Research Engineer - Cheese Foods

Fonterra; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fair pay

Health programs

Professional development

Career growth

Flexible/hybrid working where possible

Employee recognition

Community involvement and cultural fit

Job summary

Fonterra Te Mātāpuna is seeking a Research Engineer for the Cheese Foods team at our Palmerston North R&D Centre. You will contribute to R&D projects, perform core process engineering calculations, and design experiments to generate reliable data and practical recommendations.

You will support scale-up and cross-functional implementation, communicating findings clearly and working with manufacturing partners to translate research into scalable solutions for the Co-op.

Qualifications

• PhD-qualified engineer with strong research background.
• Experience in R&D environments, especially in food/dairy sectors.
• Ability to design experiments and analyse data for scale-up.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to R&D projects with technical input and data analysis.
• Apply process engineering approaches to product, process, and tech challenges.
• Support scale-up, implementation and continuous improvement across projects.
• Record and communicate outcomes including literature summaries and results.
• Build networks across manufacturing, technical and commercial teams.

Skills

Process engineering

Heat transfer

Mass transfer

Fluid dynamics

Mass & energy balances

Data analysis

Experimental design

Scale-up

Education

PhD in Chemical/Process/Bioprocess/Food Eng

Undergraduate degree in Chemical/Process/Bioprocess/Food Eng

Job description

Imagine Tomorrow with Us | Ata whakaarohia tō āpōpō

At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves.

Whether you're early in your career or ready for your next step, Fonterra offers a unique opportunity to grow with a global dairy co-operative that values care, collaboration, and contribution.

Owned by New Zealand dairy farmers and supported by a dedicated team, we are all working together to create a better future. Imagine tomorrow with us, where your career can grow, and you can create positive change.

About the Opportunity | Mō tēnei tūranga

We’re looking for a Research Engineer to join the Cheese Foods team on a permanent basis at our Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North.

In this role, you’ll contribute to research and engineering solutions that support innovation across Fonterra’s products, processes and technologies. Working across defined projects and workstreams, you’ll generate reliable data and insights, turn findings into practical recommendations, and support scale-up and implementation with cross-functional teams.

This is an opportunity to apply your engineering expertise in a collaborative, technically focused environment and help turn ideas into practical, scalable solutions that make a meaningful impact for the Co-op.

Key role responsibilities include:

• Contribute to R&D projects through technical input, core process engineering calculations, experimental design, data analysis and practical recommendations.
• Apply process engineering and research approaches to solve complex product, process and technology challenges.
• Support scale-up, implementation and continuous improvement activities across relevant projects.
• Record and communicate research outcomes clearly, including literature summaries, modelling, experimental results and key learnings.
• Build strong networks across Fonterra, particularly with manufacturing and cross-functional partners.

About You | Mōu

You’ll bring strong research and engineering capability, with the curiosity and technical rigour to solve complex product, process and technology challenges.

You’ll have experience contributing to R&D projects in a commercial environment, ideally within food, dairy, ingredients, pilot plant or research facilities. An understanding of process scale-up, experimental design, data analysis and statistical methods will set you up for success, along with experience in process engineering being highly advantageous.

You will also bring:

• PhD qualification, supported by an undergraduate degree in Chemical, Process, Bioprocess, Food Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong core process engineering expertise, including heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics, and mass and energy balances.
• Experience in R&D or research environments, with a sound understanding of experimental approaches, process development, and scale-up from laboratory/pilot to commercial scale.
• A strong scientific mindset and the ability to test assumptions and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information for different audiences.
• A collaborative approach and confidence working with cross-functional teams.
• Curiosity, adaptability and a commitment to continuous learning.
• The ability to build strong relationships across technical, manufacturing and commercial teams.

Our Values | Ngā Aura

At Fonterra, our values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts, are for everyone - no matter your background, identify or experience. These values guide us in delivering exceptional outcomes for our farmers, customers, communities, and each other. Discover how your values align with ours by taking our Values Quiz

Our Commitment to You | Tā mātou oati

We care for our people globally. Our comprehensive benefits support your well-being, development, and work-life balance:

• Fair and equitable pay
• Health and well-being programs (medical, mental health support)
• Professional development opportunities
• Career growth support
• Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
• Employee recognition
• Support for community involvement and cultural connection

A Career of Opportunities | Ngā Mahi

At Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.

Join Us | Tātou Tātou

Does this sound good to you? Come join our whānau - bring your whole self, and let's solve for better together. You, me, us together, Tātou, tātou.

Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion | He Wāhi mō te Katoa

Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions).

Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth.

If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best. Tātou, tātou.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday, 22 November.

References

Visible links

1. https://values.fonterra.com/?utm_source=internal+job+ad&utm_medium=job+ad&utm_campaign=imagine+tomorrow&utm_term=&utm_content=values

2. https://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/careers.html?utm_campaign=talentacquisition&utm_medium=jobad&utm_source=fonterracareers