R&D / Culinary Developer Sous Chef – Food Innovation (UAE-based, Local Hire)
Skills
About This Role
Overview
***Important: Local hire only.
Applications from candidates not currently residing in the UAE will not be considered.***
About Circus
Circus is a Munich-headquartered food-tech company pioneering autonomous food production.
Our robotic kitchens combine cutting-edge robotics, AI, and culinary craft to redefine how food is prepared, accessed, and experienced.
We are now expanding into the Gulf region, with the UAE as our regional launchpad, and are building a local culinary team to define the food experience for our GCC clients.
The role
As R&D Sous Chef – Food Innovation, you will support the creation and systematization of dishes that can be executed consistently in our robotic kitchens, while helping adapt culinary concepts for clients across the GCC.
This is a hands-on, hybrid role at the intersection of culinary R&D and client delivery, working hand-in-hand with our Supply Chain team and collaborating closely with Engineering, Operations, and Commercial.
You will report to the culinary lead for the UAE operation.
Research & Development
- Create, test, and optimize dishes and menus for our robotic kitchen platform.
- Adapt recipes for automation — ensuring reproducibility, consistency, and quality at scale.
- Partner with Supply Chain to evaluate ingredient availability, sourcing options, sustainability, and cost-efficiency in the GCC.
- Conduct food testing sessions, including sensory evaluations, and document outcomes for continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with engineers to integrate culinary concepts into robotic workflows.
Client Delivery
- Translate client requirements into scalable culinary solutions aligned with Circus’s technology and supply chain capabilities.
- Co-develop branded food concepts with clients and the commercial team.
- Customize menus for local preferences, dietary needs (incl. Halal compliance), and regional ingredient availability.
- Align client-facing solutions with feasible sourcing and logistics in collaboration with Supply Chain.
- Support client rollouts by training internal and external stakeholders on new dishes and processes.
- Act as a culinary ambassador for Circus with clients and partners across the region.
- What you bring
- Currently based in the UAE with valid residency and the legal right to transfer employment (or a transferable visa).
- Established UAE-based network across F&B operators, suppliers, hotel groups, or franchise owners.
- Trained Chef (formal culinary qualification) and/or Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Food Technology, Hospitality Management, or related field.
- 3+ years of culinary experience including recipe development, with at least 1–2 years in the UAE/GCC market — ideally food-tech, multi-unit franchise, cloud kitchens, or leading food service environments.
- Deep familiarity with UAE supply chains, local ingredient sourcing, and consumer preferences across the region.
- Strong background in recipe creation and systematization; knowledge of global cuisines and cooking techniques.
- Hands-on experience working with Supply Chain or Procurement (sourcing, vendor collaboration, cost management).
- Solid grasp of UAE food safety standards (HACCP, ADAFSA, Dubai Municipality / PIC); experience with automated or scaled food operations is a plus.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects in parallel.
- Fluent English (written and spoken); Arabic is a strong plus.
- Nice to have
- Client-facing experience: co-developing menus, presenting concepts, or consulting.
- Recognized certification in food safety and sanitation (HACCP, PIC, ISO 22000).
- Experience at the intersection of culinary, supply chain, and technology.
- Existing network with hotel groups, cloud kitchen operators, or franchise owners in the UAE/KSA.
- What we offer
- Competitive package: AED 12,000–20,000 per month (commensurate with experience) plus performance-based bonus.
- Full UAE employment visa sponsorship for you and immediate family — we handle the transfer from your current sponsor.
- Comprehensive private health insurance for you and your dependents.
- 30 calendar days paid annual leave plus UAE public holidays, plus annual home-flight allowance.
- End-of-service gratuity as per UAE Labour Law.
- Monthly mobility allowance.
- Annual training budget, in-house training, and clear growth opportunities as we scale across the GCC.
- Hybrid working model with strong on-site presence at our UAE kitchen lab and client sites — no relocation required.
Why Circus
You will be one of the first culinary hires of our UAE operation — helping shape not just menus, but the way food is created in a fully automated future.
If you are already in the UAE and excited to combine craft, technology, and scale, we would love to meet you.
How to apply
Apply through LinkedIn with your CV and a short note confirming your current UAE residency status.
A portfolio or sample recipes/menus is welcome.
We review applications on a rolling basis.
*#Hiring #UAEJobs #AbuDhabiJobs #FoodTech #CulinaryRD #ChefJobs #FoodInnovation #GCC #Halal #HACCP*
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