Fruit Snacks R&D Technician: Lab Prototyping & Innovation

General Mills, Inc.; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

General Mills is seeking an R&D Technician for the Fruit Snacks team to support various technologies and product chassis, from fruit shapes to roll-ups. You will execute tests in labs and pilot plants, document results, and help build technical depth across Fruit Snacks.

You will collaborate with R&D developers and operations teams, manage materials and lab spaces, and participate in consumer testing and data interpretation to drive product innovations and improvements.

Qualifications

• 2-year degree or high school with 2+ years related experience.
• Basic computer/technology skills (Office Suite).
• Comfortable in processing (pilot plant or plant) environment; operating equipment.
• Basic understanding of food safety and human safety.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Desire to learn new concepts quickly and apply in productive ways.
• Ability to complete work without frequent daily direction.
• Strong self-starter and holds a high regard for quality of work.

Responsibilities

• Support project work across multiple Fruit team initiatives (direction of others).
• Execute and document tests and experiments in labs, pilot plant, and plant with data capture and prototypes.
• Build basic technical skills in product and process for Fruit Snacks.
• Procure and manage materials; maintain lab spaces; set up/tear down and sanitation of equipment.
• Support analytical, shelf-life, and sensory evaluation activities.
• Support consumer testing and related sample preparation for logistics as needed.
• Manage samples and fulfill requests from business and sales teams.
• Be Agile and flex across projects within Fruit Snacks team as workload shifts.
• Build and leverage internal and external networks to support and execute work.
• Participate in pipeline-building activities.

Skills

Basic IT skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Self-starter

Attention to detail

Communication

Adaptability

Education

2-year degree or high school + 2+ years related experience

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Office Suite

Lab equipment handling

Job description

General Mills is seeking an R&D Technician for the Fruit Snacks team to support various technologies and product chassis, from fruit shapes to roll-ups. You will execute tests in labs and pilot plants, document results, and help build technical depth across Fruit Snacks.

You will collaborate with R&D developers and operations teams, manage materials and lab spaces, and participate in consumer testing and data interpretation to drive product innovations and improvements.