Report

R&D Scientist

Salary

$105k - $125k

Min Experience

4 years

Location

Burlingame, California, United States

JobType

full-time

About the job

Info This job is sourced from a job board

Overview

About the role

ABOUT OLIPOP

At OLIPOP, we’re on a mission to positively impact consumer health at scale. And we’re doing it through something simple: soda. But not just any soda, a new kind of soda: one that’s delicious, refreshing, and actually good for you.

This mission is deeply personal for our CEO, Co-Founder, and Formulator, Ben Goodwin. Like many of us, Ben grew up consuming the Standard American Diet: lots of soda and processed foods that prioritized convenience over nutrition. But at 14, he took his health into his own hands. After making significant changes to his nutrition and exercise, he lost 50 pounds and saw a transformation in his energy, mood, and emotional clarity.

Those changes sparked a deep curiosity about the connection between nutrition and health. Ben became a relentless student of the gut microbiome and the ways it supports overall wellness. The more he discovered, the more passionate he became about finding credible, science-backed ways to make consumer health accessible to everyone.

The mission was clear. The vehicle? Less so. After exploring the possibilities, Ben landed on an unexpected yet familiar choice: soda. It was something he loved as a kid, and he knew millions shared that same nostalgia. But this wouldn’t be just any soda. With most Americans falling short on daily fiber, Ben set out to create a version with more fiber and less sugar, one that was perfectly balanced. The result? A deliciously refreshing soda with 6 to 9 grams of fiber and 2 to 5 grams of sugar, delivering science-backed benefits without sacrificing the classic taste people crave.

In 2018, the first OLIPOP cans hit the shelves, bringing Ben’s vision to life with a functional soda that anyone could enjoy. And by reimagining soda, we’re also reshaping culture. That means creating products that support health for all and building a business grounded in humanistic values: empathy, integrity, and a belief in better for everyone. From the ingredients we source to the culture we foster, we’re committed to proving that business (and beverage!) can be a force for good, and that soda has the power to bring people together.

So join us, and let’s write a new American soda story together. One we can all feel good about. One OLIPOP at a time.

In this role, you will be involved with innovation and new product development efforts, productivity, and continuous improvement projects at OLIPOP. This role collaborates cross functionally with the Quality Assurance, Procurement, Commercialization, Regulatory and Innovation teams. The R&D Scientist will be responsible for taking projects from concept to launch, ensuring technical feasibility, sensory excellence, operational efficiency, and the highest product quality.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the development of new beverage products, from concept through commercialization. Leverage expertise in beverage chemistry and ingredient functionality to develop product formulations.
Ensure all new product development projects are completed on time and meet project goals (cost, nutrition guardrails, sensory targets, shelf-life, regulatory compliance, quality). Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Procurement, Commercialization, and Manufacturing partners to ensure product feasibility and scalability while meeting these project goals.
Lead approval of new raw materials in order to support business continuity efforts in partnership with the R&D Technician, Regulatory, Quality Assurance, and Procurement departments.
Evaluate and improve existing product formulations to drive cost savings, while optimizing quality, sensory attributes, and shelf-life.
Lead long-term process improvement projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, scalability, and product consistency. Collaborate cross-functionally to design, pilot, and implement innovative solutions that support sustainable growth and continuous improvement across R&D and manufacturing.
Develop and maintain updates of internal raw material specifications and finished good specifications.
Create and train internal staff on sensory specifications for all OLIPOP products.
Lead pilot plant and manufacturing level scale-up trials. Work closely with production and QA teams to ensure smooth transition from R&D to full-scale manufacturing.
Design and execute experiments, and analyze and interpret data to make technical recommendations on product and process issues.
Collaborate with the Sales, Marketing, Innovation, and Scientific & Medical Affairs teams for the production of appropriate samples.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting of product development activities to key stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Ability to commute for work on-site 4-days a week at our lab in San Francisco Bay Area
4 - 8 years of experience in R&D and new product development. Beverage experience preferred.
Excellent mathematical and analytical skills.
Proven experience with benchtop formulation, pilot plant trials, and beverage commercialization processes.
Strong working knowledge of product development protocols, including formulation, stability testing, product/package interaction, sensory and consumer testing methodology.
Familiarity with regulatory requirements and quality standards in the beverage industry.
Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot technical issues.
Strong project management skills and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Effective communication and teamwork skills.
Commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative team environment.
20-30% travel to manufacturing plants, suppliers, and team offsites

Compensation: $105,000-$125,000 base salary + bonus

Reports to: Sr. R&D Manager

HOW WE WORK

We may be fully remote, but we’re anything but disconnected. OLIPOP has grown from a few passionate people around a table to a nationwide team, and we’ve done it without losing our collaborative spirit or sense of purpose.

Connection here is intentional. From cross-functional projects and IRL offsites to thoughtful Slack threads and spontaneous gifs, we make the effort to stay close, even across time zones. Sure, we move quickly, but we lead with trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing work that matters.

We value thoughtful debate. We give feedback with care and receive it with curiosity, knowing that real growth, both personal and collective, comes from listening as much as leading. Because at OLIPOP, it’s not just about getting things done. It’s about growing together, staying true to what matters, and building something with lasting impact.

WHAT WE VALUE

At OLIPOP, our values aren’t just posters on a wall. They shape how we show up: for each other, for our customers, and for the mission we’re chasing together.

Mission Connectivity: Everything we do ladders up to our shared goal: supporting human health. Whether launching a new flavor or conducting clinical research, the mission stays front and center.
Indomitable Spirit: When things get messy, we get inventive. We stay curious, adapt quickly, and find the path forward, most likely with a dedicated Slack thread and a beautifully overbuilt deck.
Lead at Every Level: Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about ownership. We speak up, follow through, and lift each other up. If you’ve got ideas and initiative, you’ve got influence.
Courageous Humility: We’re confident in what we bring and curious about what we don’t know (yet). We give feedback with care, take it with grace, and know that real growth takes both.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Success at OLIPOP doesn’t come from checking boxes; it comes from living our values, staying curious, and finding energy in both the pace and the purpose. We’re building something big, and we’re looking for people who:

Think big, move fast, and take thoughtful risks
Thrive in a high-performance, feedback-rich environment
Value real human connection and honest collaboration
Are fired up by building something new, and making it better every day

Startup life at OLIPOP is equally fun and fast-paced. If you’re energized by a dynamic environment, eager to grow, and excited to help shape something meaningful from the inside out, OLIPOP is a one-of-a-kind ride.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities or other needs during the application process and employment. To request an accommodation, please contact The People Team at recruiting@drinkolipop.com.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. OLIPOP will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Submission of Application Materials
Applicants are required to submit only the materials specifically requested as part of the application process. Please do not include any unsolicited materials, as they will not be reviewed or considered.

Unsolicited materials may include, but are not limited to:

Marketing or promotional concepts
Business ideas or strategies
Photographs, videos, or other media
Presentations, designs, or other creative content

By submitting any materials beyond those explicitly requested, you agree that:

You are voluntarily providing such materials;
You irrevocably assign all rights, title, and interest in and to those materials to Olipop Inc.; and
Olipop Inc. may use, reproduce, modify, distribute, or otherwise exploit such materials for any purpose anywhere in the world, without restriction or compensation.

About the company

A mission-driven beverage company advancing health through functional sodas.

Skills

Benchtop Formulation

Pilot Plant

Sensory Analysis