Purpose of the position:
The R&D Process Technician bridges the gap between product formulation/design and full-scale factory
production. This role is primarily responsible for preparing, executing, and documenting plant-scale and pilot
trials for new, alternative, or modified raw materials (ingredients) and packaging formats (canned, bottled,
flexible, and dry goods). The position focuses on verifying material processability, establishing optimal machine
parameters, and troubleshooting \"problematic materials\" that cause line inefficiencies, deformities, or quality
defects.
Key responsibilities:
1. Trial Execution & Process Optimization
- Execute Production Trials: Set up and run controlled manufacturing trials for alternative raw materials (e.g., replacement or dual-sourced ingredients) and packaging innovations.
- Troubleshoot Problematic Materials: Diagnose and resolve material-related floor issues (e.g., machine jamming, sealing failures, abnormal viscosity behavior, or thermal processing stress) by running controlled test variables.
- Parameter Mapping: Identify and establish critical process parameters (e.g., mixing speeds, heating/thermal profiles, pressure settings, and line speeds) required to safely handle new materials on high-speed lines.
2. Sample Evaluation & Documentation
- Data Integrity & Logging: Meticulously record real-time trial parameters, machine settings, batch yields, cycle times, and material waste metrics.
- Material & Package Testing: Collect trial samples and perform standard physical checks (e.g., seal integrity, package stress tests, viscosity tracking, texture analysis, and post-thermal processing quality).
- Technical Reporting: Draft objective, data-driven post-trial reports and technical recommendations for R&D Scientists/Engineers to determine commercial viability.
3. Cross-Functional Coordination
- Operations Alignment: Coordinate closely with Production Supervisors and Machine Operators to integrate R&D trial windows into the active manufacturing schedule with minimal downtime.
- Quality Assurance Liaison: Collaborate with QA to ensure that products and packaging generated from trials adhere to food safety, regulatory, and shelf-life standards.
Qualifications, knowledge, skills required:
- Bachelor’s Degree or Technical Diploma in Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Technology, Materials Science, or a related science discipline.
- Open to entry-level candidates with strong academic/technical research backgrounds, or professionals with 1–3 years of experience in an R&D, Pilot Plant, Quality Assurance, or Manufacturing environment.
- Foundational understanding of at least one of the following areas is highly preferred:
- o Thermal processing / sterilization (e.g., canning, retorting, pasteurization).
- o Material Science (e.g., behavior of starchy/complex food structures, film tension, or rigid packaging under pressure)