Research and Development Scientist

BrightFarms is The Place to Grow!

At BrightFarms were on a mission to revolutionize the way leafy greens are grown. But we dont just want to grow great tasting greens we want them to do good as well: for the planet for the health of people and for the well-being of our employees. We give BrightFarmers the tools training support and opportunities they need to do better for themselves and the world every day. Because when you do good for your people they do good for the world.

BrightFarms is a national leader in the booming indoor farming industry transforming how produce is grown and delivered with its expanding network of eight high-tech sustainable hydroponic farms. From seed to leaf we grow lettuce smarter with less space no pesticides and protected inside so its better for the planet and way better for humans. BrightFarms fresh lettuce options from classic greens to crunchy mixes and salad kits are available in more than 4500 retail stores across the East Coast Midwest and South.

In Research & Development were driven by innovation curiosity and a commitment to delivering high-quality leafy crops that make a difference. Our team thrives at the intersection of science creativity and purpose. Were looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Research & Development Scientist I to focus on product development and to help us bring the next generation of hydroponic leafy products to this role youll support the design development and optimization of new and existing products from concept to launch. Youll work closely with the agriculture team operations marketing and commercial teams to ensure our products meet performance targets regulatory requirements and customer needs.

Specifically you will:

• Be responsible for the planning execution and analysis of product development trials experiments and scale-up processes
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across different farm locations to accomplish R&D plans
• Collect analyze and interpret data using appropriate scientific methods and tools
• Prepare clear and concise technical reports presentations and documentation
• Communicate trial results and learnings to different BF stakeholders
• Implement BF pipeline processes before during and after each trial
• Ensure data quality and act as a strong steward of the experimental database
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols and best practices when running trials in production farms
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives process optimization and knowledge sharing
• Develop and review SOPs for R&D processes
• Serve as an internal and external technical reference and provide expert knowledge on new varieties
• Support sensory evaluation shelf-life testing and pilot-scale equipment trials

The ideal candidate:

• B.S. or M.S. in Horticulture Plant Science Biology Food Science Chemistry or a related field
• 15 years of relevant industry or academic experience in product development R&D agriculture seed production or a related field
• Strong technical knowledge of plant science and hydroponic vegetable production practices
• Excellent problem-solving oral and written communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong relationship-building skills
• Ability to develop and maintain long-term industry relationships
• Team-oriented mindset
• Comfortable with hands-on research equipment trial execution and data analysis
• Familiarity with experimental design and basic statistical tools is a plus
• Knowledge of product lifecycle management and documentation systems
• Interest in sustainable and innovative product solutions
• Willingness to travel nationally and/or internationally
• Lifting to 25 pounds working under different conditions of high and low temperatures

BrightFarms is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individuals age race color religion or creed national origin or ancestry sex (including pregnancy) sexual orientation gender gender identity physical or mental disability veteran status genetic information ethnicity citizenship or any other characteristic protected by law.