Food Safety & Quality Assurance Analyst – R&D

About the role

Chipotle’s Cultivate Center in Irvine is seeking a Food Safety Quality Assurance Analyst to support R&D activities. The analyst will conduct laboratory and test‑kitchen evaluations, partner with culinary and commercial teams, and ensure that all products meet Chipotle’s safety and quality standards.

Key responsibilities

• Perform physical and analytical evaluations of proteins, legumes, tortillas, dairy, ready‑to‑eat/drink products, non‑food items, and equipment.
• Analyze results and produce reports that combine sensory, analytical and microbiological data with actionable recommendations.
• Maintain R&D project trackers, timelines, and documentation for menu and product changes.
• Execute cleaning validations and equipment verifications for new restaurant hardware.
• Develop evaluation protocols and sensory tools in collaboration with FSQA and R&D teams.
• Work with suppliers and labs to collect samples, review data, and keep quality records current.
• Support root‑cause investigations of food quality issues and contribute to corrective‑action plans.
• Provide technical input for restaurant training materials and participate in cross‑functional project meetings.
• Manage kitchen test‑operation logistics, including sample receipt, organization, and cleanliness.

Required profile

• Bachelor of Science in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry or Food Microbiology.
• 2–4 years of experience in restaurant, QSR, food manufacturing or food‑science environments with exposure to FSQA, R&D or product development.
• ServSafe Manager certification (or equivalent).

Required skills

• Sensory evaluation techniques.
• Analytical and microbiological testing methods.
• Data analysis and report generation.
• Project tracking and documentation.
• Cleaning validation procedures.
• Root‑cause analysis.