---
title: 'Sensory & Product Development Scientist Level I at HP Hood'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sensory-product-development-scientist-level-i-hp-hood-wilmington-hzmng0p350j1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-15'
---

# Sensory & Product Development Scientist Level I at HP Hood

- **Company:** HP Hood
- **Location:** Wilmington, MA
- **Compensation:** $95k–$105k
- **Posted:** 2026-07-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/hoodhp/jobs/5363513008

## Job description

Are you a self-driven person looking to advance your career as a high-impact player on a team? If so, we have an exciting challenge for you and your future!

Our culture is built on value commitments to innovation, quality, results, integrity, community, people, and collaboration that fosters a strong employee engagement, teamwork, safety and wellness. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, wellness programs, employee discounts, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, ongoing development, advancement opportunities and more.

Founded in 1846, today HP Hood is one of the largest and most trusted food and beverage manufacturers in the United States. Our portfolio of national and super-regional brands and licensed products includes Hood, Heluva Good, Lactaid, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, Planet Oat and more.

Job Summary This position is the primary Sensory Scientist for HP Hood and entails up to 20% of Product Development work as capacity allows. The Sensory Scientist I facilitates the development of test recommendations and timelines as well as execution of sensory and consumer testing. This position collaborates heavily with cross-functional teams and ensures data is analyzed correctly and insights are drawn and communicated to the teams. Projects might span new products, cost savings, and quality improvements for Hood branded, licensed, and private label dairy and non-dairy products.  The Product Development part of this position develops technical timelines, benchtop samples, Ingredient Specs, Formulas, and Semi Finished Goods Specifications. The ideal candidate will apply knowledge associated with statistical analysis, DOE, and SPC.

Core Responsibilities

- Act as Subject Matter Expert for all Sensory and Consumer Research needs within Hood.
- Execute Sensory and Product Development projects focused on new products, processes, ingredients and continuous improvement.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with external fielding agencies and research partners
- Identify methodology, plan, execute, and analyze sensory and consumer tests for all project types.
- Generate and present results decks with clear learnings, insights and recommendations to facilitate decision making in the product development process.
- Develop and maintain strong cross-functional relationships to drive learning and insights when bringing new or renovated products to market.
- Maintain existing products through new suppliers, alternate ingredients, and process improvement.
- Apply best practices in sensory and consumer testing
- Adhere to R&D SOPs and checklists.
- Adhere to R&D Operating Principles; Commitment to Technical Expertise & Knowledge: Clear, Concise, Continuous Communication;

Technical Leadership & Project Management and collaboration between R&D and its Business Partners.

- Develop new products to meet consumer needs.
- Travel required as needed for business; communicate with supervisor when not manageable.

Functional and Technical Skills & Knowledge

- Foundational technical knowledge of food science, sensory science, and data analysis.
- Understanding of and ability to apply sensory and consumer best practices and explain reasoning for each clearly.
- Guide teams to define clear objectives and create team alignment.
- Capacity and ability to manage several projects concurrently.
- Ability to use knowledge covering Product Development, statistical analysis, DOE, and SPC.
- Draft Ingredient Spec, Formulas, Semi Finished Good Specifications
- Demonstrative ability to develop technical timelines and formulation plans.

Product & Customer Knowledge & Insight

- Basic understanding of a technical segment of Hood products, sensory attributes, and the corresponding Customer and Consumer needs.
- Ability to develop relationships with external suppliers
- Ability to design research that aids customer relationships and elevate sales materials

Behaviors & Attributes

- Critical Thinking: Develop and demonstrate skills to handle risk and uncertainty
- Accountability & Ownership: Strong self-accountability to meet deadlines and drive results; is accountable for own work; meets timelines and expectations.
- Communication: Effectively communicates requirements and tailors messages to the audience; checks for understanding.
- Problem-Solving Savvy: Develop and demonstrate problem-solving skills.
- Learning & Self-Development: Curious and shows ability and desire to learn. Is personally committed to and actively works towards continual self-improvement. Leads-by-example while working on projects
- Teamwork & Collaboration: Works well with other team members; collaborates well with team members and members outside the department. Gains trusted advisor status with cross-functional team members and management.
- Interpersonal Skills: Shows strong interpersonal skills by bridging the gap between complex data and business strategy (Through active listening, tailored communication, skilled panel leadership and cross functional collaboration.)
- Embraces North Star Values: Strive for success through continuous improvement and the quality and safety of our people, products and services. This is a commitment to proudly serving Hood’s customers and consumers with products that meet their needs, exceed their expectations, and bring them joy.

## Qualifications & Experience

- BS + 5 years industry experience OR MS/PhD + 0-3 years industry experience
- Masters/Bachelor of Science/Engineering degree in relevant scientific field of study
- Certifications are highly beneficial

The pay range for this position is $95,000 - $105,000 USD. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

The pay range for this position is $95,000—$105,000 USD

Ready to join us? Apply directly on our [Company Careers Page](https://hood.com/careers)

HP Hood is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Female/Minority/Veteran/Disabled

"VERVRAA Federal Contractor"

[Privacy Policy](https://hood.com/privacy-policy)

[CCPA](https://hood.com/-/media/Project/HoodCom/PDFs/HP-HOOD-LLC-CA-CCPA-EMPLOYEE-PRIVACY-NOTICE-DECEMBER-2025.pdf)

For Applicants in Massachusetts - It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Employment is subject to verification of an applicant’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States as required by immigration laws. We are unable to assist with sponsorship at this time.

## About HP Hood

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: HP Hood is one of the largest dairy processors in the United States, producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products including milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream under its own and licensed brands.
- **Entity Type**: Private (family-owned by the Kaneb Family)
- **Headquarters**: Lynnfield, Massachusetts, United States
- **Founded**: 1846
- **Founders**: Harvey Perley Hood

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Food and Beverage Manufacturing (Dairy)
- **Target customers**: B2B (grocery retailers, food service distributors) and B2C (consumers)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: The company emphasizes a commitment to quality, community, and innovation. Their founder's pledge is that "good enough never was," and they focus on providing fresh, premium-quality dairy products while supporting the communities where they operate.

## Products & Services
- **Hood® Brand**: A full line of fluid milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, and other dairy products; the number-one dairy brand in New England.
- **Heluva Good!®**: A brand of dips, cheeses, and sour cream with a national presence.
- **LACTAID® Brand dairy products**: Licensed lactose-free milk, ice cream, and cottage cheese.
- **Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®**: Licensed almond milk and dairy-alternative products.
- **Other licensed and regional brands**: The company also produces and distributes other licensed products.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company). HP Hood was listed at #169 on the Forbes "America's Largest Private Companies" list for 2025.
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of approximately $2.1 billion (per LinkedIn estimate) to over $3 billion (per Forbes and company statements).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: The Kaneb Family (owners). Key partners include license holders like Lactaid and Blue Diamond, and major retail and food service customers across the U.S.
- **Growth Signals**: The company has 12 manufacturing plants across the United States and is a top dairy brand in New England. Recent funding of $350,000 (grant) from the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center in 2024.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Heritage and Brand Trust**: Over 175 years of history and a deeply trusted brand name, especially in New England.
- **Scale and Distribution**: One of the largest dairy processors in the country with a national footprint and 17 office/manufacturing locations.
- **Licensing Portfolio**: Exclusive rights to produce and distribute major national brands like LACTAID® and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®, providing a diversified revenue stream.
- **Vertical Integration**: Owns a research and development operation, allowing for product innovation and quality control.
- **Private Ownership**: Family-owned structure allows for long-term strategic planning without quarterly earnings pressure.

## Strategic Focus
- **Innovation**: Continuously developing new products and packaging, such as the LightBlock Bottle® and bold cottage cheese flavors.
- **Sustainability**: Committed to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices across operations.
- **Community Engagement**: Partnering with organizations that support children and families to promote healthy, active lifestyles.
- **Operational Excellence**: Focus on quality, safety, and efficiency across its 12 manufacturing plants.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes core values of Quality, Integrity, Community, Innovation, Results, and Collaboration. The company describes a "family-oriented" and team-focused environment.
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy**: Mixed model. Many manufacturing, distribution, and corporate roles are on-site. Some corporate and sales roles (e.g., Director of Human Resources, Technical Sanitation Specialist) are listed as remote. The company has two main office locations (Lynnfield, MA, and Portland, ME) and numerous plant locations.
- **Notable Perks and Development**: Offers a range of training and development programs to support employee growth. The company highlights its Total Rewards package (benefits, compensation).
- **Workforce**: Approximately 3,400 employees (per Forbes/company statements) or 908 on LinkedIn (likely a smaller subset of active profiles). The company has seen steady headcount growth (+3.8% YoY) and has 77 active job postings.
- **Engineering/Technical Roles**: Positions available in food safety, quality, process engineering, SAP integration, and project management. The company has its own R&D operation.

## Sources
1. [hood.com (Careers Page)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/hoodhp)
2. [hood.com (Our Story)](https://hood.com/our-story)
3. [LinkedIn (HP Hood Company Page)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hp-hood)
4. [Built In (HP Hood LLC Careers, Perks + Culture)](https://builtin.com/company/hp-hood-llc)

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