Senior Product Development Scientist

At the heart of AG1 lies a commitment to our mission to empower people to take ownership of their health. Since 2010, we've dedicated ourselves to bringing Foundational Nutrition to people around the world. 

Our ethos is deeply rooted in science, with an unwavering dedication to continuous improvement. We leverage and contribute to the latest research to deliver a powerful, straightforward solution for optimal health to our customers. We harness the finest ingredients so that every scoop of AG1 gives you the nutrients you need with the simplicity you want in a daily routine.

Likewise, our organization puts the same energy into creating an environment that is a reflection of the cultural values that define who we are and how we work together. These seven values— One Spectacular Life, Customer Obsessed, Radical Ownership, High Performance, Courage, Amazing Humans and Continuous Pursuit of Excellence —are a representation of the high standards we set, and hold ourselves accountable to, when it comes to building our global team.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated Senior Product Development Scientist to join our rapidly growing Research, Nutrition, and Innovation team (RNI). Reporting to the Director of Product Development and Innovation, this role will focus on supporting product development efforts at AG1, including current and novice product offerings. This highly technical role requires a deep understanding of current and future product lines to guide improvements and ensure excellence. 

The ideal candidate will possess a background in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field, coupled with a passion for innovation and a strong working knowledge of the food and nutrition industry.
In this position, you will play a key role in gaining a deep understanding of AG1 product lines and will be responsible for the preliminary testing and validation of the products in the sandbox phase. Additionally, you will be responsible for identifying existing and potential technical challenges while providing practical and executable technical solutions. You will also support various aspects of product development as an internal product excellence expert, providing guidance on format optimization, model building, data collection, shelf-life research, and sensory profile improvement. This role involves a hands-on approach, requiring active execution of lab work to validate concepts and solutions.

This position is based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois and requires a full-time, onsite working schedule.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Serve as a thought leader by offering professional expertise and scientific input into the innovation and iterations of the formula and ingredients behind future AG1 product offerings with an emphasis on validating and testing for viability.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of product formulations, focusing on product characteristics that may impact nutrient levels, probiotics, sensory profiles and overall product integrity.
• Identify technical challenges related to the product itself, such as shelf-life estimation and scale-up processing, with feasible solutions for product excellence.
• Design and conduct experiments to collect data for developing a comprehensive understanding and model of the product to fully understand the characteristics and how they change over the shelf-life.
• Utilize advanced food chemistry knowledge, especially regarding powders and various food formats, to optimize product performance.
• Mentor and guide junior team members, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, scientific research, and emerging technologies related to functional food and supplement products. Utilize this knowledge to drive innovation and improvements in product development.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of formulation development, experimental data, and project progress in accordance with company guidelines.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field; a Master’s or Ph.D. is preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in the food industry, with a strong focus on product development and technical problem-solving.
• Proven experience in product excellence, including developing a model based on product characteristics such as water activity and sensory profile changes, is highly desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of food chemistry, particularly in relation to powders and various food formats.
• Proven ability to identify and resolve formulation and processing challenges during product development.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex data sets.
• A proactive, hands-on approach with a willingness to dive into lab work to design and execute experiments to validate concepts.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including researchers, process engineers, quality assurance, and marketing teams.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and industry standards for functional food and supplement product development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present technical information to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Travel would be required for up to 20% of the time.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Competitive compensation and performance-based incentive plans.
• A 100% remote working environment (excluding Laboratory positions), which has been implemented from day one.
• A strong company culture that is enforced through the hiring process to ensure values alignment and a highly collaborative team.
• A mission-driven approach to everything that we do, with an overall goal to significantly improve our customers’ health and wellness.
• A high-growth, dynamic environment with opportunities for your direct impact to be felt.
• Paid holidays, company-wide mental health days, and unlimited PTO (based on your country of residence).
• In-person team meetups for optimal collaboration, team building and accelerating productivity.
• A work environment and culture that is based on high performance, productivity and continuous improvement. 
• The opportunity to work with passionate, high-growth, business-minded colleagues who bring their all to our mission each and every day.
• Access to AG1 products and branded swag. 
• Monthly telecom stipend to offset some of the costs of home internet/wifi for eligible team members. 
• All other benefits and insurances as required by law, based on your specific country of residence.

AG1 is dedicated to providing equitable and competitive compensation & benefits packages. For this particular role, the base salary range is $87,500 - $111,500 and will ultimately be decided at the offer stage, based on an individual candidate’s level of skills and experience aligned with the needs of this role. Base salary is one component of total compensation for this position. We provide a competitive mix of base salary, performance bonus, and stock option allocation for eligible roles.

AG1 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to inspiring fulfilling lives, starting with a focus on health and we believe this starts in the workplace. We do this by providing employees with a safe and welcoming work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We strive to create a diverse & inclusive environment where all team members can thrive, feel a sense of belonging, and make a difference in the world together. We do not discriminate based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.