Developer, R&D Food & Texture

DUTIES: Growth of Food Applications Category in North America Apply in-depth knowledge of Dhlers texturizer portfolio, Ingredients and Ingredient Systems (compounds and food preparations) to drive growth of the Food Applications (D&A) category in North America Lead the set-up and expansion of Food Application capabilities in North America, including the definition and implementation of a fully equipped Food Laboratory. Create and validate new concept ideas across all Food Categories, both customer-driven and internally driven, by leveraging Dhlers ingredients and ingredient systems. Developing/optimizing recipes that balance taste, texture, nutrition and processability. Design and execute lab trials to validate functionality of Dhler ingredients, including stability, sensory and shelf-life indications and process robustness. Accelerate the development and commercialization of solutions for Food categories, with a strong focus on the ingredient systems (compounds and food preparations) and plant-based sub-category tailored to North America. Identify critical process parameters and potential scale-up risks and adapt formulations or process steps accordingly for the Food category (e.g., shear, heat treatment, mixing order, hydration times). This ensures smooth scale-up from bench to pilot and full-scale production, minimizing reformulation and production losses. Leveraging Texture Expertise for North America Serve as a Dhler texture expert for North America by providing support and troubleshooting in the area of texturizers (polysaccharides, hydrocolloids and proteins) with regards to their composition, structure and functionality in Food and Beverage applications at laboratory, pilot and production scales. Lead systematic recipe optimization with a strong focus on sugar reduction and sugar replacement as part of an internal innovation projects, developing and refining reduced- and no-added-sugar formulations while making texture the primary focus area of contribution, in line with the expertise. Make texture the primary contribution area, ensuring sweetness systems preserve or improve mouthfeel, body, and textural stability throughout processing and shelf life. Accelerate the adoption of Dhlers proprietary natural performance texturizers by implementing them across diverse food and beverage categories where clean label solutions are required, with a strong focus on defining and promoting best-use practices of these ingredients. Contribute to additional internal and customer projects on protein enrichment, animal protein replacement (plant based), fat reduction, with a primary focus on texture improvement and product stabilization, ensuring all developments are robust for manufacturing performance. Maintain tight relationships with the relevant teams in the headquarters in Darmstadt (Texture and Application) by periodic meetings updates and occasional visits. REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) in chemistry, chemical engineering, food science, or closely related field. Five years of progressive experience in the offered position or a related food product development position involving texture improvement, product stabilization, and ingredient functionality in food and beverage applications. 10% domestic & Intl travel required. SALARY: $126,256