R&D Placement: Global Food Process, Compression & Extrusion

PepsiCo Inc.; Leicester; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days leave + bank holidays

Mentoring

Discounted PepsiCo products

Pension plan

Health & wellbeing benefits

Gym membership

Job summary

PepsiCo is offering a 12-month placement in its Global R&D team based in the UK starting July 2027 on a full-time basis. You’ll work on Compression Popping and Extrusion, manage work streams, design experiments, and build prototypes to explore new technologies.

You will develop skills in data analysis, project management, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, with opportunities for mentoring and a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or related field.
• Penultimate-year student eligible for sandwich placement.
• Strong written and verbal communication with diverse audiences.
• Strong digital skills and proficiency in Python; knowledge of modelling tools.
• Solid fundamentals in fluid/solid mechanics, rheology, heat and mass transfer.
• Strong analytical abilities to interpret data and draw conclusions.
• Self-motivated, well-organised and proactive.
• Ability to multi-task and deliver trial results.

Responsibilities

• Lead and run experimental studies at bench and pilot scale.
• Manage project activity, budget, and stakeholder connections.
• Maintain organized pilot plant environment during peak activity.
• Contribute to safety and risk assessments.
• Analyze data from operation plants to identify improvements.
• Support plant testing of new technology developments.
• Capture and transfer best practices across production lines.

Skills

Programming (Python)

Modelling & Simulation

Data analysis

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical/Chemical Engineering or related

Tools

Simulation software

Job description

PepsiCo is offering a 12-month placement in its Global R&D team based in the UK starting July 2027 on a full-time basis. You’ll work on Compression Popping and Extrusion, manage work streams, design experiments, and build prototypes to explore new technologies.

You will develop skills in data analysis, project management, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, with opportunities for mentoring and a dynamic, fast-paced environment.