R&D Product Development Techncian
About the role
This role is responsible for supporting the Research & Development Manager with product-development work by independently executing defined technical, organizational, and hands-on assignments. You will assist in preparing bench samples, coordinate shelf-life and sensory work, organize formula and project records, and move new-ingredient reviews forward. Additionally, you will support production trials and conduct market, cost, and process research. Candidates with prior product-development, food laboratory, culinary, quality, or food-manufacturing experience are preferred; however, strong early-career candidates with relevant education and demonstrated aptitude are strongly encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Support bench development after the Research & Development Manager creates the initial formula; retrieve and organize ingredients, prepare directed product iterations, and document every change accurately.
- Set up and clean bench trials; wash and sanitize equipment; maintain organized ingredients, packaging, samples, small equipment, refrigerator, freezer, and work areas.
- Assist with preparing product samples when suitable production samples are unavailable; label samples accurately and transfer them to the responsible fulfillment team.
- Set up shelf-life studies, complete required laboratory and microbiological request paperwork, label and store samples, schedule pulls, maintain study files, and organize analytical results.
- Support shelf-life improvement projects by organizing prior work, identifying assigned extension opportunities, collecting results, and coordinating defined supplier-supported trials.
- Plan and execute structured internal sensory tests after training, including blind coding, scorecards, efficient feedback collection, data summaries, and a documented second opinion for the Research & Development Manager.
- Collect supplier documentation and prepare preliminary ingredient and supplier approval forms; identify missing information and track follow-up through review.
- Coordinate new-ingredient workflow with Purchasing: review priorities, verify documentation and sample status, photograph products, prepare samples for R&D/QA review, and maintain visible next steps through disposition or approval.
- Maintain R&D recipe sheets, formula versions, trial records, project folders, and product-development history files so current and historical work is searchable and traceable.
- Enter and maintain approved formula information in the company ERP system as assigned and compare approved recipe sheets with Plex to identify version discrepancies for review.
- Enter and validate ingredient and formula information in Nutritionist Pro; prepare draft nutritionals and NFPs and flag discrepancies against current labels or source specifications for review.
- Coordinate and support assigned production trials by assisting with scheduling, bringing approved lab-held ingredients, completing trial paperwork, and collecting yields, times, temperatures, photos, observations, and samples.
- Complete assigned production observations and data-collection studies using an established framework; document process flow, variation, yield loss, timing, temperatures, quality issues, and recurring pain points.
- Review product yields for process improvements; prepare preliminary calculations and evidence without reducing product quality.
- Maintain the shared R&D project tracker with the Research & Development Manager; follow up on assigned open items and keep owners, priorities, next steps, and overdue work visible.
- Take R&D meeting minutes, distribute notes and action items, and add agreed follow-up steps to the shared tracker.
- Close completed, discontinued, or stalled projects by filing final formulas, trial records, photos, costs, shelf-life results, decisions, and sample or ingredient disposition.
- Create and improve practical R&D templates and procedures for bench trials, sensory tests, shelf-life work, production trials, file organization, and project closeout, subject to Research & Development Manager approval.
Qualifications
- Strong foundation in food science, laboratory work, and development processes.
- Experience with formulation, product sampling, and working in a food laboratory or culinary environment.
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, Culinary Arts, Food Technology, or a related discipline preferred. An Associate's Degree or equivalent relevant technical food experience may be considered.
- Basic mathematical ability, including percentages, weights, formula scaling, yields, and cost calculations.
- Strong interest in food, flavor, culinary trends, and prepared-food product development.
- Ability to learn technical procedures and independently execute defined work after training while recognizing when a decision must be escalated.
- Ability to stand, walk, use hands and arms, perform bench and kitchen work, and safely lift and move up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability and willingness to taste a broad range of food products and work around common food allergens, subject to appropriate safety controls and reasonable accommodation.
Work environment
Work may occur in office, laboratory, kitchen, production, warehouse, refrigerated, and freezer environments, including temperatures of approximately 34-38°F, moderate noise, and areas near moving equipment.
Pay
The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $28.00/hr.
Benefits
If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision; Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital; 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available; Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents); Short and long-term disability; Health Spending Account (HSA); Transportation benefits; Employee Assistance Program; Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave).
Schedule
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Schwenksville, PA. This is a fully onsite position in Schwenksville, PA.