Food Scientist

Corto Olive is a nationally recognized, family-owned company renowned for crafting superior olive oil for both professional chefs and home cooks. Founded on a commitment to quality, Corto Olive has become synonymous with excellence in the olive oil industry. The company prides itself on attracting quality-oriented restaurateurs by providing consistently superior olive oil, legendary service, and investing in talented individuals who share a dedication to customer success. With a deeply rooted passion for quality and innovation, Corto Olive stands out in the competitive culinary market by offering premium products that enhance the culinary experiences of their clients.

This position is a full-time, exempt role based on-site at Corto Olive's Stockton facility. The company offers an annual salary range of $75,000 to $90,000 for this role. The Food Scientist will play an essential part in the development and enhancement of ingredient solutions that meet customer needs while fitting operational capabilities. The role requires a collaborative mindset to work closely with cross-functional teams including Operations, Production, Quality Assurance, Sales, and Marketing.

The Food Scientist will be responsible for formulating, optimizing, and reformulating ingredient blends such as olive oils, emulsions, and inclusions to support and grow Corto Olive's ever-expanding product portfolio. This role is critical during the peak Harvest season when the company runs a 24/7 operation, requiring the candidate to work six days a week and adjust shifts to support swing or graveyard schedules. The individual will lead scale-up efforts to transition formulations from bench development through pilot phases to full commercial production, ensuring they meet quality and processing standards.

Key responsibilities include troubleshooting formulation and processing challenges related to oxidation, viscosity, texture, color, flavor, and shelflife stability, especially concerning fresh Fall harvest olive oils. The role demands active collaboration with the manufacturing teams to ensure efficient running of formulations on milling and packaging equipment, maintaining yield, sanitation, and quality standards. The Food Scientist will support and participate in plant trials, production runs, continuous improvement initiatives, and document results to recommend process enhancements.

In addition, the Food Scientist will aid in customer engagement initiatives by supporting customer trials, evaluations, audits, and providing technical expertise on product specifications, regulatory documentation, and labeling requirements. Clear communication skills are vital for articulating technical insights, tradeoffs, and recommendations to both internal and external stakeholders.

The Food Scientist will also maintain accurate technical documentation, support cost optimization and clean label initiatives, and stay informed of food safety, regulatory, labeling, and allergen standards relevant to Corto Olive's operations. Leadership responsibilities include mentoring a small team within the Technical Services department, providing project guidance, performance feedback, and developmental support.

This role suits a detail-oriented, scientifically minded professional with hands-on experience in food formulation and ingredient manufacturing. The candidate should thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment focused on delivering quality and innovation in food ingredients. The position offers substantial opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and contributing to a passionate team dedicated to excellence in the culinary ingredients industry.