R&D Engineer – Functional Ingredient

1. About Our Company and Brands

We are the Hong Kong R&D Center of Mom's Garden GmbH, a functional foods and nutritional product group with annual sales exceeding HKD 4 billion.

Our products are sold through a broad range of channels, including major online platforms such as JD.com and T-mall, as well as offline channels such as pharmacies in Hong Kong, Macau and overseas markets.

Our brands and online stores include:

Inne JD Official Flagship Store: https://mall.jd.hk/index-1000078334.html

PrincessLuna JD Official Flagship Store: https://mall.jd.hk/index-1000185863.html

Mom's Garden JD Official Flagship Store: https://mall.jd.hk/index-1000331398.html

2. About the Position

This role is positioned as a Scientific Specialist in Ingredient Delivery and Encapsulation for functional food products.

Over the next 3–5 years, the candidate is expected to develop into a core technical expert in functional ingredient technology and take charge of technical management in this field.

(1) Food Ingredient System Development:

Design and develop food-grade delivery and encapsulation systems for functional ingredients that have poor water solubility, undesirable flavors, easily oxidized, easily degradable.

Develop preliminary formulation systems suitable for functional food products based on the characteristics of each ingredient and its intended application.

Target functional areas include:

• Bone health;
• Eye and brain health;
• Gut health;
• Reproductive health.

(2) System Characterization and Efficacy Evaluation:

Establish evaluation methods for functional ingredient delivery and encapsulation systems, and systematically characterize parameters including: Particle size, Morphology, Interfacial properties, Rheological properties, Encapsulation efficiency, Loading capacity, Release behavior, Storage stability.

Based on project requirements, design and conduct in vitro digestion studies, cell-based studies or animal studies to evaluate the ability of the delivery system to improve the stability, bioaccessibility and bioavailability of active ingredients.

(3) Research Output:

Publish academic papers and file patent applications based on the aforementioned R&D achievements.

3. Who We’re Looking For

(1) Educational Background:

Candidates should have an academic background in one or more of the following disciplines: Nutrition, Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering or other related disciplines.

Applications are welcome from:

• Master’s degree holders with at least three years of professional R&D experience in an enterprise or corporate R&D center.

(2) Research Experience:

Candidates should have applied research project experience involving one or more of the following food-grade carrier systems:

• Microcapsules;
• Multiple emulsions;
• Liposomes;
• Other relevant food-grade delivery or encapsulation systems.

Experience in applying ingredient delivery and encapsulation technologies to functional food products is preferred.

(3) Technical Capabilities:

Candidates must be able to independently design and complete research projects, and must have published academic papers or filed patent applications in at least one of the following areas:

Functional ingredient delivery and encapsulation systems;

Product formulation systems for powders, liquid beverages, gummies, capsules or tablets.

Experience in leading industry-sponsored projects or cross-institutional R&D projects, as well as successfully translating research outcomes into commercially launched products, is preferred.

4. What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package;
• Work visa sponsorship;
• Additional commercial health insurance coverage;
• Early release from work before designated public holidays;
• A friendly and supportive research environment;
• Opportunities to gain hands-on experience in large-scale commercial R&D projects valued at over HKD 100 million.