Do you enjoy tackling practical challenges to create better-for-you snacks, from ingredient functionality to shelf life? We are seeking a Food Technology Application Scientist for our client, an international food company that has established a new Research & Development hub in Wageningen. This hub focuses on advancing plant-based ingredients and functional food products, with a current emphasis on plant protein applications and exploring new technologies for healthier food options.

The Role

As a Food Technology Application Scientist, you will develop and optimize plant-based, minimally processed, and nutritionally balanced snacks. Your work will involve natural ingredients, functional formulations, and sustainable processing methods, ensuring taste, texture, and shelf stability are maintained at a high standard. A solid understanding of ingredient functionality, food structure, and processing techniques is essential to meet clean-label and health-conscious consumer expectations. Collaboration with marketing and production teams will be key to bringing high-quality, scalable products to market.

Responsibilities

• Innovate and develop clean-label snacks and meals.
• Create and enhance plant-based, high-protein, functional snacks, including bars and convenient meal formats.
• Formulate products using natural ingredients and clean-label alternatives like plant proteins, ancient grains, nuts, seeds, and fruit-based sweeteners.
• Design formulations that address sugar reduction, healthy fats, fiber enrichment, and nutrient density while maintaining sensory appeal and shelf stability.
• Utilize natural binders, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and alternative sweeteners to create label-friendly formulations.
• Optimize protein structuring, starch interactions, and lipid stability to enhance product performance.
• Apply minimal processing techniques to preserve nutritional integrity, exploring new texturization methods for improved snack quality.
• Ensure compliance with clean-label claims and nutrition labeling, developing transparent ingredient lists.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in food R&D, preferably with plant-based foods; experience in snack formulation and clean-label product development is advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, clean-label formulation, and food processing.
• Familiarity with texturization techniques and enhancing mouthfeel.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, including marketing and operations.

Nice to Have

• Experience in designing and developing plant-based food products, particularly in addressing texture and mouthfeel challenges.
• Background in clean-label product development.
• Experience with functional snacks and meals, such as protein bars or superfood blends.
• Scientific publications or patents.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary range of €65,000 to €95,000 annually, including an 8% holiday allowance, based on education level and experience.
• 25 vacation days per year for full-time employees.
• Hybrid working model: 4 days on-site and 1 day from home.
• 1-year contract directly with our client.
• Opportunity to influence clean-label and plant-based product development within a growing R&D team.
• A multidisciplinary, international working environment.

Interested? Apply directly!