Research Assistant, Salty

Pretzels, Inc; Hershey (PA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Career development

Job summary

The Hershey Company seeks a Research Assistant, Process Development at the Hershey Technical Center in Hershey, PA, to support development and optimization of salty snacks manufacturing processes, including popcorn, pretzels, and crackers. You will work with Process Development Engineers and cross‑functional teams in pilot plant and laboratory settings.

You will conduct experiments, collect data, prepare samples, maintain equipment, and help day‑to‑day operations with safety and quality in focus.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED; 3–4 years of related experience.
• Technical certification preferred.
• Experience in lab or pilot plant environments is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and data recording.
• Ability to learn processing equipment and analytical tools.
• Strong communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Support pilot plant and laboratory trials by preparing materials and documenting observations.
• Operate and maintain pilot-scale food processing equipment.
• Prepare product samples for sensory and internal evaluations.
• Conduct basic analytical testing and maintain technical records.
• Assist with inventory management and lot tracking.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and compliant work environment.
• Collaborate with engineers to support process development.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Adaptable mindset

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Associate's/Bachelor's preferred

Job description

Note: If you apply for a role at Hershey through our career’s website, we may use technologies that use automation to filter your candidacy based on objective criteria. We also use AI-enabled tools that help us facilitate the selection of our future Hershey talent. These tools may help with activities such as matching and scoring candidates to roles based on requirements and scheduling interviews. These systems process only the information you provide in your application, including your resume, work history, education, and responses to screening questions. While these technologies assist with certain steps in our recruitment process and may provide recommendations, all final decisions, including those affecting whether candidates advance to subsequent stages in the applicant process, are made by our talent acquisition teams with meaningful human review and independent judgment. Depending on your location and the specific role you apply for, additional disclosures about our use of AI in recruitment may be provided to you separately.

Research Assistant, Salty

Why Hershey

At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey’s enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and long standing partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference—locally and globally—is part of how we do business every day.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands. With a strong portfolio across chocolate, confectionery, and salty snacks, Hershey delights consumers every day. Our beloved brands include Hershey’s, Reese’s, KitKat®, Dots Pretzels, Lesser Evil, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, and more. At Hershey, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the communities where we live, work, and do business. This commitment originated with our founder, Milton Hershey, and continues to shape who we are today. Guided by our employee value proposition, Lead Today. Create Tomorrow, we empower our people to drive impact now while shaping what comes next. Our One Hershey mindset brings teams together across functions, geographies, and businesses, enabling us to operate with speed, collaboration, and shared purpose. The Hershey Company is proud to be recognized as a top employer in the United States, reflecting our commitment to our people, culture, and purpose.

How will you fit in the big picture?

The Research Assistant, Process Development provides hands‑on support for the development and optimization of manufacturing processes across Hershey's growing salty snacks portfolio, including popcorn, extruded snacks, pretzels, fried snacks, and baked crackers. Based at the Hershey Technical Center in Hershey, PA, this role supports pilot plant, laboratory, and manufacturing trials that help bring innovative products and technologies to market.

Working closely with Process Development Engineers and cross-functional partners, the Research Assistant will play an important role in executing experiments, collecting technical data, preparing samples, maintaining equipment, and supporting day‑to‑day operations within the pilot plant and laboratory environments.

What will you do?

• Support pilot plant and laboratory trials by preparing materials, operating equipment under supervision, collecting samples, and documenting observations.
• Assist with the setup, operation, cleaning, and maintenance of pilot‑scale food processing equipment.
• Prepare product samples for sensory, consumer, and internal evaluations.
• Conduct basic analytical testing and maintain accurate technical records.
• Support ingredient and supply inventory management, lot tracking, and laboratory organization.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and compliant work environment while following all quality, sanitation, and safety procedures.
• Collaborate with engineers and cross‑functional teams to support process development activities and technology advancement initiatives.

Minimum Education & Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED with 3-4 years of related experience, OR Bachelor's degree in a non‑related field with no prior experience required.
• Technical or professional certification preferred.
• Basic understanding of food processing, manufacturing operations, or mechanical systems preferred.
• Experience working in laboratory, pilot plant, manufacturing, food production, or other technical environments is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to accurately record technical data and observations.
• Ability to learn and operate processing equipment and analytical tools with appropriate training.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with a proactive and adaptable mindset.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments that may include heat, noise, and moving equipment.
• Occasional travel (up to 10%) may be required.

Education

• High School Diploma/GED required.
• Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or technical/professional certification preferred.

Benefits And Perks

At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.

• Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health
• Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match
• Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable
• Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility.

Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.

You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.

You can request an accommodation via phone or email.

To request an accommodation via phone, please call [phone] and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also email a request for accommodation to [e-mail]. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request. The subject line should include "Accommodation Needed" so the email is properly identified.

Nearest Major Market

Harrisburg