Process Authority, Research & Development Food Scientist

At Furmano Foods
, you join a value-driven company with a legacy built on farm, faith, and family since 1921. We are dedicated to producing quality, shelf‑stable foods while nurturing our employees, community, and the environment. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact while contributing to a culture of quality, service, and sustainability.

The Process Authority / R&D Food Scientist joins Furmano Foods' growth‑oriented, manufacturing‑centered organization. The person selected for this role is responsible for thermal processing safety, product development, and finished product quality testing. This position combines regulatory thermal process authority accountability with product development leadership. As a working leader, this individual will serve as a coach, a technical problem‑solver, and a steward of Furmano's culture.

They will lead a team of lab support staff, driving improvements in efficiency, quality, and safety‑all while modeling Furmano's core values of safety, gratitude, honesty, kindness, diligence, unity, and stick‑to‑it‑ness.

• Leads product development projects from concept through commercialization
• Ensures plant thermal processing systems remain compliant with all regulatory requirements
• Develops and validates new formulations, reformulations, and cost improvement initiatives
• Supports shelf‑stable product innovation within our canned and thermally processed portfolio

• Develop and implement thermal process systems
• Assure plant batch and continuous retorts operate in regulatory compliance
• Participate in development of thermal processes for new/improved products
• Evaluate heat penetration data and process deviations
• Prepare regulatory correspondence and reports
• Support plant audits and regulatory inspections

• Develop/test formulas for new products, quality improvements, and cost reductions
• Execute plant trials and validations
• Conduct shelf‑life studies and sensory evaluations
• Reformulate products for taste, nutrition, compliance, or cost
• Troubleshoot production and quality issues

• Maintain PLM specifications and nutrition software data
• Review and approve labels and nutritional claims
• Maintain accurate formulation and trial documentation
• Lead finished product testing and grading laboratory and team members
• Maintain laboratory inventory and ensure GMP compliance
• Support production record review as needed

• Collaborate with Quality, Culinary, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations
• Provide quantitative insights to support continuous improvement initiatives

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or related field
• 3-5 years of food R&D experience
• Experience leading and supporting thermal processing operations

• 5+ years as a Process Authority in an acidified and/or low‑acid canning operation
• Experience with canned sauces, beans, soups, chili, tomato products, etc.
• Experience with Canning, UHT, and Aseptic Operations
• Culinary experience

• Even temperament and ethical conduct
• Strong communication skills
• Team‑oriented mindset
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment
• Passion for food innovation and continuous improvement
• Strong commitment to product safety and quality

• Frequent standing and walking in lab/production environments
• Occasional pushing/pulling of carts
• Manual dexterity required

• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills; comfortable with interpreting data.
• Technically competent
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; a team builder and a coach.
• Ability to prioritize in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.
• Computer literacy required (e.g., MS Office, ERP systems, Ignition, Adage, etc.).

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health…