Application scientist

At Sensient Technologies, we are experts in the science, art and innovation of color and flavor. We are market-savvy and visionary. We are problem solvers. And we will be better with you. We are looking for an Application Scientist to join our team to work directly with customers to understand their needs, develop customized food color solutions, and demonstrate the value of natural and synthetic colorants.

You will partner with commercial, technical, and innovation teams to support customer projects, advance natural color applications, and strengthen relationships with customers across the food industry. This is an excellent opportunity for a scientist who combines strong technical knowledge with creativity, communication, and a passion for customer collaboration.

• Partner directly with customers to identify project opportunities, understand application requirements, establish success criteria, and present tailored color solutions that support their product development goals.
• Develop, evaluate, and match natural and synthetic food colorants, including converting synthetic color applications to natural alternatives while considering product appearance, stability, shelf life, and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct stability studies and application testing to evaluate color performance under different processing, storage, packaging, and environmental conditions. Interpret findings and provide clear technical reports and recommendations.
• Develop and improve color formulations by addressing challenges related to light exposure, heat, physical and chemical stability, and interactions with food ingredients.
• Evaluate new natural colorants and raw material sources, develop testing plans, and recommend potential applications in collaboration with internal innovation and technical teams.
• Provide technical guidance, training, and presentations to customers, sales, marketing, and internal teams while supporting customer visits, industry events, and cross-functional projects.
• Stay current on food color regulations and scientific developments, maintain technical resources, and support quality initiatives and analytical testing procedures.

• A bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry, biochemistry, or a related scientific field. A master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• 0–4 years of relevant experience in technical service, food science, or food ingredient development.
• Knowledge of food color chemistry, formulation development, and the performance and stability of natural and synthetic colorants.
• Strong customer communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into practical recommendations.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, organizational, and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet fast-paced project deadlines.
• A keen eye for color matching and the ability to interpret analytical results and identify opportunities for improved product performance.

• Opportunity to collaborate with your colleagues onsite and in the field 5 days per week.
• Competitive salary and development opportunities.
• A thorough and effective training experience during onboarding and beyond.

This position involves regular direct customer interaction through phone calls, virtual meetings, and in-person visits. Travel to customer locations, industry events, and company facilities will be required as business needs arise. On-site laboratory and application work will also be necessary to support product testing, formulation development, and technical collaboration.

Sensient Technologies Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors, and extracts. Sensient employs…