Rich Products Corporation · 3 hours ago
Principal Scientist
Buffalo, NY
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$114K/yr - $170K/yr
5+ years expRich Products Corporation is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. The Principal Scientist leads global initiatives in fats and oils, emulsions, oleogels, and hydrogels, driving technology platforms and scalable product solutions to enable new revenue streams and ensure compliance with global food safety standards.
BakeryConfectioneryFood and BeverageFood DeliveryFood ProcessingManufacturingOrganic FoodSeafoodSnack FoodWholesale
Responsibilities
Lead global initiatives in fats, oils, and emulsion technologies to deliver innovative, scalable product solutions aligned with business growth objectives
Identify and champion new platforms and technologies addressing consumer trends, sustainability goals, and market dynamics, leveraging expertise in fats and oils processing, functionality, and analytical testing
Track emerging trends on alternative fat and oil sources and blends, emulsifiers, oleogels, hydrogels, clean-label formulations, digital manufacturing, and precision fermentation to inform long-term strategies and innovation roadmaps
Convert insights into actionable innovation by partnering with Marketing, Procurement, Food Safety, Quality Assurance (FSQA), Sales, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure technical feasibility and commercial viability
Drive cross-functional collaboration to balance technical feasibility, cost efficiency, and market relevance
Enhance global technical capabilities through targeted training, mentorship, and knowledge sharing
Analyze global quality metrics, customer and consumer feedback, and non-conformance trends to drive continuous improvement
Develop global standards, ingredient specifications, and testing methodologies, while staying ahead of evolving regulations and industry best practices
Drive development of new product platforms through advanced scientific and technological innovation
Partner with Legal to define and execute IP strategies for proprietary fats and oils technologies including but not limited to emulsifiers, emulsions, oleogels and hydrogels
Perform patent landscaping and competitive benchmarking to identify white space and strengthen innovation protection
Lead invention disclosures and patent filings for novel processes, alternative fat and oil and emulsifier ingredients, and formulations
Ensure global IP alignment across joint ventures, external partners, and internal teams to safeguard Rich Products’ innovation pipeline, enhance competitive advantage, and support long-term category growth
Provide technical guidance and strategic direction to RIC Innovation teams and Business Units
Implement global technical strategies on fats and oils and emulsions to protect and grow the category
Support Merger & Acquisition (M&A) activities through technical due diligence and capability assessments
Build strong partnerships across Marketing, Procurement, Sales, Operations, and other RIC Centers of Excellence to drive innovative solutions
Represent Rich Products at external scientific and research forums to showcase leadership in fats, oils, and emulsion technologies
Deliver technical training in local markets and support global talent development
Mentor cross-functional teams in design thinking, agile methodologies, and innovation best practices to accelerate product development
Contribute to organizational design and process improvements that enhance R&D efficiency and collaboration
Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning across global R&D functions
Provide coaching and capability building, with limited supervisory responsibilities
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Food Engineering, Food Process Engineering, Food Technology, Material Science, Chemistry or a related field
Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of industrial/applied research experience
Master's degree with 8+ years of industrial/applied research experience
Ph.D. with 5+ years of industrial/applied research experience
Expert in lipid chemistry and functionality, applying deep knowledge of fatty acids, triglycerides, and phospholipids to optimize product performance and manage interfacial behavior in complex food systems
Extensive experience in fats and oils, fats and oils blends, emulsifiers, emulsions, oleogels, hydrogels, and advanced characterization techniques to support innovative formulations
Strong command of global food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, FSMA, GFSI, ISO) to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity
Skilled in supplier auditing and raw material risk management, strengthening supply chain reliability and quality assurance
Demonstrated progressive technical leadership in R&D, innovation, and product development
Strong track record of innovation and commercialization in the food industry
Ability to drive organizational change and foster a culture of innovation
Senior-level technical leadership within R&D innovation teams
Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication and presentation abilities
Experience working with global and remote teams
Strong business results orientation with a focus on measurable impact
Sound decision-making with a balanced approach to risk and opportunity
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs safely
Stand for 6 or more hours during the workday, with opportunities for sitting
Regular bending, stooping, crouching, and reaching to access equipment, materials, and storage areas
Ability to work in confined spaces and at various heights, including occasional climbing of ladders or steps
Push, pull, and maneuver carts, bins, and equipment, including heavy items with the assistance of mechanical aids when necessary
Manual dexterity and fine motor skills for handling small components and operating precision instruments
Ability to use hand tools and equipment safely and effectively as required for operating various laboratory or production equipment
Sensory ability to compare and distinguish differences in ingredients, materials, and products through taste, smell, touch, and visual inspection
Ability to follow all safety protocols, including proper lifting techniques and ergonomic practices
Company
Rich Products Corporation
Rich’s is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Rich Products Corporation has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (9)
2024 (9)
2023 (7)
2022 (7)
2021 (5)
2020 (6)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$1.5MKey Investors
California Energy Commission
2024-09-12Grant· $1.5M
Leadership Team
Robert Rich
Founder
Recent News
FoodHack Weekly
2026-01-16
2025-09-27
Company data provided by crunchbase