Food Science Research Associate

About us At Shiru we believe that food should be delicious and nourishing without negatively affecting our planet. Acknowledging our growing global population as well as the imminent effects of climate change, Shiru’s mission is to create better protein ingredients that will catapult us into a sustainable food future. 
With our mission in mind, Shiru makes high quality, functional food proteins through better leveraging our precious environmental resources. To do this, we employ technologies originally  created to solve problems in adjacent industries, including computational biology, machine learning, and industrial fermentation and bioprocessing.
We apply computational intelligence to find the most functional natural food proteins in the world, harnessing the inherent ability of microflora to produce them. We then partner with food and beverage companies to incorporate these unique protein ingredients into everyday products. Shiru is now expanding our team of dedicated professionals across multiple disciplines to make enhanced protein ingredients for a better world.
About the roleIn this role you will be taking Shiru’s novel protein ingredients and formulate them into model food prototypes including alternatives to meat and dairy, baked goods, sauces, and many more. You will work closely with our scientists to develop new formulations and evaluate the behavior and functionality of Shiru’s proprietary ingredients in various food matrices. You will help maintain the test kitchen and ensure it is safe, clean, and organized; prepare new recipes, conduct food analytical tests and data analysis. As an early member of a start-up, you will have the opportunity to assist in building out our food testing and development capability. You will broaden your experience in the booming plant-based food industry, apply your food laboratory skills, and contribute to our collective mission of sustainable food with ever-increasing autonomy. 
About youYou are a detail-oriented researcher with a passion for food innovation for the betterment of the planet. You are a meticulous and persistent problem solver, with the ability to interrogate and explain food properties based on your understanding of ingredient interactions, food processing phenomenon, and basic science in a wide variety of food applications. You are keen on applying research to discover how novel, sustainable ingredients can be used to enable entire categories of delicious food products to be made. You enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and formulating novel recipes. You are excited to tackle new challenges and help develop model foods with Shiru’s game-changing ingredients. 

Responsibilities

• Formulate food product concepts and recipes to demonstrate the functional attributes of Shiru’s ingredients
• Characterize texture, rheology, and viscosity of food products
• Research and identify the critical performance characteristics of target food applications
• Maintain the test kitchen and ensure it is clean and safe; maintain up to date ingredients inventory
• Prepare Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs); follow all GMP protocols as required
• Support additional projects, initiatives, and tasks throughout R&D as required
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams of scientists, engineers, and business development experts to leverage each unique skill set the Shiru team brings together

Requirements

• B.S. in Food Science, Food Process Engineering, Biological/Ag Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related field
• 2-4+ years of industry experience in product development, research and development, food processing
• Familiarity with food processing techniques, food chemistry, food microbiology, and food safety fundamentals are a plus 
• Hands on lab bench and kitchen experience developing food products; plant-based and protein-based food products are a plus
• Experience conducting sensory tests

Attributes

• You bring a positive attitude to individual and collaborative projects
• You are flexible, self-motivated, resourceful, and adaptive
• You expect work to be meaningful and to be part of a business dedicated to having a positive impact on the planet
• You have the ability to master new methods quickly with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• You have the ability to work independently and troubleshoot resourcefully and you’re not afraid to make or discuss mistakes 
• You have solid communication skills and ability to thrive in a dynamic, cross-functional and fast-paced environment

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, at this time we are not able to sponsor visas.
At Shiru, we're looking for people with passion, grit, and integrity. You're encouraged to apply even if your experience doesn't precisely match the job description. We’re expecting your skills and passion to stand out—and set you apart—especially if your career has taken some extraordinary twists and turns. Please join us in this singular opportunity to create the future of food!  
Shiru is an equal opportunity employer who values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Shiru offers competitive compensation and employee benefits along with an attractive equity package commensurate with candidate qualifications.