At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and optimise food formulations using innovative ingredients across various categories.
- Company: Fast-growing ingredient startup with a focus on real-world food applications.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, share options, gym membership, and private health insurance.
- Other info: Brand new lab space and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food innovation while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: BSc/MSc in Food Science or related field with 3+ years of experience.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are seeking a highly motivated Application Scientist to bridge ingredient innovation and real‑world food applications. This role will focus on 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, and external partners to demonstrate performance, optimise functionality, and accelerate market adoption. This is a hands‑on, high‑impact role in a fast‑growing ingredient startup.
We would love to meet candidates from a variety of backgrounds, and therefore urge applicants to apply even if they feel they might not meet all of the required experience.
What you’ll do:- Lead the development and optimisation of food formulations using AmaranthLabs ingredients (protein‑ and starch‑based) across dairy and dairy alternatives, functional snacks, bakery, sauces, and nutritional beverages.
- Define ingredient inclusion levels, processing parameters, and formulation strategies to achieve targeted functionality.
- 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 and food structure–function relationships.
- Translate experimental results into clear formulation guidance and application protocols to support successful ingredient integration by customers.
- Support customer engagement through application prototypes, technical discussions, and involvement in pilot and scale‑up trials.
- Collaborate with internal R&D and process development teams to translate application insights into ingredient improvements.
- Generate and communicate technical datasets that support ingredient specifications, product positioning, and commercial adoption.
- Maintain rigorous documentation of experiments, formulations, and application insights.
- BSc or MSc in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in food formulation and ingredient applications, ideally within dairy, 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 with a strong grasp of texture, stability, and sensory performance.
- Experience scaling formulations from bench to pilot or production environments.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to diagnose formulation challenges.
- Excellent communication and project management skills, with ability to collaborate across technical and commercial teams.
- Customer‑facing experience and ability to translate technical insights into practical formulation guidance.
- Competitive salary.
- Share option scheme.
- Brand new lab and office space at Abingdon Science Park, Oxfordshire.
- 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays.
- Gym membership.
- Private health insurance.
- Ongoing learning and career development opportunities.
Application Scientist in Abingdon employer: AmaranthLabs
At AmaranthLabs, we pride ourselves on being an innovative and dynamic employer that fosters a collaborative work culture. Located in the vibrant Abingdon Science Park, Oxfordshire, we offer our Application Scientists not only competitive salaries and a share option scheme but also a brand new lab environment that encourages creativity and experimentation. With a strong emphasis on ongoing learning and career development, we are committed to supporting our employees' growth while they contribute to meaningful advancements in food formulation and ingredient applications.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Application Scientist in Abingdon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend food science events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best formulation projects and any successful trials you've led. This will give potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and being ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in formulation. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to communicate effectively with both technical and commercial teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us at StudySmarter. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with our mission and the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Application Scientist in Abingdon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Application Scientist role. Highlight any relevant projects or experiences in food formulation, especially those involving dairy, snacks, or beverages.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about ingredient innovation and how your background makes you a great fit for our team. Be sure to mention specific examples of your work that relate to the job description.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, emphasise your analytical abilities and how you've tackled challenges in food formulation. We love candidates who can demonstrate their thought process and solutions in real-world scenarios.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates regarding your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at AmaranthLabs
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you brush up on the specific ingredients mentioned in the job description, especially protein- and starch-based ones. Understand their functionalities and how they interact in food systems. This knowledge will help you impress during technical discussions.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience with food formulation and ingredient applications. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've developed and optimised formulations, particularly in dairy, snacks, or beverages. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Think of a few challenges you've faced in formulation or processing and how you resolved them. Highlight your analytical skills and ability to diagnose issues. This will show that you can handle the hands-on, high-impact nature of the role.
✨Engage with Customer-Facing Scenarios
Since the role involves customer engagement, prepare to discuss how you've translated technical insights into practical guidance for clients. Share any experiences where you’ve collaborated with commercial teams or supported customers through application prototypes.
