Inventive Food Technology (IFF) is hiring a Scientist (Natural Flavor Ingredients )

Inventive Food Technology is hiring a Scientist to join our Food Biotech R&D team. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in the development of natural flavors and taste modulation ingredients via biotechnology, working semi-independently and collaboratively on upstream discovery and bio-based process development.

What You'll Do

• Advance technologies that transform sustainable raw materials into high-value flavor ingredients via microbial fermentation and biocatalysis.
• Support lab and bench-scale process development for upstream discovery.
• Design and conduct microbial strain screening experiments.
• Perform instrumental analysis (GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS) to study flavor chemistry and molecular mechanisms.
• Collaborate with flavorists, sensory scientists, and application teams to validate ingredient performance.
• Support scale-up processes and assist in supply chain and regulatory review.
• Write organized reports and present findings to cross-functional teams.
• Review patents and scientific literature to propose aligned research initiatives.

What We're Looking For

• Ph.D. in Food Science, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related field with 0–3 years of postdoctoral experience, or MS with 5+ years in industrial flavor research.
• Understanding of bioreactor principles and metabolic pathways.
• Experience with instrumental analysis (HPLC, GC-MS).
• Strong knowledge of flavor chemistry and microbial strain screening.
• Experience in sensory evaluation (taste and smell).
• Proficiency in statistical data analysis.
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and teamwork.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a cross-functional team environment.

Nice to Have

• Industrial laboratory experience in fermentation and downstream processing.
• Experience with high-throughput screening for strains and metabolites.
• Knowledge of flavor fractionation and reconstitution for target profiles.
• Experience in molecular modeling and in silico screening of small molecules and peptides.

Technical Stack

• GC-MS
• HPLC
• LC-MS

Team & Environment

You will join the Food Biotech R&D team, working within a highly collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Benefits & Compensation

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid parental leave (16 weeks).
• 401(k) with 6% company match.
• Career development programs and tuition reimbursement.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Inclusive and collaborative work environment.
• Compensation range: $67,200 - $96,000.

Work Mode

This is an onsite role located in Union Beach, NJ.

Inventive Food Technology values the diverse mosaic of ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each colleague to bring their authentic self to work.