R&D Technician

Glanbia Nutritionals, Inc.; Gridley (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts

Health & dental plan

401(k) with Company match

generous family leave policy

Job summary

The R&D Technologist at Glanbia Nutritionals, Inc. will support the R&D team in healthy snacking product development, conducting experiments, and pilot plant trials.

You will document results, ensure food safety compliance, and aid in scale-up with extrusion processes and analytical equipment. You will collaborate with food scientists, source ingredients, prepare samples, and maintain laboratory records while learning and applying Genesis R&D software and MS Office tools.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Engineering, Biology, or related field preferred but minimum High School Graduate or GED.
• 1–3 years of experience preferred in a food manufacturing or food laboratory setting with preference given to candidates with direct, applicable experience in extrusion processing.
• Basic understanding of food safety regulations and lab procedures.
• Attentive with strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to follow instructions and work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Basic scientific understanding of food ingredient functionality, food ingredient interactions, and food processing.
• Models the highest levels of integrity, humility, and willingness to learn and teach.
• Basic understanding of food product labeling, nutrition, and packaging.
• Basic level knowledge or willingness to learn Genesis R&D (or similar) formulation and nutritional analysis software.
• Intermediate computer skills with thorough working knowledge of MS Office software.
• Well‑developed sense of personal initiative and ability to work with little direct supervision.
• Willingness and ability to independently travel overnight via commercial transportation or driving motor vehicle to support business objectives up to 25%.
• Exceptional communication skills – both verbal and written.

Responsibilities

• Assist Food Scientists in conducting product development trials and experiments.
• Ability and willingness to learn to operate pilot plant equipment and to support the maintenance, setup, operation, and sanitation along with other pilot plant technicians and staff.
• Prepare samples and ingredients for testing and sensory evaluation as needed.
• Accurately record and organize data from lab tests, pilot runs, and production trials.
• Support the implementation of food safety and quality protocols (e.g., HACCP, GMP).
• Maintain lab equipment and ensure cleanliness and calibration.
• Help troubleshoot production issues under the guidance of senior staff.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to source ingredients and materials.
• Assist in compiling technical reports, specifications, and regulatory documentation.
• Willingness to share workload related to small scale commercial production runs at PML by serving in hands‑on roles such as blending, extruder operations, sanitation, and/or product packaging as needed.
• Develop a thorough operational and theoretical knowledge of extrusion processing and analytical equipment.
• Maintain all applicable R&D project documentation to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to engineering, procedural, product, quality, and safety.
• Continuously drive self‑development and development of others to ensure an effective and cohesive team environment.

Skills

Extrusion processing

Laboratory experiments

Data recording

Food safety standards

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science

Tools

Genesis R&D

MS Office

Job description

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At Glanbia, our portfolio centers around dairy and non-dairy nutritional ingredients. We co-innovate and deliver finished product, ingredient solutions, flavors, and precision premixes for use in the mainstream food and beverage, infant and clinical, and functional nutrition markets. We are the number one provider of whey-based nutritional ingredients globally and the number one producer of American-style cheddar cheese. Our protein systems have transformed the bar and beverage categories — bringing increased levels of protein, cleaner labels, and greater product functionality to market. We have a direct presence in 21 countries, with manufacturing facilities in the US, Germany and China, and international sales and technical offices around the world.

Position Summary

The R&D Technologist is responsible for applying a highly scientific approach to provide technical support to broader R&D team in the development, assessment, testing, and continuous improvement for healthy snacking product development activities. Primarily assisting with laboratory experiments and pilot plant trials, maintaining accurate and professional records, and ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards. All employees are expected to immediately communicate any food safety or quality issues to their manager for resolution.

Representative Responsibilities

• Assist Food Scientists in conducting product development trials and experiments.
• Ability and willingness to learn to operate pilot plant equipment and to support the maintenance, setup, operation, and sanitation along with other pilot plant technicians and staff.
• Prepare samples and ingredients for testing and sensory evaluation as needed.
• Accurately record and organize data from lab tests, pilot runs, and production trials.
• Support the implementation of food safety and quality protocols (e.g., HACCP, GMP).
• Maintain lab equipment and ensure cleanliness and calibration.
• Help troubleshoot production issues under the guidance of senior staff.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to source ingredients and materials.
• Assist in compiling technical reports, specifications, and regulatory documentation.
• Willingness to share workload related to small scale commercial production runs at PML by serving in hands‑on roles such as blending, extruder operations, sanitation, and/or product packaging as needed.
• Develop a thorough operational and theoretical knowledge of extrusion processing and analytical equipment.
• Maintain all applicable R&D project documentation to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to engineering, procedural, product, quality, and safety.
• Continuously drive self‑development and development of others to ensure an effective and cohesive team environment.

Direct Reporting Employees

None

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Engineering, Biology, or related field preferred but minimum High School Graduate or GED.
• 1–3 years of experience preferred in a food manufacturing or food laboratory setting with preference given to candidates with direct, applicable experience in extrusion processing.
• Basic understanding of food safety regulations and lab procedures.
• Attentive with strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to follow instructions and work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Basic scientific understanding of food ingredient functionality, food ingredient interactions, and food processing.
• Models the highest levels of integrity, humility, and willingness to learn and teach.
• Basic understanding of food product labeling, nutrition, and packaging.
• Basic level knowledge or willingness to learn Genesis R&D (or similar) formulation and nutritional analysis software.
• Intermediate computer skills with thorough working knowledge of MS Office software suite.
• Well‑developed sense of personal initiative and ability to work with little direct supervision.
• Willingness and ability to independently travel overnight via commercial transportation or driving motor vehicle to support business objectives up to 25%.
• Exceptional communication skills – both verbal and written.

Physical Requirements

• Visual acuity to determine accuracy, neatness, thoroughness, variances in product (including color vision).
• While performing the duties of this role, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear.
• The employee is required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; climb or balance; kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Ability to exert and/or lift 50lbs occasionally.
• Visual acuity to determine accuracy, neatness, thoroughness, variances in product (including color vision).
• Physical/environmental conditions may include exposure to noise, dusts, chemicals, and allergens.

What We Would Like to Offer You!

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, health & dental plan, competitive salary, 401(k) with Company match.

About Glanbia

The Glanbia Group comprises three divisions: Glanbia Performance Nutrition, Glanbia Health & Nutrition, and Glanbia Dairy Nutrition. Collectively and with our partners we offer an incredible breadth of expertise in nutrition. We employ a team of 6,000 people, work with global food and beverage companies, and sell our award‑winning and market‑leading products in 130 countries worldwide.

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a variety of candidates, we will give your application consideration, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

At Glanbia, our culture celebrates individuality, knowing that together we are more.

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a wide variety of candidates, and we will give your application consideration, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

At Glanbia our culture will celebrate individuality, knowing that together we are more.