Culinary R&D / Product Development Chef – New Fried Chicken QSR Brand

Hotfried Co. · Odisha, India

Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Initial engagement: 6–8-week product-development project

Contract/project basis, with potential for longer-term involvement

We are developing a new QSR brand focused specifically on high-quality fried chicken and are looking for a hands-on Culinary R&D / Product Development Chef to build the menu and kitchen system from the ground up.

What you'll work on

• Develop bone-in/less fried chicken, tenders, wings, chicken burgers and related products

• Develop marinades, brines, breading systems, dry seasonings, glazes and dips

• Develop multiple flavour profiles including classic, spicy, and Indian flavours

• Optimise frying temperatures, cooking times, yield, crispness and holding quality

• Design products that perform well after 20–40 minutes of takeaway/delivery

• Standardise every recipe in grams, temperatures and timings

• Develop batch recipes suitable for commercial kitchen production

• Calculate food cost, yield, wastage and portion sizes

• Help evaluate ingredients and suppliers

• Prepare Standard Recipe Cards and kitchen SOPs

• Build a simple production system that can later be executed consistently by trained kitchen staff

• Assist with final production trials and staff handover

Ideal profile

• 3–8 years of culinary experience

• Experience in QSR, cloud kitchen, central kitchen, food R&D or product development preferred

• Strong hot-kitchen/deep-frying experience

• Fried chicken, burger or similar QSR experience is a major advantage

• Strong understanding of recipe standardisation, costing, yields and portion control

• Comfortable documenting recipes and experiments systematically

• Commercial mindset: great taste without unnecessary kitchen complexity

• Willing to work hands-on in Bhubaneswar during the development period

This is not a conventional Head Chef role. The objective of the project is to create a commercially viable, scalable and repeatable fried-chicken product system.

To apply, please send:

• Your CV/profile
• Brands/restaurants you have worked with
• Examples of products or menus you have developed
• Any experience with fried chicken/QSR products
• Current location
• Availability for a 6–8 week project in Bhubaneswar
• Expected project fee/compensation

Please send an email to with the above details.

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