Principal Scientist

$95,000 - $120,000/Yr

Catalyst Innovative Solutions - Springfield, MO

Full-time - Senior

Springfield, MO

About the position

The Principal Scientist at Catalyst Innovative Solutions is responsible for the development of co-dried and dry blended dairy products for the food and dairy industries. This role involves leading research and innovation in dairy science, overseeing product development from concept to commercialization, and driving organic growth through the monetization of new opportunities. The position requires a strong background in dairy science and product development, as well as the ability to collaborate with various teams to meet customer needs and exceed expectations.

Responsibilities

• Research dairy science and food science to innovate new technologies and develop intellectual property.
• Develop new wet and dry dairy systems, flavors, emulsions, and solutions using available ingredients and manufacturing capabilities.
• Enhance the value of dried dairy products through continuous improvement of drying and blending processes.
• Reformulate products to reduce costs while considering commodity market fluctuations.
• Perform applications testing to ensure products meet customer expectations for taste, functionality, and nutrition.
• Utilize sensory science tools to provide data demonstrating product performance to customers.
• Conduct pilot plant testing to ensure successful scale-up for manufacturing.
• Drive commercialization of new products by collaborating with process technology teams.
• Support customers in scaling up and commercializing new products.
• Develop effective concepts for benchtop sessions to generate customer wins.
• Proactively initiate action plans to develop solutions and capabilities for customers.
• Partner with sales to understand customer needs and anticipate future capabilities.
• Provide technical expertise to support customers and drive opportunities to commercialization.
• Utilize product lifecycle management processes and CRM tools to manage project milestones and improve R&D services.
• Collaborate with technical sales and customer support to enhance customer connectivity.
• Contribute to technical content for sales and marketing presentations.
• Provide timely reporting to leadership on project status and opportunities.

Requirements

• B.S. Degree in food, dairy, or biological science related discipline.
• 8+ years of industry experience in R&D, particularly in dairy flavors and product development.
• Proven career advancement in dairy flavors and related products.
• Demonstrated leadership attributes or staff management experience.
• Successful track record in new product development with examples of commercialized products.
• Expertise in co-drying and dry blending of dairy and other ingredients.
• Knowledge of food safety programs and regulatory laws (USDA & FDA).
• Strong leadership, team building, and exceptional communication skills.
• Ability to solve complex customer demands and manage multiple tasks.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's or PhD in a relevant field.
• Experience with agglomeration and instantization of powders.
• Familiarity with sensory science tools and applications testing.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan