Bakery R&D & Equipment Innovation Lead

Rise Baking Company; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual bonus eligibility

401k contributions

Benefits package

Job summary

Based in Tucker, GA or Minneapolis, MN with relocation assistance available, you will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, and Plant teams to move projects from concept through implementation, ensure timelines, budgets, and regulatory standards are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, baking science, or a similar technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in bakery product development, process/manufacturing engineering, or a closely related bakery manufacturing role.
• Demonstrated expertise in bakery formulation development and scale-up from R&D to full commercial production.
• Solid working knowledge of bakery manufacturing equipment and processes, with prior experience supporting new equipment or line installations preferred.
• Prior experience contributing to or supporting capital (capex) projects, including equipment specification, installation, and startup, preferred.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and drive projects to completion with limited direction.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships and work effectively across R&D, Operations, Engineering, and other departments.
• Creative, hands-on problem solver comfortable moving between hands-on bench/pilot work and plant-floor troubleshooting.
• Strong organizational and project management skills; able to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities.
• Proficient in MS Office programs: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel to plant locations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and scale new and modified product formulations from concept through commercial production with an emphasis on cross-category initiatives and whitespace opportunities.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to evaluate, specify, and commission new equipment; support equipment trials, line qualification, and startup troubleshooting.
• Translate bench-scale and pilot formulations into commercially viable, plant-ready processes.
• Act as a flexible technical resource across the R&D function, stepping in to support other projects, plants, or teams as business needs shift.
• Apply creative problem-solving to formulation, process, and equipment challenges, balancing product quality, cost, and manufacturability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, and Plant teams to ensure projects are executed on time and meet specifications.
• Conduct plant trials, scale-ups, and pilot runs; analyze results and adjust formulations or processes accordingly.
• Prepare clear project documentation, timelines, budgets, and status updates for R&D leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement within assigned projects and proactively propose solutions.
• Stay current on bakery manufacturing technology, equipment, and ingredient trends, and bring forward ideas for application within the company.
• Travel to plant locations as needed to support project execution, troubleshooting, and startups.
• Support food safety programs, quality standards, and regulatory compliance for all products and processes.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Project management

Communication

Hands-on bench/pilot work

Education

Bachelor's degree in food science/food engineering/baking science

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Based in Tucker, GA or Minneapolis, MN with relocation assistance available, you will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, and Plant teams to move projects from concept through implementation, ensure timelines, budgets, and regulatory standards are met.