R&D Food Scientist

R&D Food Scientist

Position Title: Food Scientist – Pilot Plant & Production Support

Location: Hugoton, KS

Department: R&D / Technical Services

Reports To: Pilot Plant Supervisor / Senior R&D Manager

About the Role

This role supports both pilot plant operations and industrial implementation of new products. The Junior Food Scientist will assist in trial execution, data collection, and commissioning of new production lines. This candidate will also support and coordinate the collection of sales samples to ensure timely and accurate representation of new developments. The position contributes to continuous improvement initiatives and ensures hygiene, safety, and efficient operation of the experimental platform. The ideal candidate is passionate and has a strong foundation in food science / food process engineering, is hands-on, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced manufacturing environment.

What You’ll Do

Pilot Plant Operations

Assist in planning and executing pilot plant trials in coordination with R&D project leads.

Prepare platform and equipment configurations for trials.

Manage raw material and packaging inventory for pilot activities.

Support trial execution, including troubleshooting and post-trial cleaning (CIP).

Collect, format, and analyze trial data from acquisition systems.

Maintain hygiene, safety, and first-level maintenance of pilot plant equipment.

Production Support & Industrial Implementation

Support commissioning of new production lines by verifying process parameters and product specifications.

Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Engineering, and Operations to ensure smooth product scale-up.

Participate in factory audits and assist in identifying optimization opportunities.

Monitor product quality and consistency during production runs and assist in root cause analysis.

Continuous Improvement & Documentation

Contribute to shop floor improvement initiatives focused on performance KPIs.

Help update SOPs and maintain documentation related to pilot plant operations and safety.

Stay current with food processing technologies and propose equipment upgrades or investments.

Training & Collaboration

Assist in training interns and temporary staff on pilot plant procedures and safety protocols.

Participate in team development activities and technical workshops.

Support cross-functional collaboration for product launches and renovations.

About You

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocessing, or related field

OR 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing operations

Internship or academic experience in pilot plant or food manufacturing preferred

Basic understanding of food processing equipment and hygienic design

Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools