Research Chef - Ninja Test Kitchen

About Us 

SharkNinja is a global product design and technology company, with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world. Powered by two trusted, global brands, Shark and Ninja, the company has a proven track record of bringing disruptive innovation to market, and developing one consumer product after another has allowed SharkNinja to enter multiple product categories, driving significant growth and market share gains. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts with more than 3,600+ associates, the company’s products are sold at key retailers, online and offline, and through distributors around the world.  

OVERVIEW:

The Ninja Test Kitchen Team is looking for a food scientist who thrive in a creative, dynamic work environment.  As a member of the Ninja Test Kitchen, you will play a key role in defining new product development, design, and story. The intern will provide a unique, food-first point of view for the development of new products and recipes across our ambitious product roadmap. In this position, the intern will work in partnership with the Ninja Test Kitchen Team to help bring new innovative products to market.

Here are some of the EXCITING things you’ll get to do:

• • Conduct research and development exploration and testing on competitive products to inform product strategy/roadmap
  • Partner with the cross functional leadership team and provide a unique, food performance point of view for the development of new products
  • Executes exploratory test strategy to push the limit or what’s possible with new product ideas to inform the product story
  • Assist in setting KPIs for ideal performance across new product functions, and validate prototypes to ensure KPIs are being met
  • Define testing protocols and parameters to validate units against performance claims
  • Define consumer preference in taste, texture, and flavor to help define key performance indicators and drive product decisions in technology
  • Keep detailed test data and results in an organized and clear manner as well as develop test datasheets for new protocols
  • Meticulously records testing results and shares results as needed with key stakeholders in a timely fashion
  • Cultivate a network of key experts to provide feedback on products
  • Develop preset programs and function recipe requirements
  • Monitors and research industry trends and innovations on an ongoing basis and brings new ideas to the team

  Qualifications:

  • 1-2+ years of related culinology/food science experience or a related field, preferably at a consumer goods company
  • Degree from an accredited Food Science, Food Engineering or Culinology program
  • A mindset geared toward building relationships across multi-functional teams, coupled with excellent interpersonal skills
  • Highly-effective communication skills – both written (presentation/email) and in-person (ability to host succinct, effective conversations that solve problems and ability to make effective presentations to all levels of management, including SharkNinja’s executive leadership team)
  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and stay organized in a fast-paced environment
  • A desire to learn and grow in a passionate environment.  The ability to embrace transparency and shifting priorities while learning from each decision and focusing on the path forward
  • Comfort with standard data acquisition tools (thermometers, texture analyzer, photo capture, etc.)

 ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS:

• You should have an entrepreneurial mindset – you have to be able to think differently to be successful here!
• You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly iterative environment
• Are you a collaborative team player who has strong communication and interpersonal skills, but also has the ability to dig to find answers to questions on more “individual” projects? We want you!
• You should be eager to learn and ask questions. Outgoing verbally and willing to voice your opinion.
• You need to be able to manage many projects and tasks at once while meeting assigned deadline.
• We are a fun team - you need to be able to have fun!!