Product Development Intern

Job description

About Us
We're Endless West, makers of molecular spirits. Our small, independent team of scientists, sommeliers, writers, chefs, and dropouts is creating the next generation of wine and spirits. Our work has already attracted significant interest from a range of people - whiskey enthusiasts, scientists, members of the culinary world, creatives in design, technology, and fashion - across the country. And we're just getting going.

We're relentlessly curious, optimistic enough to run after ambitious ideas, and skeptical enough to analyze every angle and consider every option. We support each other as colleagues and care about each other as people, believing that the health of our business can be measured by the health of our team. We are obsessed with leveraging scientific learning, creative storytelling and business expertise to explore the limits of what's possible.

About the Role
We are looking for a product development intern to join our R&D team at Endless West. The intern will help our product development team develop and prepare prototype formulations for many beverage types. They will also assist with preparation of sensory samples, small scale consumer beverage samples, help with compound dilutions and blending for production. As we are a start-up and small team, responsibilities can vary daily, and will also include general lab operations. You will work hard and learn a tremendous amount.

Anticipated duration of internship is 3 months.

Job Responsibilities
Creative problem solving
Prepare small and medium scale formulation batches of various beverage products
Preparation of compound stocks and dilutions as needed
Preparation of compound blends for production as needed
Help with product development and sensory analysis
Help with experimental design, execution, analysis and reporting
Safely handle and prepare large volumes of laboratory chemicals
Document all experimental procedures in a laboratory notebook

Requirements
Studying Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology or a related field.
Second or third year students preferred.
Knowledge of solution preparation and use of lab equipment including analytical balances and micropipettes is essential.
You have a highly analytical mind, pay great attention to detail, and find a start-up environment appealing.

About You
You're highly-motivated and experienced enough to hit the ground running from day one. You're inquisitive. You understand which questions to ask, and how to apply sufficient scientific rigor to answer them. You aren't afraid to articulate ideas and aren't afraid to be wrong. You're able to laugh at yourself.

Why Endless West
In a town full of companies that sell prospective hires on happy hours and ping pong tables, here's what we are uniquely able to offer:
A small, flat organization. We don't believe in hierarchy for hierarchy's sake.
Smart, friendly colleagues.
Actual autonomy and agency. We choose empowerment over micromanagement.
A team that values EQ as much as IQ.
A team that values hard work but believes in the importance of self-care and taking meaningful breaks.
An environment that encourages empathetic debate. We state cases, defend positions, argue productively, and make decisions together. We don't have any issues with being wrong. People's opinions are actively sought out and valued.
An environment where we not only acknowledge the hard work and successes of our teammates, but also celebrate them.

Candidates must be currently local to San Francisco/Bay Area and be able to commute to/from the office located in the Dog Patch area of San Francisco.

Interested? We'd love to hear from you! Please apply!