Job Title : Product Scientist
Location : Emeryville, CA 94608 (Local candidates preferred; no relocation assistance specified)
Pay rate : $25.00 - $27.00/hr
Work schedule : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Duration: 6 month contract

Overview

The Product Scientist plans and executes technical workflows to support product development, innovation, and core brand maintenance. Operating within a high-performing team, this role focuses directly on Clif Bar, the category's leading bar brand. The position balances independent problem-solving with collaborative, cross-functional teamwork, spanning from bench-top prototyping and quality troubleshooting to generating strict manufacturing process specifications.

Job Specifications

Key Responsibilities

• Brand Innovation & Renovation : Support near-term product innovation pipelines and existing product renovations for the Clif Bar brand.

• Core Brand Maintenance : Investigate and resolve product quality issues, support Business Continuity Planning (BCP), manage margin-improvement projects, and assist with manufacturing plant performance initiatives.

• Bench-Top Prototyping : Handcraft and refine bench-top food samples to directly support ongoing development, consumer testing, and formulation work.

• Logistics & Sample Control : Coordinate the shipping, receiving, and internal inventory management of specialized experimental samples and raw ingredients.

• Specification Authoring : Author precise process specifications to guarantee the delivery of consistent, high-quality food products across multiple large-scale manufacturing facilities.

• Data Analysis & Scientific Rigor : Apply fundamental technical understanding to interpret complex test data, document findings, and reach clear, actionable conclusions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with cross-functional project teams to identify, isolate, and systematically resolve technical manufacturing issues.

Must Have Skills / Requirements

• Technical Foundation : Strong scientific curiosity paired with a solid technical foundation in food composition, ingredient functionality, or process engineering.

• Project Management : Highly organized with a personal drive to prioritize, manage, and execute detailed work plans under the generalized supervision of a manager.

• Proactive Problem Solving : Proven capability to spot potential product or process issues early and independently develop and implement technical solutions.

• Communication Mastery : Excellent verbal, written, and technical writing communication skills, enabling seamless data transfer between R&D and manufacturing stakeholders.

• Consumer Focus : Passion for putting the consumer experience at the heart of all product development and testing activities.

Education & Experience

• Experience : 1 to 3 years of professional experience in food science, science, or engineering, ideally working within a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or commercial food manufacturing market.

• Education : Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline.

Benefits (employee contribution):

• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Rate of pay within the stated range will depend on the qualification of the applicant.


We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.