Sr. Scientist (Innovation & Core Expansion

Sr. Scientist (Innovation & Core Expansion)

El Segundo, CA

Liquid I.V. is looking for a highly motivated, innovative, out-of-the-box thinker to join R&D team as a Senior Scientist. Reporting to the R&D Sr. Manager, Product Development, this role will support both innovation and core expansion teams. The R&D Senior Scientist will be an integral member of the LIV R&D team and will have cross-functional collaboration within all levels of the business.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in new product development, with a focus on powdered food development as a plus. Experience with innovation process, hands-on formulation, productivity, resilience projects, and lab management is highly desirable.

Functions and duties of this role include, but not limited to:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to independently lead product development projects within innovation and core expansion teams through the full product development lifecycle, including concept ideation with Marketing, prototype development, specification creation, scale-up support, and post-launch/in-market support to ensure successful commercialization.
• Support innovation initiatives by engaging external partners, including suppliers, third-party organizations, and internal teams, to facilitate innovation sessions and identify emerging opportunities to drive continuous growth of LIV portfolio.
• Lead the creative development of new flavors as part of innovation projects and core portfolio expansion while ensuring stable and quality formulations.
• Deliver "product superiority" measures with innovation, fuel for growth and resilience projects.
• Partner with technical commercialization function to ensure successful transfer and execution of product formulations and specifications at various manufacturing sites.
• Plan and execute stability studies for new and existing formulations. Analyze data to make recommendations for product and process updates.
• Lead technical evaluation and qualification of alternate raw material suppliers to reduce cost and mitigate business risk.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing sites to troubleshoot formulation and quality issues to minimize downtime and product loss.
• Support implementation of step changes in PD capabilities as outlined in function growth strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team to identify and execute continuous improvement initiatives across core portfolio to improve efficiencies.
• Work closely with marketing, insights, and sensory teams on consumer focus groups to understand product landscape and consumer needs to be addressed.
• Ensure the final product meets efficacy, cost, sensory, and aesthetic requirements in accordance with the brand's strategy and goals.
• Travel as necessary to represent team at industry conferences, trade shows, formula development, pilot and/or production runs, work onsite at CM R&D facilities as needed to meet project approval milestones.

Qualifications:

• Preferred educational requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in food science with experience in Food Engineering or
• Bachelor's degree in food engineering with experience in R&D or
• Bachelors in other Engineering Fields with significant food/R&D experience.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant work experience.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Strong working knowledge of food science, dietary supplements, health and nutrition, food manufacturing processes, quality assurance principles, ingredient supply market, and market research practices, and product commercialization.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to define problems, collect and interpret data, draw valid conclusions, and propose solutions.
• Highly innovative and creative.
• Excellent written and oral technical communication skills.
• Strong organizational and teamwork skills, ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced setting under tight deadlines.
• Knowledgeable in Microsoft Office

What We Give:

• 100% company-paid medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (PPO, HMO and Kaiser options).
• A 401k plan with company match, short and long-term disability coverage.
• A generous PTO and sick policy that…