R&D Food Scientist
About The Position
Role: R&D Food Scientist – Pilot Plant & Production Support Location: Hugoton, KS - Onsite Type: Contract What You’ll Do Pilot Plant Operations Assist in planning and executing pilot plant trials in coordination with R&D project leads. Prepare platform and equipment configurations for trials. Manage raw material and packaging inventory for pilot activities. Support trial execution, including troubleshooting and post-trial cleaning (CIP). Collect, format, and analyze trial data from acquisition systems. Maintain hygiene, safety, and first-level maintenance of pilot plant equipment. Production Support & Industrial Implementation Support commissioning of new production lines by verifying process parameters and product specifications. Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Engineering, and Operations to ensure smooth product scale-up. Participate in factory audits and assist in identifying optimization opportunities. Monitor product quality and consistency during production runs and assist in root cause analysis. Continuous Improvement & Documentation Contribute to shop floor improvement initiatives focused on performance KPIs. Help update SOPs and maintain documentation related to pilot plant operations and safety. Stay current with food processing technologies and propose equipment upgrades or investments. Training & Collaboration Assist in training interns and temporary staff on pilot plant procedures and safety protocols. Participate in team development activities and technical workshops. Support cross-functional collaboration for product launches and renovations. About You Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocessing, or related field OR 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing operations Internship or academic experience in pilot plant or food manufacturing preferred Basic understanding of food processing equipment and hygienic design Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools Additional Information All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocessing, or related field OR 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing operations
- Basic understanding of food processing equipment and hygienic design
- Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools
Nice To Haves
- Internship or academic experience in pilot plant or food manufacturing preferred
Responsibilities
- Assist in planning and executing pilot plant trials in coordination with R&D project leads.
- Prepare platform and equipment configurations for trials.
- Manage raw material and packaging inventory for pilot activities.
- Support trial execution, including troubleshooting and post-trial cleaning (CIP).
- Collect, format, and analyze trial data from acquisition systems.
- Maintain hygiene, safety, and first-level maintenance of pilot plant equipment.
- Support commissioning of new production lines by verifying process parameters and product specifications.
- Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Engineering, and Operations to ensure smooth product scale-up.
- Participate in factory audits and assist in identifying optimization opportunities.
- Monitor product quality and consistency during production runs and assist in root cause analysis.
- Contribute to shop floor improvement initiatives focused on performance KPIs.
- Help update SOPs and maintain documentation related to pilot plant operations and safety.
- Stay current with food processing technologies and propose equipment upgrades or investments.
- Assist in training interns and temporary staff on pilot plant procedures and safety protocols.
- Participate in team development activities and technical workshops.
- Support cross-functional collaboration for product launches and renovations.
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Entry Level
