Senior Scientist, Ingredient Quality & Analytical Science

The Ingredient Quality Department protects ingredient quality and integrity across our beverage portfolio. We are seeking a Senior Scientist, Ingredient Quality & Analytical Science with advanced analytical chemistry expertise and the judgment and influence to resolve complex ingredient-quality challenges.

This hands-on subject matter expert and individual contributor brings expertise in GC- and LC-HRMS, method development and validation, chemical profiling, unknown identification, contaminant analysis, authenticity testing, and raw material characterization. They apply data analytics to turn complex analytical results into actionable insights that support product quality and business decisions.

You will define analytical strategies, lead investigations and cross-functional projects, interpret complex data, strengthen laboratory capability, and translate evidence into actionable recommendations. Success requires scientific rigor, concise communication, and influence without formal supervisory authority.

This on-site Atlanta, Georgia role follows standard business hours, Monday through Friday, with occasional early-morning, evening, or weekend work as business needs require.

After onboarding and required training, you will work independently at trainer-level proficiency to:

• → Serve as a senior SME in HRMS, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, LC-QTOF, chromatographic separations, mass spectral interpretation, and related technologies.
• →Direct complex investigations of atypical or out-of-specification results, contamination, authenticity concerns, supplier variability, degradation, and unexplained chemical or sensory differences.
• →Mentor and coach scientists and laboratory colleagues across the laboratory network.

• Technical Excellence: Expand your expertise with state-of-the-art technology, an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory, mature quality systems, and industry leaders in flavor quality-control methodology at a globally recognized organization.
• Industry Expertise: Deepen your ingredient-quality expertise, including flavors and their food and beverage applications.
• Career Development: Partner with manufacturing, flavor R&D, and global functions to build your career within a global beverage company.
• Benefits: Competitive benefits begin on your first day of employment.

• Design and execute targeted and non-targeted studies of food, flavor, and beverage ingredients to characterize volatile and non-volatile components, chemical fingerprints, quality, variability, impurities, degradation products, contaminants, and potential adulterants; identify and quantify known and unknown compounds.

• Confirm compound identities using accurate mass, isotope patterns, fragmentation behavior, MS/MS spectra, reference standards, and spectral libraries; optimize sample preparation and troubleshoot methods, instruments, and matrix effects.

• Develop, optimize, validate, verify, transfer, and implement fit-for-purpose LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, HRMS, and complementary methods; evaluate performance and author protocols, reports, SOPs, and technical documentation.

• Lead ingredient assessments and investigations that support supplier qualification, specification setting, release decisions, root-cause analysis, risk mitigation, alternative sourcing, and supply continuity.

• Integrate analytical findings with historical profiles, supplier and manufacturing data, regulatory requirements, and scientific literature to deliver defensible recommendations.

• Champion GLP, ISO/IEC 17025, the Quality Management System, data integrity, audit readiness, CAPA, laboratory safety, and confidentiality, ensuring all records and reports are scientifically sound.

• Lead laboratory capability development, technology evaluation, and instrument lifecycle management; improve throughput, reproducibility, data quality, and efficiency through automation, digital workflows, and continuous improvement.

• Use data analytics, visualization, and digital tools to communicate complex results, uncertainty, quality risk, and data gaps as clear scientific conclusions and business recommendations.

• Lead cross-functional projects and partner with manufacturing, R&D, procurement, regulatory, and supplier teams to resolve ingredient-quality issues.

• Present findings, risks, and recommendations concisely to stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.

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• Bachelor’s in chemistry, or biochemistry, or a related field with 10+ years of industry experience, or a master’s with 5+ years. Extensive advanced analytical lab experience required; master’s or Ph.D. preferred.

• Extensive hands-on experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and interpreting data from chromatography and mass spectrometry platforms (LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, and/or HRMS).

• Experience with complex matrices, sample preparation, chemical characterization, quantitative and trace analysis, unknown investigations, and the full analytical method lifecycle.

• Proven ability to lead complex scientific projects and influence technical disciplines without direct authority.

• Food, beverage, flavor, ingredient, natural product, consumer product, pharmaceutical, or similar industry experience is preferred; ISO/IEC 17025, GLP, or comparable quality-system experience is an advantage.

• Experience with targeted and non-targeted analysis, chemical fingerprinting, trace quantitation, contaminants, authenticity, unknown identification, ingredient chemistry, degradation products, and impurities.

• Strong grasp of method development and validation, reference standards, quality control, measurement performance, SOPs, technical documentation, and instrument troubleshooting.

• Scientific rigor, curiosity, sound judgment, accountability, and a commitment to reliable results.

• Strategic, evidence-based problem solving that links analytical findings to ingredient risk, supplier capability, laboratory strategy, and business needs.

• Ability to set priorities, lead through influence, collaborate across boundaries, coach others, and communicate clear, actionable recommendations.

• Commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, safety, scientific integrity, data quality, confidentiality, and quality standards.

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• Apply systems thinking to balance scientific rigor, ingredient risk, operational needs, and supply continuity.
• Build scientific and business cases for capability investments and new ways of working.
• Bring relevant external scientific and industry developments into the organization while maintaining confidentiality and a customer-focused mindset.

• Primarily on-site in Atlanta, Georgia, across laboratory, manufacturing-site, and office environments.
• Operate and oversee advanced analytical instruments and safely handle chemicals and ingredient samples.
• Occasional work outside standard hours may be required.

Limited travel may be required to support suppliers, partner laboratories, technical partners, scientific collaborations, or capability development.

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.

Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.

Location(s):

Travel Required:

Relocation Provided:

Job Posting End Date:

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.