Food Safety Analyst, R&D

June 19, 2026

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CULTIVATE A BETTER WORLD

Food served fast does not have to be a typical fast-food experience. Chipotle has always done things differently, both in and out of our restaurants. We are changing the face of fast food, starting conversations, and directly supporting efforts to shift the future of farming and food. We hope you will join us as we continue to learn, evolve, and shape what comes next on our mission to make better food accessible to everyone.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As the Analyst, Food Safety Quality Assurance (R&D), you will play a key role in executing daily lab and test kitchen operations at the Chipotle Cultivate Center (CCC). You will be responsible for supporting the Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) R&D team by executing sensory and quality evaluations across Chipotle’s full product portfolio within the CCC. You will partner closely with Culinary, Commercialization, and suppliers to ensure products meet Chipotle’s quality and food safety standards across the restaurant network, while generating insights to inform product decisions.

LOCATION

This position will be based at our Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, CA near our Newport Beach Corporate Office 4 days per week (with work from home on Friday). Remote work is not available for this role.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Conduct and support physical and analytical product evaluations across proteins, legumes, tortillas, dairy, RTE/RTD products, non-food items, and equipment.
Analyze and synthesize evaluation results, generating reports and recaps that include sensory, analytical, and microbiological findings, along with recommended next steps for cross-functional teams and suppliers.
Maintain and update R&D project trackers and timelines to reflect ongoing menu evaluations and product changes.
Perform cleaning validations and verifications for new restaurant equipment and smallwares.
Partner with FSQA and R&D teams to develop evaluation protocols and sensory tools aligned to product type and testing objectives (e.g., shelf life, product matching).
Collaborate with suppliers and laboratory partners to collect samples, review results, and ensure business and quality documentation is accurate and up to date.
Support root cause analysis of food quality issues in partnership with suppliers, gathering technical data and contributing to corrective action planning.
Provide technical input into restaurant training materials and participate in working sessions to uphold food safety and quality standards.
Participate in cross-functional project meetings to share updates on product status and R&D progress.
Support kitchen test operations, including receiving and organizing sample shipments and maintaining cleanliness and organization.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE TABLE

Bachelor of Science degree from a 4-year college or university in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, or Food Microbiology required.
2–4 years of experience in restaurant, QSR, food manufacturing, or food science environments, with exposure to FSQA, R&D, or product development processes
ServSafe Manager Certification is preferred; certification may also be obtained upon hire.
Sensory training completed or willingness and ability to be trained required.
Culinary training completed or willingness and ability to be trained preferred.
Hands-on experience supporting product testing, sensory evaluation, shelf-life studies, or quality validation activities.
Strong understanding of food science principles, sensory analysis, and food preparation techniques.
Exposure to root cause analysis and corrective action processes within food quality or production environments with the ability to contribute to recommending actionable solutions
Experience supporting cross-functional initiatives, including coordination with R&D, operations, and supply chain partners.
Ability to analyze data, apply critical thinking, and communicate clear, actionable findings to cross-functional partners.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple samples, projects, and deadlines simultaneously
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical findings into practical insights
Proficiency in Excel, Word, Outlook, and other tools used for data entry and reporting.
Thrives in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities; consistently following through on tasks and meeting established timelines.

PAY TRANSPARENCY A reasonable estimate of the current base pay range for this position is $77,000.00–$110,000.00. You are also eligible for annual cash bonuses

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