Lead Food Scientist (R&D) (PhD)

We are Pea Pod Pantry, an early-stage food-tech startup in Bangalore. We are reinventing the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) market.

Most instant food is full of preservatives and tastes "processed." We are changing that. We are building a line of gourmet, preservative-free meals that sit on the shelf but taste fresh-cooked, powered by advanced freeze-drying technology.

We are looking for a Founding Scientist to lead our R&D. We don't need someone with 10 years of experience doing the same thing every day. We need a scientist who understands the first principles of food physics, loves to experiment, and isn't afraid to break a few eggs (or freeze-dry them) to find the perfect solution.

What Youll Do

• Master the Machine: You will be the owner of our industrial freeze-drying pilot line. You will design the heating curves, pressure cycles, and sublimation protocols.
• Bridge Culinary & Science: Work directly with our Head Chef to translate traditional recipes into shelf-stable retail products that rehydrate perfectly.
• Fail Fast, Learn Faster: Run rapid experiments. If a batch collapses or doesn't rehydrate well, you won't just guessyoull use data (water activity, glass transition temps, porosity) to fix it.
• Ensure Stability: You will be responsible for ensuring our products meet strict shelf-life requirements without using artificial preservatives.

Who You Are

• The Scientist: You have a PhD in Food Science, Food Technology, or Food Engineering.
• The First-Principles Thinker: You may not have years of freeze-drying experience, but you understand the theory. You know what Water Activity, Triple Point, and Glass Transition are, and you know why they matter.
• The Experimenter: You are comfortable in a lab and on a factory floor. You don't fear mistakes; you view them as data points.
• The Leader: You are ready to take ownership. You don't need to be told what to do every day; you see a problem and you design an experiment to solve it.

Requirements

• Education: PhD or Masters in Food Science/Technology.
• Location: Must be based in (or willing to relocate to) Bangalore. This is a 100% hands-on role.
• Mindset: High energy, high agency, and a deep curiosity for food preservation technology.

Why Join Us?

• Direct Impact: You aren't a cog in a giant machine. Your research will directly determine the product we put on shelves across the country.
• Room for Growth: As an early member of the team, you will shape the future of our R&D department.
• Competitive Pay: We believe in paying for talent. We offer a highly competitive salary for the right mix of scientific rigor and startup hustle.

Salary: 8,00,000 12,00,000 PA (Based on qualifications & potential)