R&D Technician

Glanbia•Gridley, IL

About The Position

The R&D Technologist applies a scientific approach to support the broader R&D team in developing, assessing, testing, and continuously improving healthy snacking products. The role primarily assists with laboratory experiments and pilot plant trials, maintains accurate and professional records, and supports compliance with food safety and quality standards. Employees are expected to promptly communicate food safety or quality issues to their manager for resolution. The position supports product development, pilot plant operations, sample preparation, data collection, equipment upkeep, troubleshooting, documentation, and continuous improvement. It also involves hands-on support for small-scale commercial production runs as needed, including blending, extruder operations, sanitation, and product packaging. The employee is expected to develop operational and theoretical knowledge of extrusion processing and analytical equipment, and to contribute to a collaborative team environment.

Requirements

High school graduate or GED at minimum.
Basic understanding of food safety regulations and laboratory procedures.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
Ability to follow instructions and collaborate in a team environment.
Basic scientific understanding of food ingredient functionality, ingredient interactions, and food processing.
Integrity, humility, and willingness to learn and teach.
Basic understanding of food product labeling, nutrition, and packaging.
Basic knowledge of, or willingness to learn, Genesis R&D or similar formulation and nutritional analysis software.
Intermediate computer skills and thorough working knowledge of the Microsoft Office software suite.
Personal initiative and ability to work with little direct supervision.
Willingness and ability to travel independently overnight by commercial transportation or motor vehicle up to 25% to support business objectives.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Engineering, Biology, or a related field.
1–3 years of experience in a food manufacturing or food laboratory setting, preferably with direct applicable extrusion-processing experience.

Responsibilities

Assist Food Scientists with product development trials and experiments.
Learn to operate pilot plant equipment and support its setup, operation, maintenance, and sanitation alongside other technicians and staff.
Prepare samples and ingredients for testing and sensory evaluation.
Accurately record and organize data from laboratory tests, pilot runs, and production trials.
Support implementation of food safety and quality protocols, including HACCP and GMP.
Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure cleanliness and calibration.
Help troubleshoot production issues under the guidance of senior staff.
Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to source ingredients and materials.
Assist with technical reports, specifications, and regulatory documentation.
Support small-scale commercial production runs at PML in hands-on roles such as blending, extruder operations, sanitation, and product packaging as needed.
Develop operational and theoretical knowledge of extrusion processing and analytical equipment.
Maintain applicable R&D project documentation to meet internal and external requirements.
Support continuous improvement related to engineering, procedures, products, quality, and safety.
Pursue self-development and support the development of others to foster an effective, cohesive team.
Immediately communicate food safety or quality issues to the manager for resolution.