Senior Food Scientist
6 days ago
Denver
Who We Are Woof is building the next great American pet brand - bringing new life to the pet industry through elegant, intuitive product design. Our three award-winning product ecosystems - The Pupsicle, BullySafe and Bite n’ Brush - are revolutionizing dog care by providing wellness solutions in a fun and engaging way. Today, we are experiencing extremely rapid growth, and as such we’re seeking an experienced Senior Food Scientist to take our innovation initiatives to the next level. At Woof, we believe that dogs can teach us to become better versions of ourselves, and we’re committed to making life better for all pets and their people. We hope you’ll be part of our pack. The Opportunity Woof is seeking a driven Senior Food Scientist to join our team. The Senior Food Scientist will play a key role in new product development, formula optimization, and technical problem-solving for pet consumables such as treats, supplements, and functional food products. Reporting to the Chief Innovation Officer, you’ll work closely with cross-functional teams including Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Marketing to bring safe, stable, and effective products from concept to commercialization. The ideal candidate has experience in product development and enjoys solving food manufacturing challenges! What You’ll Own Product Development & Formulation • Develop new pet treat, chew, supplement, or functional food formulations based on nutritional science, performance criteria, and company initiatives., • Reformulate existing products for improved palatability, nutrition, stability, cost, or manufacturing efficiency., • Conduct benchtop prototype work, ingredient screening, sensory testing, and palatability evaluations., • Ensure formulas meet AAFCO, NASC, and internal nutritional requirements. Research & Technical Support • Stay informed on pet nutrition science, emerging ingredients, and industry trends to incorporate into innovation strategy., • Conduct controlled experiments, analyze data, and document findings to inform product iteration and decision-making., • Provide technical expertise to internal teams regarding ingredients, functionality, nutrition, and processing. Commercialization • Partner with manufacturing partners or internal production teams to scale prototypes to pilot and full-scale production., • Establish processing parameters, specifications, and SOPs to ensure consistent quality and performance., • Troubleshoot formulation or production challenges as needed. Quality & Regulatory • Work with the Quality team to define ingredient and finished-product specs, testing requirements, and shelf-life validation., • Ensure compliance with AAFCO, NASC, state regulatory requirements, and company standards., • Review product labeling, claims, and packaging for accuracy and compliance. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Provide insights to Marketing for claims support, product positioning, and technical storytelling., • Partner with Supply Chain on ingredient sourcing, cost optimization, and vendor qualification. What You’ll Bring to the Table • 10+ years of experience in food science, pet food, treats, or CPG formulation., • Knowledge of ingredient functionality, processing methods (extrusion, dehydration, molding, co-extrusion, etc.), and food safety principles., • Bachelor’s degree in food science or a related field, • Strong understanding of AAFCO, NASC, HACCP, and GMP requirements for pet consumables., • Experience with pilot testing, sensory analysis, and shelf-life testing. Bonus Points If You Have… • Experience in pet treat formulation specifically (chews, soft treats, functional treats)., • Familiarity with natural ingredients, functional nutraceuticals, or clean-label formulations., • Are a dog parent! What We Offer • Hybrid work environment (MWF in office), • Flexible PTO Policy, • Comprehensive benefits package, • Employer sponsored 401K, • Annual compensation range: $100K - 125K This position will remain open until March 6. Applications will be accepted until this date; however, the posting may be closed earlier if a successful candidate is identified. Equal Employment Opportunity Woof is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and productive work environment. Employment decisions at Woof are based on merit, qualifications, performance, and business needs without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, citizenship, national origin, marital, military and veteran status, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, family status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity applies to all aspects of employment.