Scientist, Principal

CTI Foods Overview

Welcome to CTI Foods, where quality, service, and people are at the heart of everything we do. We are a leading food manufacturing company, dedicated to providing our customers with the best possible products and our employees with a rewarding career. 

 

At CTI, we passionately believe that people are our #1 ingredient. We provide a positive and supportive work environment, opportunities for growth and advancement, and a competitive compensation package. We value our employees' contributions and strive to create a culture of respect, teamwork, and excellence.

 

Whether you're interested in a career in production, quality control, or management, we have a variety of opportunities available. We believe that our success is a result of our focus on quality, service, and people, and we look forward to continuing to serve our customers and employees with excellence.

 

If you're looking for a rewarding career in the food manufacturing industry, look no further than CTI Foods! Join our team and become a part of a company that values quality, service, and people. 

Job Overview

The Principal Scientist will lead innovation and development initiatives for kettle-cooked products, including soups, sauces, and other wet-processed foods. This role is responsible for driving technical excellence, ensuring food safety compliance, and delivering high-quality, customer-focused solutions. The ideal candidate combines deep food science expertise with hands-on experience in kettle processing and commercialization.

Responsibilities

Product Development:

• Lead formulation and process development for kettle-cooked products, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and company standards.
• Oversee scale-up from bench to plant trials, including yield analysis and process optimization.

Technical Leadership:

• Serve as the subject matter expert for kettle processing technologies and clean-label solutions.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior scientists and technicians.

Collaboration:

• Partner with cross-functional teams (Sales, Operations, Quality Assurance) to support commercialization and troubleshoot technical challenges.
• Engage with customers to present technical solutions and support product launches.

Compliance & Safety:

• Ensure adherence to GMPs, SSOPs, and food safety regulations throughout development and production.

Innovation:

• Identify emerging trends and technologies in kettle processing to maintain competitive advantage.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

What we need from you:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in food product development, with a strong focus on kettle-cooked products.
• Proven track record of successful commercialization and process optimization.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret technical data.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Integrity, Collaboration, Continuous Improvement, and Accountability.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

What you'll receive from us:

• Salary within the range of $130,000 - $150,000, depending on experience*
• Unlimited PTO*
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Telehealth Services
• 401K Matching
• FSA & HSA available
• EAP and wellbeing support
• Tuition reimbursement program available

*The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range of candidates hired. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, how many years of experience you have and comparison to other employees already in this role. Most candidates will start in the bottom half of the range. Unlimited PTO requests are subject to approval and is subject to the current business needs of CTI Foods.