STEM OPT Food Scientist Jobs
Food Scientist roles in product development, quality assurance, and food safety research qualify for STEM OPT's 24-month extension, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must align with an eligible CIP code in food science or a related STEM field.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
This Jobot Job is hosted by: Ryan Rubino. Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button and sending us your resume.
SALARY
Salary: $85,000 - $125,000 per year
About us
We are a food manufacturing company in Modesto, CA looking for a Food Scientist to join our growing team!
WHY JOIN US?
- Great team culture!
- Great pay/benefits!
- Room for career growth!
JOB DETAILS
We are seeking a dynamic and innovative Food Scientist to join our team in the Accounting + Finance industry. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing and improving our food products while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. This is an exciting opportunity for a professional with a background in Food Science, Nutrition, or Culinary Science to apply their skills in a unique and challenging role. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the food industry, including knowledge of GFCO, Paleo, NGPV, USDA, Culinology, Culinary Science, Food Science, nutrition, Culinary School certification, meat science, HACCP, food safety, GMP, and keto food products.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and improve food products while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
- Conduct research to determine the nutritional value, safety, and quality of food.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative food products.
- Perform sensory evaluations and shelf-life testing for food products.
- Maintain knowledge of current food industry trends and regulations.
- Ensure products meet GFCO, Paleo, NGPV, USDA, Culinology, Culinary Science, Food Science, nutrition, Culinary School certification, meat science, HACCP, food safety, GMP, and keto food product standards.
- Analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein.
- Work with operations to improve existing processes and develop new ones that enhance product quality and profitability.
- Ensure all products are consistent with company and industry quality standards.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Culinary Science or related field.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in food science or a related field.
- Knowledge of GFCO, Paleo, NGPV, USDA, Culinology, Culinary Science, Food Science, nutrition, Culinary School certification, meat science, HACCP, food safety, GMP, and keto food products.
- Strong understanding of food industry trends and regulations.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.
- Must be detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Knowledge of laboratory testing procedures and safety protocols.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong project management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button.
Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions. Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Information collected and processed as part of your Jobot candidate profile, and any job applications, resumes, or other information you choose to submit is subject to Jobot's Privacy Policy, as well as the Jobot California Worker Privacy Notice and Jobot Notice Regarding Automated Employment Decision Tools which are available at jobot.com/legal. By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Jobot, and/or its agents and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy here: jobot.com/privacy-policy.
INTRODUCTION
This Jobot Job is hosted by: Ryan Rubino. Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button and sending us your resume.
SALARY
Salary: $85,000 - $125,000 per year
About us
We are a food manufacturing company in Modesto, CA looking for a Food Scientist to join our growing team!
WHY JOIN US?
- Great team culture!
- Great pay/benefits!
- Room for career growth!
JOB DETAILS
We are seeking a dynamic and innovative Food Scientist to join our team in the Accounting + Finance industry. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing and improving our food products while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. This is an exciting opportunity for a professional with a background in Food Science, Nutrition, or Culinary Science to apply their skills in a unique and challenging role. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the food industry, including knowledge of GFCO, Paleo, NGPV, USDA, Culinology, Culinary Science, Food Science, nutrition, Culinary School certification, meat science, HACCP, food safety, GMP, and keto food products.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and improve food products while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
- Conduct research to determine the nutritional value, safety, and quality of food.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative food products.
- Perform sensory evaluations and shelf-life testing for food products.
- Maintain knowledge of current food industry trends and regulations.
- Ensure products meet GFCO, Paleo, NGPV, USDA, Culinology, Culinary Science, Food Science, nutrition, Culinary School certification, meat science, HACCP, food safety, GMP, and keto food product standards.
- Analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein.
- Work with operations to improve existing processes and develop new ones that enhance product quality and profitability.
- Ensure all products are consistent with company and industry quality standards.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Culinary Science or related field.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in food science or a related field.
- Knowledge of GFCO, Paleo, NGPV, USDA, Culinology, Culinary Science, Food Science, nutrition, Culinary School certification, meat science, HACCP, food safety, GMP, and keto food products.
- Strong understanding of food industry trends and regulations.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.
- Must be detail-oriented and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Knowledge of laboratory testing procedures and safety protocols.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong project management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button.
Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions. Sometimes Jobot is required to perform background checks with your authorization. Jobot will consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with any applicable federal, state, or local law regarding criminal backgrounds, including but not limited to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Information collected and processed as part of your Jobot candidate profile, and any job applications, resumes, or other information you choose to submit is subject to Jobot's Privacy Policy, as well as the Jobot California Worker Privacy Notice and Jobot Notice Regarding Automated Employment Decision Tools which are available at jobot.com/legal. By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Jobot, and/or its agents and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy here: jobot.com/privacy-policy.
See all STEM OPT Food Scientist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Food Scientist
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your food science, nutrition science, or agricultural science degree maps to an approved STEM CIP code. Your DSO can confirm this using your program's catalog entry. A mismatch delays or disqualifies your STEM OPT extension filing.
Use O*NET to frame your job description
Pull the Food Scientist occupation profile from O*NET and compare it to your offer letter's duties. Roles focused on product formulation, sensory analysis, or food safety testing align well. Vague job titles like 'lab associate' may not satisfy USCIS's degree-relatedness requirement.
Filter employers by E-Verify enrollment status
Food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers aren't automatically E-Verify enrolled. Search Migrate Mate to browse Food Scientist roles at employers already verified for STEM OPT. Confirming E-Verify enrollment before you interview saves time if an offer falls through at the compliance check.
Build an I-983 training plan around your actual role
Your I-983 must describe specific learning goals tied to your STEM degree, not just list job duties. For food scientists, frame objectives around food chemistry, regulatory compliance, or process optimization. Your DSO must sign off before your STEM OPT start date, so draft this during offer negotiations.
Target employers with established food safety compliance teams
Companies operating under FDA or USDA oversight, such as those with FSMA compliance programs, are more practiced at I-983 documentation and E-Verify requirements. Asking HR about their existing OPT or STEM OPT onboarding process during interviews signals how prepared they are.
Time your H-1B registration to protect your STEM OPT window
If you're in your second year of STEM OPT when H-1B visa registration opens in March, cap-gap protects your authorization through September 30 if you're selected. Confirm your STEM OPT end date with USCIS and plan your job search timeline to avoid gaps between extensions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a food science degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Food science degrees typically qualify, but eligibility depends on whether your specific program's CIP code appears on the STEM Designated Degree Program List maintained by DHS. Degrees in food science, nutritional science, agricultural science, and food engineering commonly qualify. Your DSO can look up your program's CIP code and confirm eligibility before you apply for the extension with USCIS.
Do Food Scientist employers need to be enrolled in E-Verify?
Yes. E-Verify enrollment is a federal requirement for any employer hiring a STEM OPT student. The employer must be enrolled before your STEM OPT extension is approved, not just at the point of your first paycheck. You can ask HR directly for their E-Verify company ID or request written confirmation of enrollment. Searching on Migrate Mate surfaces Food Scientist roles at employers already enrolled in E-Verify.
What goes in the I-983 training plan for a Food Scientist role?
The I-983 requires a description of how your job duties directly relate to your STEM degree, your learning objectives, and a supervision plan. For food scientists, strong I-983 objectives include applying food chemistry principles to product reformulation, conducting sensory evaluation studies, or implementing HACCP protocols. Generic language like 'gain industry experience' is insufficient. Your employer's supervisor and your DSO must both sign the form before your extension begins.
Can I work for a food startup or small manufacturer on STEM OPT?
Yes, employer size doesn't affect STEM OPT eligibility, but smaller companies often haven't enrolled in E-Verify or navigated I-983 documentation before. Before accepting an offer, ask whether the company is currently E-Verify enrolled and whether HR has supported STEM OPT students previously. A company willing to enroll in E-Verify and complete the I-983 is a valid STEM OPT employer regardless of headcount.
How does cap-gap work if my STEM OPT is still active when H-1B selection happens?
If you're selected in the H-1B lottery and your STEM OPT is still valid on April 1, cap-gap automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year, when the new H-1B fiscal year begins. You can continue working without interruption as long as you remain with the same employer and your I-983 training plan is current. USCIS handles the cap-gap extension automatically once your H-1B petition is filed.