R&D Senior Engineer (Process Development Function)

PepsiCo; Leicester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global food and beverage company is seeking an R&D Senior Engineer to drive innovation in Compression Popping technologies at their Leicester site. The role requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering and at least 5 years of experience in process engineering, ideally in food manufacturing. The ideal candidate will lead technical initiatives, ensure equipment optimization, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to align product capabilities with consumer insights.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in process engineering, preferably in food manufacturing or R&D.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in DoE and statistical modeling.
• Proven track record in leading complex technical projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead new Compression Popping technology initiatives.
• Drive technology characterization through structured DoE studies.
• Develop process specifications for new technologies.
• Support business case development for new process technologies.

Skills

Project leadership

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

DoE

Power BI

Advanced Excel

Job description

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Overview

PepsiCo has job opportunity for R&D Senior Engineer (Product Development Function) to join our R&D team in Leicester, UK.

As Senior Engineer on the Compression Popping team, you will lead technical development and innovation initiatives that enable PepsiCo's strategic goals for product and process transformation. You will be responsible for advancing compression popping technologies, optimizing manufacturing capabilities, and supporting commercialization efforts across global platforms. This role is based at Beaumont Park, a core site for developmental trials and process innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead new Compression Popping technology initiatives, including equipment validation, operational procedures, product / process interaction mapping, controls optimization, throughput efficiency, and value engineering
• Drive technology characterization through structured DoE studies, collaborating with external SMEs, Consumer Experience, and Data Science teams.
• Develop and refine process specifications and job aids for new technologies, ensuring product equivalence and sensory alignment.
• Deliver capacity boosts through downtime reduction and efficiency improvements.
• Support economic modeling and business case development for new process technologies in partnership with SC Finance.
• Lead troubleshooting and operating range experiments to optimize process settings for commercial scale-up.
• Contribute to differentiated innovation pipelines and low-investment launches by providing technical leadership and GPC support.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align process capabilities with consumer insights and product flexibility goals.
• Oversee installation and commissioning of advanced compression popping equipment ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure.
• Engage in equipment upgrades and maintenance planning to support continuous improvement and food safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or related field).
• At least 5 years of experience in process engineering, preferably in food manufacturing or R&D.
• Proven track record in leading complex technical projects and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in DoE, statistical modeling, and process simulation.
• Familiarity with compression molding or popping technologies is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills; ability to influence across functions.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience with equipment design and good skills in mechanical engineering fundamentals.
• Experience with digital engineering & data literacy tools (e.g., stats software, visualizations, Power BI, advanced Excel, fundamental understanding of coding and modeling & simulation).
• Knowledge of food safety standards and GMP compliance.
• Passion for innovation, sustainability, and talent development aligned with PEP+ goals.