Agricultural Science - Fry Lab Technician

PepsiCo•Town of Stella, WI

3d•$54,700 - $82,050•Onsite

About The Position

PepsiCo is a major food enterprise sourcing and developing agricultural raw materials that are critical to delivering high-quality products to consumers around the world. A motivated and detail-oriented technician is needed to support potato quality evaluations for breeding, variety qualification, storage research, and agronomic trialing programs. This position provides hands-on experience in agricultural research, food quality evaluation, and laboratory operations. The technician will support fry quality testing, sample processing, data collection, and laboratory organization while working closely with scientists, variety managers, breeders, and trialing teams. Training will be provided on laboratory procedures, equipment, and data management systems. While the primary responsibility is supporting fry laboratory activities, the technician may also assist with field trials, harvest operations, sample collection, trial grading, and other agricultural research activities as needed. The position sits within the AgSci Advanced Variety Trialing team within PepsiCo Foods R&D and is located at the PepsiCo research facility in Rhinelander, WI.

Requirements

This position will be based in Rhinelander, WI.
Must be willing to travel occasionally to support field trials, harvest activities, training, and team meetings.
Must be willing to flex work schedules during harvest seasons and peak testing periods.
Must be able to work safely in laboratory, warehouse, storage, and field environments.
Must be able to safely lift and move up to 50 pounds.
Must be comfortable working around food processing equipment, hot surfaces, agricultural materials, and laboratory equipment while following all applicable safety procedures.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Food Science, Biology, Plant Science, Agronomy, Horticulture, or a related technical discipline.
Experience in laboratory operations, food processing, agricultural research, quality testing, manufacturing support, or related technical environments is preferred.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Experience using Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and database systems.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment.

Responsibilities

Conduct potato frying evaluations for breeding, variety qualification, storage research, and agronomic trial samples following established protocols.
Receive, organize, label, track, process, and dispose of samples according to laboratory protocols.
Assist with maintaining testing schedules and ensuring timely completion of stakeholder requests and project deliverables.
Monitor sample throughput and proactively communicate potential delays, resource constraints, or operational challenges.
Support troubleshooting of laboratory equipment and processes while escalating issues appropriately.
Maintain laboratory equipment and work areas to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation.
Collect, record, verify, and maintain accurate quality and processing data in databases and reporting systems.
Maintain organized records and documentation according to established procedures.
Assist with summarizing and sharing results with team members and stakeholders.
Organize and maintain sample inventories to support accurate tracking and efficient movement of materials through the fry lab.
Monitor inventory levels and coordinate ordering of laboratory supplies, consumables, and equipment.
Maintain laboratory cleanliness, organization, and readiness to support ongoing operations.
Follow established procedures for sample storage, handling, and disposal.
Support seasonal field activities including planting, harvest, grading, phenotyping, sample collection, and sample preparation when needed.
Collaborate with scientists, trial managers, and site personnel to support research objectives and operational priorities across the Rhinelander facility.
Follow established laboratory and safety procedures.
Suggest opportunities for improving laboratory organization, efficiency, and data quality.
Adapt to changing priorities and support team needs during peak activity periods.
Maintain a safe, organized, and professional work environment.
Comply with all PepsiCo Safety requirements, including prevention, incident reporting, and corrective actions.