Job Description Summary:
At The Coca‑Cola Company, our mission is to refresh the world and make a difference, and every product begins with trust in the integrity of its ingredients. As a Senior Scientist in our Ingredient Quality Department (IQD), you will play a critical role in ensuring the quality and consistency of flavor ingredients that form the foundation of our beloved brands. This position merges advanced scientific expertise with a commitment to operational excellence, driving continuous improvement and enabling the adoption of innovative, digital solutions in laboratory operations.
Our global system thrives on technical credibility and rigorous standards that protect consumer safety and deliver consistent product experiences across diverse markets. In this role, you will apply your deep analytical knowledge and leadership capability to interpret complex data, validate methods, and support quality decisions aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 principles. Your contributions will strengthen The Coca‑Cola Company’s ability to innovate responsibly and maintain the highest standards of ingredient integrity in a rapidly evolving marketplace. If you are passionate about science, energized by advanced technologies such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, and motivated to advance digitization and continuous improvement, we invite you to partner with us in shaping the future of ingredient quality management.
What You’ll Do for Us
- Interpret and approve complex analytical results, leveraging scientific judgment to confirm compliance with specifications and authorize sample release decisions.
- Act as technical lead for chromatographic and mass spectrometric instrumentation, guiding calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization to sustain analytical performance standards.
- Serve as a senior technical resource and mentor within the laboratory, supporting learning and capability building through constructive coaching and collaborative problem solving.
- Translate technical insights for diverse audiences, ensuring key findings inform decisions across technical, commercial, and operational teams.
- Lead the development, validation, and transfer of analytical methods with disciplined experimentation, advancing both accuracy and efficiency in ingredient analysis.
- Initiate and execute continuous improvement projects designed to enhance laboratory workflows, integrate automation, and strengthen data integrity while maintaining rigorous compliance.
- Actively monitor emerging technologies and scientific advancements, applying sound judgment to integrate digital solutions and AI-enhanced capabilities into laboratory processes.
- Provide leadership in maintaining and evolving the IQD Quality Management System, ensuring adherence to ISO/IEC 17025 principles and audit readiness.
- Conduct Root Cause Investigations and Risk Assessments, driving effective corrective actions and sustained performance improvements across analytical operations.
- Serve as backup to the Lab Director when needed, managing testing prioritization and supporting laboratory coordination in a dynamic production environment.
- Requirements & Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is required; an advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) is strongly preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of hands-on laboratory experience within food, pharmaceutical, chemical, or other regulated industries with direct responsibility for ingredient or product quality decisions.
- In-depth expertise in gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques (GC, GC-MS) including instrumentation acquisition, troubleshooting, and interpretation of complex data sets.
- Proven ability to apply validated analytical methods to investigate technical challenges and influence operational improvements.
- Demonstrated experience implementing laboratory process enhancements and automation initiatives, integrating digital tools to improve efficiency and compliance.
- Strong knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025 principles and practical application within active quality management systems.
- Advanced understanding of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and familiarity with laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
- Excellent analytical judgment and problem-solving skills with confidence making decisions amid complex variables and competing priorities.
- Effective communication and collaboration capabilities, with aptitude for engaging technical and non-technical stakeholders in understanding quality outcomes.
- Preferred experience includes flavor or fragrance ingredient analysis, method validation, and operational support for manufacturing environments.
What We’ll Do for You
- Provide a platform to shape the next generation of analytical science capabilities through strategic investments in digital technologies and advanced instrumentation.
- Offer opportunities to lead innovation in quality systems and laboratory automation, influencing the evolution of testing and decision-making processes.
- Enable collaboration across global teams and technical functions, broadening perspective and fostering shared learning in a diverse environment.
- Support professional growth through access to complex technical challenges, exposure to emerging science, and opportunities for mentorship and capability building.
The Coca-Cola Company will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H1-B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require The Coca-Cola Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.
Skills:
Analytical Instrumentation, Analytical Method, Analytical Techniques, Chemistry, Chromatography, Collaboration, Communication, Compliance, Continuous Improvement, Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA), Decision Making, Food Manufacturing, Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), Health and Safety, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Processes, Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS), Leadership, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Microsoft Office, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Technical Knowledge, Troubleshooting
Pay Range:
United States of America: 109,000 USD - 125,000 USD
Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.
Location(s):
United States of America
City/Cities:
Apopka
Travel Required:
00% - 25%
Relocation Provided:
No
Job Posting End Date:
July 14, 2026
Our Purpose and Growth Culture:
We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.