R&D Technical Services Senior Specialist / Senior Scientist II

Perrigo Company; Eau Claire (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Perrigo seeks an experienced R&D Technical Services Senior Specialist / Senior Scientist II to lead scale-up of dairy- and soy-based infant formula powders and liquids across the manufacturing network. You will apply design and systems-thinking to optimize processes, partnering with Engineering, Operations, and Quality on projects expanding site capabilities.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise in food/dairy ingredients, with excellent communication, organization, project

Qualifications

• Typically these skills are obtained with a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Experience with food manufacturing unit operations; familiarity with dairy ingredients, pasteurization, evaporation, aseptic processing, and spray drying.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and design of experiments, with experience using SAP, JMP or Minitab, and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead the industrialization and scale-up of new infant formula powders and liquid products with cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Pilot Plant, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing to transfer from development to production.
• Support first production runs, new product trials, and commercialization activities with oversight and troubleshooting.
• Manage change controls, including formulation reviews, parameterization, guidelines, and risk assessments.
• Review product quality and nutrient data for compliance with specifications and regulatory requirements; support audits.
• Lead feasibility studies, equipment trials, and process validation; contribute to capital projects for new equipment and processing capabilities.
• Partner with sites to address process inefficiencies, quality issues, downtime through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to improve productivity, cost efficiency, process performance, and manufacturing reliability.
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing processes, technologies, and production capabilities.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Statistical analysis

Design of experiments

Food science knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related technical field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

SAP

JMP

Minitab

Microsoft Excel

Job description

At Perrigo, we are driven by our mission to Makes Lives Better Through Trusted Health and Wellness Solutions, Accessible to All. We are proud to be a Top 10 player in the European Consumer Self-Care market and the largest U.S. store brand provider of over the counter and infant formula. Dedicated to providing The Best Self-Care for Everyone, we are the people behind the brands you trust. We are Opill®, Compeed®, Solpadeine®, NiQuitin®, and many more. We Are Perrigo. We are committed to enhancing the wellbeing of our colleagues and consumers alike. We pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive, collaborative culture where each person can experience a sense of belonging.

Join us on our One Perrigo journey as we evolve to win in self-care.

Description Overview

The R&D Technical Services Senior Specialist / Senior Scientist II advances Perrigo Nutrition’s innovation and manufacturing excellence initiatives. This role leads the cross-functional scale-up and industrialization of new dairy- and soy-based infant formula powders and liquid products across the manufacturing network; applies design and systems-thinking approaches to product scale-up and process optimization; partners with Engineering, Operations, and Quality on projects that expand site capabilities; supports thermal process filings; and evaluates emerging technologies through technical assessments and feasibility trials.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise in food or dairy ingredients and unit operations, along with excellent communication, organization, project management, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. The candidate must be self-directed and able to lead programs effectively across cross-functional teams.

This is an onsite positoin located at our Eau Claire, WI facility.

Scope of the Role

• Lead the industrialization and scale-up of new infant formula powders and liquid products in partnership with Product Development and the Pilot Plant.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Pilot Plant, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing teams to ensure successful transfer from development to commercial production.
• Support first production runs, new product trials, and commercialization activities through execution oversight and technical troubleshooting.
• Manage change controls, including formulation reviews, recipe parameterization, manufacturing guidelines, and risk assessments for product launches and manufacturing changes.
• Review product quality and nutrient data for compliance with specifications and regulatory requirements, and support quality and customer audits as needed.
• Lead feasibility studies, equipment trials, and process validation; contribute to capital projects for new equipment and processing capabilities; and assess co-manufacturing and co-packing opportunities.
• Partner with manufacturing sites to address process inefficiencies, quality issues, production losses, and unplanned downtime through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve productivity, cost efficiency, process performance, product quality, and manufacturing reliability.
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing processes, technologies, and production capabilities.

Experience Required

Education

• Typically these skills are aquired with a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical field; master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• Typically at least 4 years of relevant experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 2–3 years with a master’s degree, in product development, process development, or technical services within the food, dairy, nutrition, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing support, product scale-up, nutritional product development, design of experiments, process optimization, or commercialization.
• Experience with food manufacturing unit operations is strongly preferred. Familiarity with dairy ingredients; thermal processes such as pasteurization, evaporation, aseptic processing, and spray drying; food matrices; emulsions; and physicochemical analysis is an advantage.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and design of experiments, with experience using Microsoft Office, JMP or Minitab, and SAP.
• Knowledge of applicable food regulations and standards, including the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
• Ability to analyze technical data, develop actionable recommendations, manage cross-functional projects and competing priorities, and communicate effectively through technical writing, presentations, and stakeholder engagement.

Benefits

We believe our people are our greatest asset. Alongside competitive compensation, we offer benefits tailored to supporting you and your family, as well as career development opportunities to ensure you feel valued and supported, both professionally and personally.

Find out more about Total Rewards at Perrigo.

We are proud to be included in the Forbes list of "America's Best Employers by State 2024". Find out more here.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by law. #weareperrigo