R&D Flavour Application Technologist

Job Specification: R&D Flavour & Application Technologist

Company: TAILORBLEND Position: R&D Flavour & Application Technologist Focus: Flavour Systems, Wellness Ingredients & Clean Label Application Reports to: Head of Product Location: Johannesburg (Fourways / Riversands area)
Employment Type: Full-Time

TAILORBLEND is pioneering the future of nutrition. We don't just manufacture nutrition; we engineer personalised health solutions. Using proprietary technology and advanced algorithms, we formulate unique blends (batch size =
1) based on an individual's health data. We bridge the gap between biotechnology and functional food.

We are looking for a Flavour & Application Specialist who is obsessed with the intersection of Wellness and Taste
.

You will act as the bridge between raw chemical ingredients and consumer enjoyment. Your primary goal is to build the "Flavour Logic" that allows our automated system to mask bitter minerals and earthy botanicals dynamically. You must stay ahead of the curve on clean-label trends (natural sweeteners, non-GMO flavours) to ensure our products are as healthy as they are delicious.

• The Sensory Library: Curate and maintain a diverse library of flavours (e.g., Vanillas, Berries, Botanicals) specifically optimised for dry powder blends
  .
• Trend Watch: Stay updated on the latest global wellness ingredients. You should be the expert on the newest natural sweeteners, modulation technologies, and clean-label excipients.
• Health vs. Taste: Continuously refine base formulations to be "healthier" (reducing artificial additives) while maintaining an optimal sensory experience.

• Reactive Sourcing: When customer data or market trends demand a new active ingredient, your role is to source the specific raw material grade that offers the best stability and taste profile.
• Masking Mastery: Develop specific "blocking" strategies for these challenging actives. You must determine how to make a high-dose mineral blend palatable using modulators rather than just loading it with sugar.
• Supplier
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Act as the primary technical liaison with Flavour Houses and Ingredient Suppliers to access their latest technology.

• Parametric Flavouring: Translate sensory data into logic rules for our algorithm.
• Sweetener Curves: Optimise our sweetener matrices to ensure consistent sweetness intensity regardless of whether the active blend is acidic (Vitamin
  
  C) or alkaline (Magnesium).
• Scalability: Ensure that a flavour system validated in the lab translates perfectly when dosed by our automated robotics.

• BSc in Food Science / Consumer Science or;
• Diploma in Food Technology with a specialised certification in Sensory Science or Flavour Technology.

• Application Focus: Minimum 3–5 years in NPD / Flavour Application
  .
• Sector: Strong preference for candidates from Flavour Houses (Application Lab) or the Sports Nutrition / Wellness industry.
• Ingredient Knowledge: Deep understanding of functional ingredients (Proteins, Botanicals, Minerals) and novel sweeteners (Stevia Reb M, Erythritol, etc.).

• The "Nose": Exceptional sensory acuity. You must be able to identify off-notes and analyse which chemical compound is causing them.
• Clean Label Mindset: A passion for making products "cleaner" without sacrificing taste.
• Data Logic: Ability to quantify taste. You need to be comfortable documenting sensory results in a way that can be digitised into our database.

• The Challenge: You aren't just making one flavour for one product. You are building a system that generates infinite flavour combinations.
• Innovation: Access to the latest masking technologies and bioactive ingredients before they hit the mass market.
• Impact: You are solving the hardest problem in personalised nutrition - compliance. If you make it taste good, you change people's health.