Research & Development Industrial Placement - Packaging 2027

PepsiCo; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Birthday leave

Discounted PepsiCo products

Pension scheme

Virtual GP access

Gym membership discount

Job summary

PepsiCo is seeking undergraduates to join the Packaging R&D team on a 12-month placement starting July 2027 in the UK. You’ll work across Europe, developing innovative packaging solutions with cross‑functional teams to meet performance, environmental, and commercial goals.

The role offers autonomy, development, and mentoring within a fast-paced environment, with a salary of £26,600 and a comprehensive benefits package including pension, health, and wellbeing programs.

Qualifications

• Following path to a degree level qualification in design engineering, engineering, materials science, chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Packaging Development: support and lead packaging development activities, evaluate materials/designs, report results.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: work with insights, sustainability, supply chain, science and technology teams.
• Prototyping & Preparation: create packaging prototypes and samples for reviews and presentations.
• Testing & Analysis: arrange trials, coordinate analyses, communicate results to teams.

Skills

Technical aptitude

Analytical thinking

Creativity & innovation

Project management

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Problem-solving

Software proficiency

Education

Design engineering / engineering / materials science / chemistry

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

You’ve learned a lot as a student already. Want to put it into practice at PepsiCo?

Our placement programmes are structured to give you the chance to make an impact on some of the world’s biggest brands. From day one, you’ll be working on projects that matter. You will shake things up, shape trends, and get guidance and development to help you discover your potential.

We are looking for enthusiastic undergraduates to join our R&D teams on a 12-month placement programme starting in July 2027 on a full-time basis.

Innovation takes centre stage at PepsiCo! That means our Global R&D team are at the heart of the action and are kept busy creating the products of the future, for our global consumers. In a fast-paced consumer environment, our research and development capability is crucial to provide a fresh twist to our favourite brands as well as creating new to the world healthy choices that we need to succeed in the market. Our research and development focusses on building a consumer-centric understanding, enabling us to design products for the latest consumer needs - whether nutrition, refreshment, or indulgence – driving our growth both now and in the future.

You’ll have lots of autonomy where your decisions will really make a difference to our business and in return, you’ll have the chance to develop your skills and experience in a fast paced, energetic environment.

Overview of the role

Our Packaging R&D team plays a critical role in supporting PepsiCo’s business across Europe and cross-region markets by developing and delivering innovative packaging solutions that meet the needs of consumers, customers, and the business. We collaborate closely with suppliers, manufacturing sites, marketing, procurement, and sustainability teams to ensure packaging delivers against performance, environmental, and commercial objectives. Our work is split across AOP initiatives that drive business growth, productivity, performance, and packaging innovation, alongside programmes focused on advancing packaging sustainability through improved recyclability, material reduction, and circular packaging solutions. A key highlight of our work is the opportunity to collaborate with cross‑functional teams across the business to successfully deliver packaging projects, while exploring emerging packaging technologies that strengthen PepsiCo's brands, support operational excellence, and contribute to our long‑term sustainability ambitions.

Responsibilities

What will you be doing?

• Packaging Development: Supporting and leading a variety of packaging development activities, including developing digital solutions to practical problems, evaluating packaging materials and designs, and analysing and reporting results to peers and line management alongside evaluating regulatory and competitor landscape. You will also support projects focused on improving packaging efficiency (sustainability, cost) through material reduction, recyclability, and circular economy initiatives.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Working closely with product insights, sustainability office, supply chain, science and technology and analytical teams to evaluate and measure key packaging attributes, ensuring alignment with product performance, consumer expectations, environmental and general business objectives.
• Prototyping & Preparation: Creating packaging prototypes and preparing samples for internal reviews, testing, and stakeholder presentations, including concepts that meet business needs while supporting more sustainable packaging solutions.
• Testing & Analysis: Arranging and conducting packaging trials, coordinating desktop and laboratory analyses, and compiling and communicating results to relevant team members and stakeholders. This includes assessing both packaging performance and sustainability metrics to support data‑driven decision making.

Qualifications

• Following path to a degree level qualification in design engineering, engineering, materials science, chemistry
• Technical Aptitude – Understanding of materials science, packaging technologies, and manufacturing processes.
• Analytical Thinking – Ability to interpret data from tests and trials to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Creativity & Innovation – Interest in developing new, sustainable, and consumer-friendly packaging solutions.
• Project Management – Capable of managing tasks, timelines, and priorities effectively within a project framework.
• Communication Skills – Clear, proactive and professional communication with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Team Collaboration – Comfortable working in a team environment and contributing to group objectives.
• Problem-Solving – Proactive in identifying issues and proposing practical, data‑driven solutions.
• Software Proficiency – Familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint), and understanding of how digital solutions can provide practical results

What else do you need to know?

Our placements start in July 2027 on a full‑time basis and will last for 12 months. The salary is £26,600.

Other benefits

• Vibrant culture
• Development and mentoring
• 25 days annual leave plus 8 days bank holidays, birthday leave
• Discounted PepsiCo products
• Competitive pension scheme
• Market‑leading health and wellbeing benefits: Virtual GP: available to you and your family 24/7
• Discounted gym membership, SWORD; online free digital physiotherapy service

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end‑to‑end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the centre of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people.