Space Food System Research Scientist - Military veterans preferred

Description

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customer’s success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

If this sounds like an environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

This position will be within the Leidos Performance and Readiness division, which supports the Human Health and Performance Contract (HHPC) at NASA Johnson Space Center. This is your opportunity to join the myriad of teams sustaining a human presence in space while working to return humans to the moon and beyond.

This specific position we are seeking a Space Food System Research Scientist to join the Human Health and Performance Contract (HHPC), supporting NASA’s Human Systems Engineering Department at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. This role is part of the Advanced Food Technology (AFT) portfolio, which focuses on developing food systems that sustain astronauts on long-duration space missions for Space Food systems laboratory and supports Space Food Research Facility (SFRF) retort production at Texas A&M facility at College Station, TX.

Candidate must be willing to travel at least 20-50% of their time to the Texas A&M SFRF in College Station, TX for training and production support. Additional travel may be required for conferences and research collaborations.
 

This position provides a unique opportunity in food product development, production, shelf-life studies, sensory evaluation, and food safety compliance, all within the unique constraints of spaceflight. You will contribute to multi-year research projects that help ensure astronauts receive safe, nutritious, and stable food throughout their missions.

This position is an excellent opportunity for a food scientist or a research scientist who is eager to gain hands-on experience in space food research. You will work in a supportive team environment with mentorship and training provided to help you develop your skills in food science, research, and project management. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong willingness to learn and grow in this role. If you are passionate about food technology, innovation, and contributing to space exploration, we encourage you to apply!

Primary Responsibilities:

• Research and Development
  • Conduct literature reviews and assist in the development of research proposals related to space food technology.
  • Support food formulation and reformulation projects, ensuring products meet astronaut nutritional requirements and physiological needs.
  • Conduct shelf-life evaluations to assess the stability, safety, and nutritional integrity of space food products over extended storage periods.
  • Organize and participate in sensory evaluation panels to assess product acceptance and quality.
  • Analyze and interpret experimental data, utilizing Excel and other data-processing tools.
  • Prepare technical reports, research summaries, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
  • Train Space Food Research and Development team when needed.

• Food Production & Processing
  • Lead pilot-scale production of foods in product development.
  • Support retort production of pouched foods for flight missions, with training and guidance provided as needed and serve as a back-up lead Food scientist for retort production at the SFRF. Conduct Operation batches in the retort unit, work with students to process the formulations, scheduling and cleaning procedures, adhere to proper PPE and safety.
  • Update and write food specifications.
  • Ensure strict adherence to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and food safety regulations.
  • Implement protocols to maintain the highest food safety and quality standards in research and production settings.

• Project Management & Team Collaboration
  • Manage multiple tasks execution simultaneously, ensuring timely completion of research deliverables.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineers, microbiologists, nutritionists, food scientists, dietitians, leadership team, and NASA stakeholders.
  • Participate in team training and knowledge-sharing activities.
  • Budget management for assigned projects, as needed.

• Additional work functions:
  • May participate in media outreach campaigns, requiring media training and adherence to export control guidelines.
  • Travel to conferences or for research collaborations.
  • Lifting items up to 40 pounds.
  • Occasional use of walk-in freezers.

Basic Qualifications:

• The candidate must have a Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering or closely related technical discipline.
• A minimum of three years of experience in a research or commercial food production setting
• A minimum of two years of experience (including internships or research projects) in food product development, sensory evaluation, shelf-life studies, or data review and report writing.

This position requires on-site support, and candidate must be able to pass a Public Trust background investigation; per contract requirements, U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency is required.

Candidate must have a valid driver’s license required for job-related travel.

This position requires lifting up to 40-pounds

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in thermostabilized pouched food production and working with thermal process authorities
• Serv-Safe Food Manager certification (or willingness to obtain) and Better Process Control School (BPCS) Certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Experience in project management and data processing

The following technical and soft skills are also desired:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for technical documentation and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work effectively within a team-oriented, cross-functional research environment.
• Flexibility and adaptability to adjust to evolving project priorities.
• Attention to detail in research, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
• Self-motivated and eager to learn in a dynamic research setting.

Original Posting:

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.