Analytical Chemist/ Flavor Scientist

Your work at Wildtype 

• Build and lead Wildtype’s analytical chemistry & flavor research function, from resource procurement to streamlining the methodologies of our flavor assessment pipeline
• Perform chromatography, mass spectrometry, and headspace measurements to analyze a variety of volatile and non-volatile compounds that contribute to flavor and nutrition
• Optimize product flavor through chemical characterization and data modeling to understand and modify the key components and interactions within Wildtype’s seafood products
• Support other R&D teams and functions with respect to analytical chemistry and flavor needs

What you bring to Wildtype

• Bachelors and 12+ years, or Masters and 7+ years, or PhD and 3+ years in Flavor / Analytical Chemistry or other relevant experience
• Expertise in chromatography, mass spectrometry and headspace measurements
• Expertise in techniques for volatile and non-volatile compound isolation and characterization from food materials
• Expertise in data modeling, cheminformatics, and flavoromics
• In depth knowledge in flavor compound reaction mechanisms and kinetics in food matrices
• The ability to translate the chemical composition and interaction within food matrix into overall flavor experience
• A resourceful, entrepreneurial, creative, and collaborative mindset. The ability to work cross-functionally with various teams, and also independently in the design and execution of flavor development experiments

What we’ll teach you

• How to work with a fast-moving, interdisciplinary team working at the leading edge of numerous highly technical fields
• How cellular metabolism and cell-scaffold interaction contribute to flavor development
• How to work with cells and scaffolds to develop increasingly complex flavor profiles

Impact plan

• Within 1 month You will have understood Wildtype’s product states and approaches for flavor advancement. You will have started to develop a strategy to utilize the advantage of existing cellular metabolites and scaffolding for flavor improvement. You take on the responsibility of building Wildtype’s analytical chemistry function.
• Within 3 months You will have taken responsibility for the procurement of necessary resources. You will have worked with other R&D teams to develop detailed plans for how to advance the flavor both in cell-specific and final product matrix approaches.
• Within 6 months You will have started making advancements in flavor of multiple SKUs. You will have put protocols in place for maintenance of instrumentation, automation and building flavor assessment and development pipeline. You will have presented key findings in company-wide research meetings.
• Within 12 months You will have continued to optimize Wildtype’s flavor assessment platform and led flavor assessment at different stages of product life cycles. Work with cell biology teams to advance cell-derived flavor profiles will have materialized into quantifiable product improvements. 

The hiring range for this position is $100,000 - $140,000 per year, plus 90th percentile equity.

Location: this position is an onsite role based in San Francisco.