Senior Product Developer – Candy & Confectionery (All Genders)

About This Opportunity

We are representing a fast-growing confectionery organization in Hamburg that is reshaping the better-for-you snacking category. Our client develops reduced-sugar chocolate bars, protein bars, wafers, cookies, gummies and related products for D2C, retail and European markets.

They need a Senior Product Developer to own candy and confectionery development from brief through formulation, sensory validation, scale-up and commercial launch. This is a hands-on technical role for someone who understands how ingredients, processing, stability and consumer expectations come together in real production environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development for candy and confectionery projects from initial brief through formulation, trials, sensory validation and launch
• Develop reduced-sugar and no-added-sugar formulations while maintaining taste, texture and shelf-life performance
• Plan and coordinate sensory testing, shelf-life studies and stability trials
• Prepare for pilot and industrial-scale production runs; work with co-manufacturers to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues
• Manage formulations, specifications, technical documentation, ingredient sourcing and sample coordination
• Collaborate with Quality to ensure compliance with food law, labelling, allergen, nutritional and claims requirements
• Work cross-functionally with Product, Operations, Procurement, Brand, Retail and Marketing teams
• Document decisions, learnings and technical handovers to strengthen NPD processes as the business scales

What We're Looking For

Required:

• 5+ years in food product development, R&D or NPD with a track record from brief through formulation, sensory validation, scale-up and launch
• Hands-on experience developing gummies, candy, chocolate, confectionery or related sweet-goods categories (mandatory)
• Understanding of sugar-reduction or no-added-sugar systems and how they impact taste, texture, processing, stability and shelf life
• Experience working with ingredient suppliers and co-manufacturers in pilot or industrial-scale production
• Comfortable managing specifications, technical documentation and food-law requirements
• Degree or equivalent training in food science, food technology, chemistry, nutrition science, ecotrophology or comparable field
• Fluent in German and English
• Structured, ownership-driven mindset with the ability to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders

Preferred:

• Track record launching 10+ food products, ideally across multiple markets
• Deep knowledge of sweetener systems, fibres and texture management in sugar reduction
• Experience planning or interpreting sensory tests, shelf-life studies and stability testing
• Background in better-for-you food, functional food, private-label NPD or fast-growing consumer brands
• Experience delivering products into D2C and retail channels across DACH or Europe

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our talent team will conduct an initial screening to understand your technical background and career goals. If there is a strong match, we will submit your profile to our client for consideration. Please do not contact the client organization directly — all communication and interview coordination will be managed by Get A Job.ai throughout the hiring process.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process and are dependent on experience and qualifications.

Location & Work Arrangement

This role is based in Hamburg, with up to 2 home office days per week and the option to work from abroad for agreed-upon periods. 28 vacation days plus December 24 and December 31 off. Monthly €50 allowance for Urban Sports Club, mobility or vouchers.

Get A Job.ai is an equal opportunity recruiter and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.