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Richelieu Foods · 19 hours ago

Bakery Process & Product Scientist

Wheeling, IL

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$120K/yr - $145K/yr

7+ years exp

Richelieu Foods is a private brand and contract packing food company with a rich history. The Bakery Process & Product Scientist serves as the critical technical bridge between R&D, Quality, and high-volume bakery manufacturing operations, applying food science and manufacturing principles to resolve product and process issues on the production line.

Food and BeverageFood Processing

Responsibilities

Apply food science principles to improve dough rheology, fermentation, baking processes, and product stability

Conduct research on new ingredients and technologies to improve product quality, shelf-life, and nutritional value

Collaborate with R&D teams to support new product development and process validation

Conduct sensory evaluations and shelf-life studies to maintain product integrity

Lead product trials and scale-up processes from lab to production, addressing any issues that arise

Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with food safety, GMPs, and regulatory standards

Maintain and monitor robust food safety programs

Support root cause analysis for customer complaints or internal quality failures

Contribute to technical documentation including Process standards, Critical control parameters, Technical troubleshooting guides

Serve as the technical expert on bakery line, supporting day-to-day production issues related to: Dough development and handling, Proofing and fermentation behavior, Oven performance, heat transfer, and bake profiles, Product texture, structure, and moisture

Collaborate with Manufacturing team to diagnose and resolve in-process product defects

Partner with Manufacturing team to optimize line parameters, set points, and changeovers

Ensure that tasks and functions are performed in a safe manner that upholds expectations throughout the production and packaging processes

Utilize Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to reduce waste and improve efficiency

Implement data-driven process controls for temperature, humidity, and ingredient ratios

Drive automation initiatives and integrate advanced technologies for real-time monitoring

Support CAPA investigations related to product quality deviations

In partnership with Divisional Safety, ensure Factory meets OSHA requirements and continually improving safety through TRIR, LTIR, by addressing both physical safety issues as well as unsafe employee behaviors

Maintain and improve housekeeping in all areas

Maintain accurate production records, batch logs, and regulatory documentation

Prepare KPI reports on yield, efficiency, waste reduction, and quality metrics for senior leadership

Ensure adherence to environmental and sustainability standards

Qualification

Food ScienceBaking ChemistryLean ManufacturingSix SigmaQuality AssuranceIngredient FunctionalityMicrobiologyBilingualAnalytical SkillsInterpersonal SkillsProblem SolvingOrganizational Skills