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Food Scientist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Tedley Pihl,

Shelley Minteer Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical food scientist skills. We ranked the top skills for food scientists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.6% of food scientist resumes contained product development as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a food scientist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 food scientist skills for your resume and career

1. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how food scientists use product development:

Contribute to product development projects from idea generation to formula finalization through close discussion and alignment with cross functional teams.
Provided technical leadership and project management on product development initiatives from concept to commercialization in the Food Service Meats division.

2. Project Management

Here's how food scientists use project management:

Assist with product marketing through label formulation and content claims Skills Used Project Management Thermal Processing Label Compliance Documentation
Assist project management by helping to achieve key metrics through successful documentation and decision making process.

3. Food Safety

Here's how food scientists use food safety:

Represented FMC FoodTech on Food Safety issues at trade associations, academia, and national and international hygienic standards organization
Audit sanitation, hygiene and food safety procedures of food manufacturing facilities.

4. Pilot Plant

A pilot plant is a small, pre-commercial production system that is operated to determine whether a process is feasible and sustainable before using it on a large industrial scale. It is an important test for new processes or equipment in hazard identification before production takes place on a larger scale.

Here's how food scientists use pilot plant:

Managed pilot plant runs, including formula/process optimization, liquid fat and emulsifier injection technology and shortening extrusion systems.
Translated bench-top development work into full-scale production utilizing pilot plant and plant scale-up techniques.

5. FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services that regulates the production and sale of food, pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, and other consumer goods, as well as veterinary medicine. The FDA is now in charge of overseeing the manufacture of products like vaccines, allergy treatments, and beauty products.

Here's how food scientists use fda:

Evaluated labels per FDA label regulations, generated violation letters and executed follow-ups.
Develop policies and procedures for FDA Manufactured Foods Regulatory Program Standards.

6. Technical Support

Technical support or tech support are the services provided by any hardware or software company to users. They help in solving the technical difficulties the customers face with their products or services. Moreover, the tech support employees maintain, manage, and repair the IT faults. They are also responsible for resolving the network problems, installing and configuring hardware and software.

Here's how food scientists use technical support:

Interfaced with Quality Assurance and Engineering when technical support is needed on continuous improvement of manufacturing.
Communicated experimental objectives to clients and marketing/management/technical support teams.

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7. QA

QA, or Quality Assurance is a procedure that entails all of the steps taken to avoid any errors in the manufacturing process or in the production of the goods that a company produces. It can also include ensuring the consistency of the services rendered. Quality assurance ensures that the quality of the service delivered to consumers meets or exceeds the promised expectations. This greatly aids in the prevention of any complications that might arise after the goods or services have been distributed. It makes sure that customers are satisfied.

Here's how food scientists use qa:

Provide labeling and regulatory expertise to R&D, QA, QC, supply chain, sales and marketing teams.
Performed periodic internal QA inspection of technical documents and labs and ensured quality assurance.

Select Skills To Add To Your Resume

Product Development

Project Management

Food Safety

Pilot Plant

FDA

Technical Support

8. Culinary

Here's how food scientists use culinary:

Conceptualized protein, pasta and savory condiment sauce ideas for global QSR clients by incorporating flavorings with culinary techniques.
Lead team in culinary expertise/innovation and applied NPDs to recipes for home cooks and chefs.

9. Plant Trials

Here's how food scientists use plant trials:

Assist manufacturing by participating in plant trials aimed at improving production techniques and overall food quality.
Arranged and assisted in production plant trials and commercialization scale-ups.

10. Product Specifications

A product specification is a document detailing all the requirements and key features of a product that's about to be built. It's mostly called a blueprint because it's the product in its theoretical form which is also the preliminary stage of product design.

Here's how food scientists use product specifications:

Provided appropriate documentation for formulas, manufacturing procedures and finished product specifications.
Developed new product specifications and formula entry into formula management system.

11. Bench Top

Here's how food scientists use bench top:

Formulate and execute development from bench top to production scale for both new products and product improvements.
Developed several successful products and assisted in many more from bench top all the way to shelf.

12. Food Products

Food products are the types of various food items that are created and processed to be sold as a product. These products are consumed by humans for nourishment and are mostly processed and created in a huge factory. Tinned goods, milk, meat, etc are the most common food products, and they are not limited to any specific kind except tobacco, beers, and alcohol as they are not considered food products.

Here's how food scientists use food products:

Formulated high-quality, cost-effective food products by working with customers and ingredients suppliers.
Organized and preformed sensory evaluation of raw materials and/or finished food products.

13. Laboratory Equipment

Here's how food scientists use laboratory equipment:

Calibrated, maintained and sanitized laboratory equipment to ensure proper working order.
Conduct routine testing & calibration on UV-Vis Spectrophotometer, Colorimetry, pH meter, and other laboratory equipment.

14. Microbiology

Here's how food scientists use microbiology:

Career Advancement Developed a microbiology division that was integrated into an environmental laboratory environment.
Managed Research and Development Department and Microbiology.

15. GMP

GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It is a system that ensures that all products like food, beverages, and medicinal drugs that are produced comply with the quality standards. It helps in minimizing the risks and hazards that cannot be eliminated after the testing of final products.

Here's how food scientists use gmp:

Trained and supervised Factory operatives to ensure compliance with GMP and SOP as required.
Developed quality program including GMP and HACCP Plans for use with Co-packers.

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What skills help Food Scientists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Food Scientist resumes?

Tedley Pihl

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Arizona

Data analysis, Microbiology, Internships in applied areas.

What soft skills should all Food Scientists possess?

Shelley Minteer Ph.D.

Dale and Susan Poulter Endowed Chair in Biological Chemistry, Associate Chair of Chemistry, University of Utah

The most important soft skills are communication and people management skills. It is critical to be strong in both oral and written communication.

What Food Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Jeffrey Swada Ph.D.

Director of Undergraduate Studies Director of Undergraduate Food Science Program Associate Professor, Food Science Advisor Food Processing Complex Manager and Mobile Lab Liaison, Michigan State University

I would recommend to students to first build your resume before graduating. Doing internships, research, studying abroad, participating in clubs such as food science club, Product Development team, College Bowl, and other experiential learning opportunities are key. By having a great foundation, this will make you more competitive and stand out amongst other applicants and thus will lead to a better starting salary. Once employed, I’d recommend to go above and beyond to impress your employer. If you are willing to put in the work, go beyond your comfort zone, move up in the company, this will result in a higher pay raise. You can also go back and get a masters degree to make yourself even more desirable.

What type of skills will young Food Scientists need?

Sajid Alavi Ph.D.

Professor, Kansas State University

Besides the traditional skills in the area of food science and technology, in these times, adaptability and ability to manage people and use diversity in the workforce to its full potential are additional skills that would be useful. Also, the ability to straddle both the operational and R&D; needs of a company, to some extent, would be very beneficial to bridge the gap between production and innovation.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Food Scientists?

Dunwei Wang Ph.D.

Margaret A & Thomas A Vanderslice Chair in Chemistry, Professor of Chemistry, Chairperson of Chemistry Department, Boston College

Chemistry is a diverse field. As a foundational discipline, it enables several sub-fields and supports emerging new fields. As one example, our graduates become experts in medical research, health care, and scientists and engineers in many other fields. Depending on the different career goals, what is important can be drastically different. Generally speaking, doing bench work (either in the lab or on a computer) should be a good skill to have at graduation.

Do you want to know more?

List of food scientist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a food scientist resume and required skills for a food scientist to have include:

Product Development
Project Management
Food Safety
Pilot Plant
FDA
Technical Support
QA
Culinary
Plant Trials
Product Specifications
Bench Top
Food Products
Laboratory Equipment
Microbiology
GMP
Product Quality

Sensory Evaluation
HACCP
Product Formulation
Market Research
Shelf-Life Studies
SQF
Production Scale
Cost Reduction
Extrusion
BARS
USDA
QC
Lab Equipment
Bakery Products
Ice Cream
Line Extensions

Nutritional Value
Chemical Composition
IFT
Product Improvements
Lipids
Sensory Tests
Thermal Processing
Cost Savings
Clean Label
Test Results
Ms
HPLC
Production Runs
Genesis R

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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