Analytical Development & Quality (QA/QC) Lead About Us At Cosaic we aim for a world in which good food choices benefit everyone: people, businesses, and the planet. We do this with ingredient solutions that offer greater industry resilience and greater consumer satisfaction. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at Cosaic, from the product we create to the way we operate on a daily basis. We are pioneering the future of food-tech. Backed by top-tier investors, we are currently in our pre-Series A fundraising phase, with ambitious plans to scale globally and expand into the US market. Role & Responsibilities You will lead Cosaic's analytical and quality function, with responsibility for analytical method development and validation and for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). You will collaborate and manage a lab technician and work closely with the CTO. Develop and own our analytical methods Develop new analytical methods for our ingredients and samples, and improve existing assays to make them more robust and increase throughput. Validate methods for their intended use and specific matrix, with appropriate controls and clear acceptance criteria. Understand what a measurement can tell us, where its limitations lie, and when more evidence is needed. Troubleshoot unexpected results and build the analytical capability we need as our products move toward market. Responsible for QA and QC Quality control: establish and run routine testing, ingredient specifications, production testing, and documentation supporting product release. Quality assurance: implent company wide laboratory procedures, records, sample traceability, equipment checks, data handling, and food-safety activities. Develop practical quality procedures, track deviations and lead root cause investigations, and agree and follow through on corrective actions. Lead the lab team Manage and develop a lab technician: plan and prioritize work, provide training on experimental method and data processing and analysis , and make sure work meets agreed quality standards. Help colleagues make good laboratory and quality and safety practices consistent habits. Bring the same rigor to external laboratories and production partners Scout and coordinate outsourced testing, define analytical and sample requirements, and review the methods and evidence behind reported results. Investigate discrepancies between internal, external, and manufacturing-partner measurements. Ask constructive questions, agree on practical corrective actions, and follow through until issues are resolved. Provide technical quality information for customers and partners. Support regulatory activities Coordinate with external regulatory consultants, organize scientific inputs, and manage project to keep timelines. You will work closely with the CTO to prioritize improvements and establish proportionate evidence requirements for R&D decisions. Your contribution is not simply to identify what is wrong, but to help resolve it, while maintaining food safety and agreed quality requirements. What You Need to Succeed At least four years of relevant professional experience in an applied laboratory, analytical, or food-quality role. Proven, recent hands-on experience developing and validating analytical methods, such as HPLC, colorimetric plate assays, rheology, microbial plating, and general wet chemistry Practical QA/QC experience in food or a similarly regulated environment, working to defined laboratory or quality standards. Experience supervising, training, or mentoring laboratory staff. A sound understanding of controls, sampling, method performance, reproducibility, documentation, and the limitations of analytical results. A relevant degree in analytical chemistry, food chemistry, chemistry, biochemistry, food science, or a related field, or equivalent advanced laboratory training and professional experience. A PhD is preferred but not required. Clear professional communication in English, including explaining technical findings to colleagues, external laboratories, and non-specialists. How you work matters You are curious about why results differ and disciplined about finding the cause. You combine attention to detail with practical judgment: you understand when further investigation is necessary and when a method is sufficiently reliable for its intended purpose. You raise concerns respectfully, propose solutions, and participate in implementing them. You enjoy both routine laboratory work and new scientific challenges, support and develop the people you work with, and take ownership through to completion. Additional experience we would value Experience with fermentation-derived ingredients, protein, lipid or carbohydrate analysis, microbiology, contract manufacturers, food-safety systems, or regulatory coordination would be useful. We do not expect expertise in every technique or regulatory topic. Experience in a startup, scale-up or small entrepreneurial team is preferred. Equivalent evidence of independently building methods, improving operations and delivering results with limited resources is also valuable. What We Offer 🌍 Impactful Work – Innovate in food tech and shape the future. 🤝 Collaborative Culture – A flat hierarchy where teamwork thrives. 💡 Growth & Learning – Accelerate your career in a dynamic environment. 💰 Long-term Rewards – Share in our success with Phantom Stock Options (for permanent positions only) 🌱 Well-being & Balance – A supportive workplace that values you. Plus, enjoy: Commute allowance to ease your journey. Parental leave that puts family first (for permanent positions only). A shared company car and e-bike for personal use. Sustainable travel perks that count as work time. Ready to Shape the Future of Food? We encourage applications from candidates who match most, but not necessarily all, of the above criteria. Your passion for pioneering food innovation and ability to drive our mission forward are just as important. APPLY HERE