TEMP_NEO_Research Engineer

Research Engineer

Early-career Research Engineer supporting process development and manufacturing innovation for a leading food and snack industry organization. Hands-on role focused on improving product quality, scaling new products, and optimizing manufacturing processes across snack platforms including popcorn, baked goods, and extruded products. Collaborates with Product Development, Engineering, Operations, and Quality teams to run trials, analyze data, and translate findings into process improvements.

Responsibilities:

• Support development, optimization, and validation of snack manufacturing processes across pilot and production environments
• Execute plant trials for new products, process improvements, and equipment modifications
• Collect, analyze, and interpret process and production data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Operate and troubleshoot lab, pilot plant, and factory equipment
• Assist in scaling products from concept to full production
• Apply structured problem-solving methods to address process challenges such as texture, moisture, oil management, and consistency
• Prepare technical documentation including reports, SOPs, and trial summaries
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align product design with manufacturing capabilities
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives related to quality, productivity, and efficiency

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical field
• 0-2 years of relevant experience (internships, co-ops, or research projects accepted)
• Basic understanding of food processing, manufacturing, or engineering principles
• Familiarity with laboratory, pilot plant, or industrial equipment
• Knowledge of food safety practices, GMPs, or process experimentation fundamentals
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and basic data analysis tools
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, hands-on environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exposure to food manufacturing, especially snacks, baked goods, or extrusion processes
• Experience with DOE (Design of Experiments) or statistical analysis
• Hands-on equipment troubleshooting experience
• Familiarity with pilot plants or production-scale environments

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to work onsite in plant, lab, and pilot environments
• Comfortable working around heat, machinery, oil systems, and noise
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
• Willingness to travel 20-50% depending on project needs