At Solina, our community of close to 5,000 people share a passion for food and live our entrepreneurial culture.
We design customised savoury solutions for our clients operating in the food industry, food service, butchery and nutrition markets. With sustainability at the heart of our business model, we aim to produce food that is good in every sense of the word: delicious, nourishing, affordable, sustainable and convenient.
Solina is a fast-growing business, with around 50 production sites and R&D laboratories present in more than 19 countries mainly in Europe and North America.
By constantly rethinking culinary solutions, we make food matter for people and the planet.
If you’re ready for a new adventure in a dynamic, expanding, passionate, international company, join us !

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Senior R&D Manager will lead and manage all phases of Research & Development, with a strong focus on customer engagement, product innovation, and cross-functional execution. This role is responsible for overseeing complex product development projects from concept through commercialization, driving cost optimization, and ensuring technical excellence aligned with global regulatory and market requirements. This individual will be a key customer-facing leader, frequently presenting technical concepts and leading plant trials to bring ideas to life. Success in this role requires strong leadership, technical depth, and the ability to navigate global product requirements across multiple markets.

REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful job performance will be considered. Typical qualifications would be:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• roles, including 3+ years in a leadership capacity.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven ability to engage with customers in a technical, solutions-oriented capacity.
• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with experience delivering content to executive and customer audiences.
• Demonstrated expertise in product formulation, ingredient functionality, and process scale-up.
• Experience developing products for global markets, with working knowledge of regional regulatory requirements (e.g., EU, APAC, LATAM).
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable working in lab and manufacturing environments, including leading plant trials.
• Proficient in experimental design, data interpretation, and technical reporting.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to evolving business needs.

EQUIPMENT EXPERIENCE (AS APPLICABLE):

• Centrifuge, Titrator (salt, TA), Brix, Hunter Color, Desiccator, Moisture Oven
• Blenders, Colloid Mill, Lightning Mixer, Viscometer, Brookfield Viscometer

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

25-30%

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employment is contingent upon successfully passing an employee reference check, criminal background check, and drug screening.
Solina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status or a person’s relationship or association with a protected veteran, including spouses and other family members, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Equal Employment Opportunity Posters. If you have a disability and you believe you need reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please call toll-free 1-800-461-9330.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $120,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Commute:

• Corona, CA 92880 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Corona, CA 92880: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In perso

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying the position.

• Serve as a customer-facing technical leader, building relationships with key accounts, understanding their needs, and delivering tailored product solutions.
• Lead presentations of R&D concepts, technical proposals, and commercialization plans to internal executives and external customers.
• Direct the design, development, and commercialization of innovative food products with a global reach, ensuring compliance with regional regulatory standards and ingredient limitations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Sales, QA, Regulatory, Procurement, and external partners to align R&D efforts with business strategy and customer expectations.
• Lead and participate in plant trials, pilot runs, and product scale-ups to ensure technical feasibility and successful implementation.
• Translate business challenges into R&D opportunities that deliver value, efficiency, and differentiation in the marketplace.
• Drive strategic pipeline development and prioritize projects to support both short-term growth and long-term innovation.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of scientists and technologists, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and excellence.
• Oversee experimental design, technical documentation, and validation processes.
• Monitor industry trends, global flavor profiles, ingredient innovations, and new processing technologies.
• Manage vendor relationships and co-manufacturer technical activities as needed.