Scientist

Job Description

Welcome to Daiya Foods, where we are reimagining comfort foods that are irresistible and better for you. Today, as dairy-free food grows in popularity, that spirit of innovation continues to inspire our team. Our diverse portfolio of great tasting foods invites everyone to the table.

Our dedication to minimizing environmental impact extends across our operations. We operate in a manufacturing facility and office that is LEED certified, embodying our commitment to sustainability through the leadership in energy and environmental design principles.

Join our team of food-loving Daiyans, where our shared passion, vision, and ability to bring smiles to each other’s faces fuel our journey of dairy-free exploration.

SUMMARY

The R&D Scientist is a self-motivated and curious individual, focused on delivering products and technical solutions across our categories. This role will be responsible for leading and executing technical work from ideation to commercialization for key innovation projects, line extension, and product and process improvements projects.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Development & Technical Execution

• Perform technical research and development across multiple product development projects.
• Develop new and modify existing formulations at benchtop, pilot, and production scale.
• Execute renovation and value engineering initiatives.
• Support achievement of technical targets for performance, quality, and cost.

Experimentation & Technical Evaluation

• Design, conduct, and analyze experiments on ingredients, formulations, and processes.
• Develop prototypes and validate product performance.
• Source and evaluate ingredients and packaging from external suppliers.
• Research new technologies and industry trends for practical application.

Commercialization & Scale-Up

• Coordinate production start-ups and product hand-offs to Operations and co-packers.
• Lead operational troubleshooting during pilot and production trials.
• Support technical feasibility assessments for new projects.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Compliance

• Partner with FSQA and Operations to develop commercialization and hand-off plans.
• Contribute to quality, food safety, documentation, and specification development.
• Support development of training materials and ongoing technical support post-launch.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree of Science or Engineering in Food Science, Process Engineering, etc.
• Three (3) years of related experience in food processing or product development, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Experience working with Canadian and U.S.A food standards and regulations.
• Working knowledge of PLM, formulation, or nutrition analysis systems (e.g., Genesis, SKU Safe) to support ingredient management, specifications, and product labeling activities.

RELATED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

• Solid technical knowledge of the product development process, ingredient functionality, and food processing/manufacturing principles.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills, with the ability to translate results into clear recommendations.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities, including effective troubleshooting during development and scale-up.
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills with accurate and thorough documentation practices.
• Proven effectiveness working independently and collaboratively across cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Professional and constructive approach when sharing feedback or differing perspectives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint).
• Ability to travel occasionally (up to 25%) and drive to co-manufacturing facilities as part of the role.

DAIYA’S CORE COMPETENCIES

• Emotional Intelligence: demonstrates self-awareness in technical environments, building trusted relationships and engaging with feedback in a thoughtful and constructive way.
• Growth Mindset: approaches scientific challenges with curiosity, continuously developing technical expertise and applying learnings to improve products and processes.
• Effective Communication: communicates scientific findings clearly, translating data into practical insights that support team decision-making.
• Collaboration: works effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners to support development and commercialization activities.
• Driving Results: takes ownership of assigned technical work, meets timelines, identifies risks, and contributes to successful project execution.
• Service Excellence: applies scientific rigor while considering quality, food safety, regulatory, and operational requirements.

Daiya’s compensation offerings are based on a pay-for-performance philosophy. The pay range for this position is from $65,000–$75,000 annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. At Daiya, investing in our people is a top priority. We believe in building a flexible, hybrid model to make work-life harmony a reality. We strive to build diverse and high performing teams and empower continuous learning to grow and improve ourselves.

• 3 weeks’ vacation
• Flex Days
• Extended health benefits
• Retirement savings matching program
• Flexible spending account
• Fun and creative environment
• On-site fitness studio
• Inspiring and innovative work
• Making people and the planet a healthier place

At Daiya Foods, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment, one in which employees can bring their whole selves to work everyday.  We welcome and celebrate differences because we believe a multitude of perspectives fosters innovation and will help us achieve our vision.

Daiya Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and prohibits discrimination of any kind.  We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, religion, marital or family status, age and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.  We endeavor to recruit, develop, and retain the best talent from a diverse candidate pool and truly believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion among our team members is vital to our success as a company.  We trust that in applying for a role with us you value this as well!

Daiya Foods humbly acknowledges that the land on which we work, live, and play is the unceded traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam Nations. This connection to the land is not only a source of inspiration but also a guiding force in our journey towards greater environmental stewardship and community engagement.