Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in New Jersey

ABOUT INGREDION:

Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you’ve experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet’s food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you’re just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there's a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create.

LOCATION:

Location: Bridgewater, NJ

Workplace type: Hybrid - 4 days/week on-site & 1 day/week remote

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a Senior Technologist, Savory Applications you will be responsible for conducting experimental designs and execution in Savory Applications for new-product development, customer support, and product support. You will work on projects or sub-projects of defined scope and advance the capabilities of the savory applications.

What you will do:

• Deliver company strategy by developing new ingredients and solutions in the Savory space
• Co-create with customers by providing technical solutions to product development challenges
• Create and support short- and long-term internal projects by leading applications work to allow the company to remain competitive in the industry and provide next-generation products
• Supporting the development of savory capability in the organization including providing required education/training
• Innovate in the savory segment by developing new prototypes that reduce the cost of production, are nutritionally beneficial, easy to process and/or provide increased functionality in the end product
• Developing new areas of application of ingredients and technologies in the savory segment
• Designing and conducting experiments in the pilot plant or laboratory to progress projects
• Communicating results and keeping experiment records in required formats
• Highlighting potential resource or technical issues or challenges to manager in proactive manner
• Utilizing data analysis software to interpret and present scientific work
• Presenting scientific work at internal and external conferences and tradeshows
• Utilizing analytical methods to measure various attributes of savory products and internal ingredients
• Developing internal capabilities, by researching new techniques and technologies, and providing sourcing, training and implementation
• Conducting customer presentations to increase business and showcase company capabilities
• Providing support to savory teams across the globe
• Interacting with customers in joint projects to successfully execute and drive projects
• Networking with external research agencies for technical support and collaboration in projects
• Support Go-To-Market teams by providing product information and product application details such as formulation/processing support and ingredient training

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• BS/MS in Food Science or a related field with 3+ years of experience in food formulation and product development, preferably in soups, sauces, dressings, batters, or breading systems
• Hands-on experience in formulation development, laboratory and pilot plant operations, scale-up, and commercialization
• Experience with thermal and non-thermal processing technologies
• Strong knowledge of food safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), particularly for thermal and acidified products
• Experience with experimental design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
• Excellent communication skills, including technical report writing and presentations to cross-functional stakeholders
• Experience conducting literature reviews and working with peer-reviewed scientific publications is preferred
• Ability to travel up to 20% for customer visits, conferences, training, and industry events

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Who you are:

• Work collaboratively with peers and others, effectively influence stakeholders, and adapt to shifting priorities
• Driven and self-motivated to deliver high-quality results, meet timelines, and achieve business objectives with minimal direction
• Proactively seek opportunities for innovation, process improvement, and continuous learning; a creative problem solver with a passion for invention and innovation
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong planning skills, the ability to manage multiple projects, and thrive in a dynamic environment
• Demonstrate a high degree of energy and enthusiasm for the job

WHY JOIN INGREDION?

Discover why Ingredion is the ideal place to advance your career with our exceptional rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive. Create the future with us and enjoy:

• Total Rewards Package – Competitive salary and performance-based pay recognizing your contributions to our success
• Comprehensive Benefits & Wellness Support – Health, long-term savings, and resources for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being
• Career Growth – Learning, training, and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement
• Employee Recognition Program – A culture of real-time appreciation, with personalized recognition rewards globally
• Employee Discount Program – Provides exclusive discounts on everyday products, services, and travel

RELOCATION AVAILABLE:

No

PAY RANGE:

$84,400.00-$112,533.33 Annual

This pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data and applicable bargaining agreement (if any).

INCENTIVE COMPENSATION:

As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Ingredion Annual Incentive Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus.

BENEFITS:

Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as a 401(k) plan with a competitive company match.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability—mental or physical—marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability resulting from military service, or any other classification protected by law (“protected classifications”). We are committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs.

Ingredion uses AI-enabled tools to support parts of the recruitment process, including resume screening and interview scheduling. These tools help match candidate skills to job requirements and streamline communication. All AI-assisted decisions are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team to ensure fairness and compliance with applicable laws. By applying, you acknowledge that AI may be used to support your application journey.