leave, flexible spending accounts, retirement and much more. Click the following link to learn more:
State of Michigan – Employee Benefits
Required Education and Experience
Additional Requirements and Information
Information provided in your application, resume, cover letter, transcripts, and any other documentation provided will be used to verify responses to the supplemental questions. Unsupported responses may not be considered further.
Your application for any position does not guarantee that you will be contacted by the Department/Agency for further consideration. Only those applicants interviewed will be notified of the results.
Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact the ADA coordinator (Download PDF reader) for the agency that posted this position vacancy.
Food Scientist Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Food Scientist JobsFood Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Manufacturing
- Consumer Goods
- Staffing & Recruiting
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in food scientist jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in food science, food technology, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience with product formulation and bench-scale development
- Working knowledge of food safety regulations including HACCP, GMPs, and FDA labeling requirements
- Proficiency with sensory evaluation methods and statistical analysis software
- Experience with pilot plant or production-scale process trials
- SQF, PCQI, or other food safety certification preferred or required
Tips for Your Food Scientist Job Search
Quantify your formulation work on your resume
List the specific number of products you reformulated, launched, or improved and name the categories involved, such as dairy, snack foods, or beverages. Hiring managers scan for tangible output, not just lab responsibilities or technique lists.
Tailor your resume to the job function
Food scientist roles split sharply between R&D, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs. Use the exact function name from the posting in your summary line so your resume clears applicant tracking filters before a human reads it.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists food scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Lead sensory interviews with your methodology
If the role involves sensory evaluation, be ready to walk through your panel design, statistical analysis method, and how you translated consumer data into product decisions. Generic answers about taste-testing consistently fall flat in technical interviews.
Address scale-up experience in your cover letter
Many postings require bench-to-pilot or pilot-to-production experience. If you have it, name the scale, the equipment types, and any yield or cost targets you hit. If you don't, describe the closest cross-functional project you contributed to.
Negotiate start date around regulatory timelines
If you're finishing a labeling, GRAS, or FDA submission project, mention that in your offer negotiation. Employers in CPG and ingredient manufacturing understand regulatory calendars and often prefer a later start over losing institutional knowledge mid-submission.
Food Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most food scientists?
The companies hiring the most food scientists right now include OFI, BUTTER BUDS, and Butterball, with the largest share of openings in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Ingredient suppliers and contract manufacturers account for a significant portion of active postings alongside major CPG brands.
How many food scientist jobs are remote?
About 25% of food scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the lab-heavy nature of most roles. Regulatory affairs, food labeling compliance, and technical sales positions are the sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements, since they don't require hands-on bench or pilot plant work.
How do you become a food scientist?
Start with a bachelor's degree in food science, food technology, or a related field such as chemistry or nutrition. Gain lab experience through internships, co-ops, or undergraduate research focused on formulation or quality. Build practical skills in sensory analysis, food safety systems, and regulatory standards. Earning a PCQI certification and pursuing a master's degree strengthens your candidacy for senior R&D or regulatory roles.
How do you get hired as a food scientist with little experience?
Target entry-level quality assurance or food safety technician roles at manufacturers, which are common stepping stones into R&D. Highlight any coursework projects involving formulation, shelf-life testing, or sensory panels as direct evidence of applied skills. Completing a HACCP or PCQI certification before applying signals readiness for the compliance side of the work, which many smaller companies hire for first.
What does the food scientist interview process look like?
Most processes start with a recruiter or HR screen, followed by a technical interview with R&D or quality team members who ask about your formulation approach, troubleshooting methods, and experience with food safety systems. Later rounds often include a panel with cross-functional stakeholders from marketing, operations, or regulatory. Some employers add a practical exercise or case study involving a product development or reformulation scenario.
Where can I find and apply to food scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to food scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 55 Food Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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