Formulation Chemist

We're launching a 5% ABV soju-style alcoholic seltzer (canned RTD). Looking for an experienced beverage/food scientist or formulation chemist with beverage alcohol experience to develop a pilot formula, produce small-batch samples, advise preservation & shelf-life, and hand off manufacturing-ready specs to a co-packer. Must know alcohol calculations, pH control, carbonation, stability, and regulatory labeling basics.

Responsibilities:

• Create 3 pilot formulations (varying sweetness and flavor intensity) for 355 mL cans at 5% ABV.
• Provide exact ingredient lists, concentrations, and processing notes (mix order, temperature, filtration, pasteurization).
• Provide ABV verification method, pH target, microbial control steps, recommended preservatives (if any), and carbonation volumes.
• Run or coordinate small lab batch and stability test (4-week accelerated + 3-month ambient).
• Produce finished spec sheet for co-packer (ingredient spec, supplier suggestions, DWIs, batch formula).

Requirements:

• Experience with alcoholic beverages (seltzers, RTDs, spirits/liqueurs) and beverage co-packer handoffs.
• Familiar with regulatory labeling for alcohol in Canada/US (or your target market).
• Access to lab/testing (ABV, pH, microbial, shelf).
• Portfolio with previous beverage launches.

Deliverables & Fees: fixed-fee proposal with milestones (formula, pilot, tests, final spec).