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Gorton's · 1 month ago

R&D Technologist

Gloucester, MA

Full-time

Hybrid

Entry, Mid Level

$61K/yr - $71K/yr

2+ years exp

Gorton’s is seeking a passionate and technically skilled Associate Food Technologist to join our Innovation Team, supporting the development of next-generation frozen seafood products. This role will contribute to product ideation, formulation, and commercialization, with a focus on innovation while upholding our commitment to quality, sustainability, and consumer satisfaction.

Consumer GoodsSeafood

Responsibilities

Support and potentially lead the creation of new frozen seafood products and improvements to existing products

Conduct bench-top formulation, prototype development, and plant trials

Develop and optimize cooking instructions and recipes for consumer use

Support multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks for robust development plans

Maintain detailed records of formulations, testing protocols, and ingredient specifications

Ensure all products meet Gorton’s quality standards, regulatory requirements (FDA, CFIA), and shelf-life expectations

Apply scientific principles and analytical thinking to solve problems and improve products

Demonstrate understanding of manufacturing systems, processes, and policies

Support production facility tests and process scale-up development

Contribute to ingredient optimization, cost savings, and sustainable sourcing initiatives

Continuously seek process and product improvements, challenging the status quo appropriately

Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, operations, procurement, supply chain, finance, sales) to execute initiatives

Organize, facilitate, and lead product evaluation sessions, including cuttings and sensory panels, to assess internal prototypes and benchmark competitive products

Communicate project status, findings, and recommendations clearly to managers and cross-functional teams

Partner with Quality Assurance and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance with food safety standards

Conduct product presentations at sales and management meetings

Keep up with new technologies, ingredients, regulations, and industry trends

Leverage internal and external data to meet consumer needs and guide decisions

Support proper ingredients inventory of the lab for tests and experiments

Perform lab management tasks such as cleaning, sorting, and storing lab equipment

Qualification

Food ScienceProduct DevelopmentAnalytical SkillsFormulation SoftwareStatistical AnalysisProject ManagementCulinary SkillsLab ManagementCommunication SkillsInterpersonal Skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biology, or related field with >2 years of relevant lab experience in food product development or manufacturing

Excellent oral and written communication abilities; able to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences

Ability to work independently and collaboratively with minimal supervision

Strong quantitative, analytical, and project management skills

Demonstrated ability to tackle new and unfamiliar tasks with minimal assistance

Basic culinary skills for creative recipe development and comfort in a product development kitchen

Good interpersonal skills and ability to work well on teams

Flexibility for early plant tests and willingness to travel (up to 30%)

Proficiency in Microsoft Office, formulation software, and data analysis tools

Willingness to taste fish and shellfish prototypes and discriminate subtle flavor differences

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs