R&D Technician

R&D Technician

The R&D Technician supports the development and scale-up of new and improved food products and packaging. This role provides hands-on technical support and project execution across laboratory, pilot plant, and plant environments, with a strong emphasis on food safety, quality, and documentation. The technician works on a wide range of projects, including flavor development, pilot plant studies, front-end formulation and product development, and new product start-ups, while evaluating raw materials, nutritional content, food safety and claims, cost, and production optimization.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development, scale-up, and production of new and improved products, packages, and test lot materials, including formulation and test kitchen studies.
• Execute project work requested by the business in key areas such as flavor development, pilot plant studies, front-end formulation and product development, and new product start-ups.
• Evaluate raw material changes, including their impact on product performance, quality, nutritional content, and production feasibility.
• Assess nutritional content and ensure alignment with defined product specifications and claims.
• Support food safety and regulatory claims by following established procedures and documentation standards.
• Identify and support cost optimization opportunities while maintaining product quality and consumer expectations.
• Contribute to production optimization efforts by assisting with process adjustments, trials, and data collection in the pilot plant.
• Operate laboratory equipment consistently and accurately according to approved methods, including blending, mixing, scales, and wet chemistry techniques.
• Measure and analyze sugar, fat, and salt content using appropriate laboratory methods and equipment.
• Work in test kitchen environments to prepare, test, and evaluate prototypes and product formulations.
• Support pilot plant test runs by preparing materials, setting up equipment, monitoring runs, and collecting data.
• Document test procedures, results, and observations accurately to support project decisions and knowledge sharing.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), food safety policies, and food manufacturing procedures at all times.
• Maintain compliance with quality claims and documentation standards to ensure products meet internal and external requirements.
• Support senior technicians in project development work across multiple product types and business lines.
• Collaborate closely with R&D Scientists, Product Developers, operators, and maintenance staff to execute trials and resolve issues.
• Participate in a fast-paced, hands-on environment, adapting to changing priorities and project needs.
• Contribute to maintaining a clean, safe, and well-organized laboratory, pilot plant, and test kitchen workspace.
• Engage in approximately 600 test runs annually, helping to ensure efficient, accurate, and safe execution of experiments and pilot trials.
• Communicate effectively with team members and project stakeholders regarding progress, issues, and results.

Essential Skills

• Experience in food product development or formulation (1+ year preferred, including academic or industry projects).
• Foundational knowledge of food science, culinary science, or related life science disciplines.
• Hands-on experience or exposure to laboratory work in food science, including basic wet chemistry techniques.
• Ability to operate laboratory equipment such as blenders, mixers, scales, and analytical instruments for sugar, fat, and salt content.
• Understanding of food safety principles and practices, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Familiarity with food product development processes, from concept through pilot testing.
• Ability to follow approved methods, protocols, and documentation procedures with high accuracy and consistency.
• Strong attention to detail when conducting tests, recording data, and evaluating results.
• Comfort working in pilot plant or food manufacturing environments, including around processing equipment.
• Effective collaboration and communication skills to work closely with R&D Scientists, Product Developers, technicians, operators, and maintenance staff.
• Capability to work in a fast-paced, hands-on environment with multiple ongoing projects.
• Commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and cleanliness in all work areas.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, or another Life Science field preferred.
• Exposure to a pilot plant or food manufacturing environment highly preferred.
• Experience with new product development, including formulation, testing, and refinement.
• Background in culinary applications or test kitchen work is beneficial.
• Experience supporting flavor development projects or sensory-related work is an asset.
• Ability to evaluate raw material changes and their impact on product quality, cost, and processing.
• Familiarity with nutritional analysis and understanding of how formulation changes affect nutritional content.
• Interest in learning and supporting a variety of projects across multiple product categories and business lines.
• Willingness to work on a contract basis with potential for extension based on business needs and performance.
• Strong organizational skills to manage time, tasks, and documentation across multiple projects.

Work Environment

This role is based on-site at a North America R&D Center, working primarily in a combination of pilot plant, laboratory, and test kitchen settings. The standard schedule is Monday through Thursday, approximately 7:00–7:30 AM to 3:00 PM on-site. Fridays are typically hybrid and depend on project needs and pilot plant runs, with most Fridays worked remotely and occasional on-site work as required. The position is 32–40 hours per week, depending on workload, with forecasted work expected through the summer for Fridays. The role is part of a highly collaborative R&D team that supports product development across cereal and other business lines. The technician works closely with R&D Scientists, Product Developers, a small team of operators and maintenance staff, and senior R&D leaders who provide guidance and training. This is a 6‑month contract position, with the contract re-evaluated every six months and a history of extensions based on ongoing project demand. The facility is clean, well maintained, and has a strong safety record, with no incidents reported since opening. The environment is fast paced and hands on, with approximately 600 test runs conducted annually, ensuring that no two days are the same. Team members are expected to follow standard R&D and pilot plant attire and safety practices appropriate for laboratory, pilot plant, and test kitchen work. The organization offers a supportive environment where technicians can expand their experience, gain exposure to multiple project types, and build internal networks. While on contract, team members receive six paid holidays (eligibility begins after 30 consecutive days of employment) and accrue paid time off at a rate of 8 hours for every 500 hours worked (approximately two days over the course of the contract).

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Eagan, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $24.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. 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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Eagan, MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 16, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability