We are turning amaranth into the next big thing in food – and we need someone to make it taste incredible. Join us as an Application Scientist / Research Chef and bring our ingredients to life across dairy alternatives, bakery, snacks, sauces, and more. This is a hands‑on role where you’ll experiment, prototype, and turn science into real products. If you love food, thrive in the lab and kitchen, and want to build something from scratch, come join us.
Job title: Application Scientist – Plant-based ingredients
Location: Main lab facility – Abingdon Science Park, Oxfordshire
Role type: Permanent / Full‑Time
Start date: ASAP
Reports to: Scientific Lead
Works with: R&D, Operations, Marketing, Commercial, Manufacturing Partners
Employment eligibility: Must have full right to work in the UK
The Role
We are seeking a highly motivated Application Scientist / Research Chef to bridge ingredient innovation and real‑world food applications, translating our functional ingredients into validated, customer‑ready formulations across key categories including plant‑based foods, dairy and dairy alternatives, functional snacks, bakery, sauces, and nutritional beverages. You will work closely with R&D, commercial teams, and external partners to demonstrate performance, optimise functionality, and accelerate market adoption in a hands‑on, high‑impact role within a fast‑growing ingredient startup.
We would love to meet candidates from a variety of backgrounds and therefore urge applicants to apply for this role even if they feel they might not meet all of the required experience. Apply here: https://www.amaranthlabs.co.uk/careers
What you’ll do
* Lead the development and optimisation of food formulations using AmaranthLabs ingredients (protein‑ and starch‑based) across key categories including dairy and dairy alternatives, functional snacks, bakery, sauces, and nutritional beverages.
* Define ingredient inclusion levels, processing parameters, and formulation strategies to achieve targeted functionality, including ingredient addition, replacement, or optimisation of existing systems.
* Design and execute structured application trials, including experimental design, prototype development, and benchmarking against commercial ingredients.
* Diagnose and resolve formulation or processing challenges by applying a strong understanding of ingredient functionality, food structure–function relationships, and processing interactions.
* Translate experimental results into clear formulation guidance and application protocols to support successful ingredient integration by customers.
* Support customer engagement through preparation of application prototypes, participation in technical discussions, and involvement in pilot and scale‑up trials.
* Collaborate closely with internal R&D and process development teams to translate application insights into ingredient improvements and scalable manufacturing solutions.
* Generate and communicate technical datasets that support ingredient specifications, product positioning, and commercial adoption.
* Present technical findings, formulation strategies, and innovation opportunities to internal teams, partners, and prospective customers.
* Maintain rigorous documentation of experiments, formulations, and application insights to ensure reproducibility, knowledge sharing, and intellectual property protection.
* Contribute technical insights that inform product roadmap, application prioritisation, and commercial strategy for AmaranthLabs ingredients.
What we’re looking for
* BSc or MSc in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
* 3+ years of experience in food formulation and ingredient applications in roles like Application Scientist / Research Chef, ideally within categories such as dairy and dairy alternatives, functional snacks, bakery, sauces, or nutritional beverages.
* Strong understanding of ingredient functionality and interactions in complex food systems.
* Hands‑on experience developing and optimising formulations across relevant product categories, with a strong understanding of texture, stability, and sensory performance.
* Experience working with industrial processing conditions and scaling formulations from bench to pilot or production environments while maintaining product stability and performance.
* Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to diagnose formulation challenges and develop practical solutions.
* Excellent communication and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate across technical and commercial teams.
* Customer‑facing experience and the ability to translate technical insights into practical formulation guidance and commercially viable solutions.
Perks & benefits
* Competitive salary
* Share option scheme
* Brand new lab and office space in Abingdon Science Park (Oxfordshire)
* 25 days of holiday, plus bank holidays
* Gym membership
* Private health insurance
* Ongoing learning and career development opportunities
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