Food Technologist 2

COMPANY DESCRIPTION
At Beyond Meat, we started with simple questions. Why do you need an animal to create meat? Why can’t you build meat directly from plants? Thus, we make plant-based meats that allow families to eat more, not less, of the traditional dishes they love while feeling great about the health, sustainability, and animal welfare benefits of plant protein. Our goal is to bring exciting change to the plate—and Beyond.
OVERVIEW
The Food Technologist 2 has the primary role of supporting the Commercialization group located in El Segundo, CA. The Commercialization team is a matrix organization dedicated to industrializing food products, processes and packages using plant-based proteins. This position is responsible for assisting with organizing and performing pilot lab trials and associated support work under general supervision. This includes trial preparation (raw materials, batching, equipment set-up) and organization, hands-on execution (pilot and factory), data acquisition and analysis, work-in-process and finished goods sample organization and housekeeping. Serves as a steward of quality, food safety and good laboratory and manufacturing practices.  
Beyond Meat is looking for an outstanding individual that is successful, self-motivated, creative, team-oriented, resourceful, adaptable, and results-oriented individual will have a keen understanding and extensive hands-on experience with the ability to think beyond standard methods, independently lead and reach conclusions, and clearly deliver results within a matrix organization. You will have the opportunity to make an immediate impact in our core scientific understanding, initiate creative product and process development, and evolve into leadership roles using the skills described herein. Candidate must have the ability to use error as a skill to learn and develop a product until success.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Translates new product ideas and recipes into pilot scale processes
• Seeks opportunities to modify and improve existing recipes, processes and develop prototypes
• Creates and manages surveys for product sensory tests
• Leverages feedback on prototype to plan further iteration
• Develop processes to produce recipes at large scale
• Ensure that strict hygiene and food safety standards are met
• Organize and prepare formulations, as per Beyond Meat requirements, and perform pilot lab trials in a safe and efficient manner
• Conduct production test runs
• Collection and analyzing data
• Develop in-process and finished product specification
• Generating ingredient statements and nutritional information
• Set-up, operate and clean food-processing equipment
• Maintain equipment in good sanitary and working condition
• Maintain a safe, clean, and sanitary work area
• Organize and record data as outlined in the pilot lab request
• Prepare summaries of trial results with recommendations for processing/product improvements based on observations
• Working skills/knowledge of equipment and unit operations in the pilot plant, light mechanical repair/plumbing as required
• Adhere to all facility policies concerning safety, security, Good Laboratory and Good Manufacturing Practices (GLP & GMP)
• Support the entire Commercialization team in attaining short-term and long-term development goals. Adapt to evolving scientific priorities
• Provide written and verbal reports of research activities, including experiment tracking
• Draft new SOPs, create training materials, and participate in department Meetings
• Travel as required for factory trials, factory start-ups or training
• Interact with project teams and participate in project discussions as required 
• Actively participate in cross-training as needed as well as learning new skills required due to technology advances
• Reviews/Updates SOP’s and SSOP’s
• Receives supervision from designated Process Engineers as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in a Food Science and/or Engineering degree with two years of experience or high school diploma with 9 years of experience
• Working knowledge of pilot and factory scale equipment and unit operations in a food environment
• Willingness to become a licensed forklift operator
• Good mechanical skills and aptitude
• Good teamwork, interpersonal, communication, organization, math and writing skills
• Computer literacy
• Strong working knowledge of ingredient functionality and flavor, formulation, nutrition, and food labeling regulations
• Strong communication
• Ability to independently manage multiple projects

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Position requires the ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods, climb, kneel, bend, and consistently lift to 50 lbs.
• Pilot and factory scale environments
• Travel up to 30% (project dependent)

Beyond Meat is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, gender identify, sexual orientation, national origin, liability for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are interested in learning the status of your application, please note you will be contacted directly by the appropriate human resources contact person if you are selected for further consideration. Beyond Meat reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.