Food Production - Pilot Plant Technician - Product Development - Growth To Roughly $50-60k With

Job Title:

Pilot Plant Technician – 2nd shift

Job Description

This role supports pilot plant production by independently setting up, operating, sanitizing, and troubleshooting equipment used in food trials, with a primary focus on the cereal platform. You will work closely with food scientists and product developers to help scale up and refine new and existing food products. The position runs on a 2nd shift schedule and offers the opportunity to build broad operational skills across multiple pilot plant platforms, creating a strong foundation for future growth in food production and technology.

• Safely operate pilot plant equipment and systems to run product trials, primarily on the cereal platform, while also supporting other platforms as needed.
• Autonomously set up equipment for trials, including assembling and disassembling components using hand tools according to operating procedures.
• Lead and perform equipment sanitation activities before and after production runs, including working with sanitation chemicals and inspecting equipment to ensure proper cleaning.
• Apply human and food safety leadership by identifying, assessing, and helping resolve safety risks, and by leading teams through safety-focused projects and efforts.
• Maintain and develop skills across multiple unit operations and systems, achieving mastery on some systems and running them efficiently to deliver value to internal customers.
• Train and coach others on equipment operation, sanitation procedures, and safety practices, sharing knowledge to build team capability.
• Support maintenance, electrical, and controls activities with a technical focus, including basic troubleshooting and coordination with maintenance personnel when needed.
• Handle, lift, manipulate, and transport ingredients, materials, and equipment up to 55 lbs consistently and repeatedly during production and sanitation activities.
• Collaborate closely with food product developers, food scientists, and test kitchen staff to execute trials, test variables, and help optimize new and existing food products.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and all food safety requirements, including proper use of personal protective equipment and adherence to HACCP and Lock-out Tag-out procedures.
• Work flexibly across different pilot plant operations, learning various processes for different business units to broaden capabilities and support evolving business needs.
• Adapt to changing schedules by flexing to different shifts or adjusting start and end times when given advance notice to meet business demands.
• Perform physical tasks for extended periods, including standing, walking, climbing, bending, pushing, pulling, and twisting while working around industrial high-speed machinery.
• Operate or assist with powered lifts such as stackers and pallet jacks to move materials safely within the pilot plant.
• Work carefully around hazardous compounds and gases, following all safety standards and plant protocols.
• Support weekend and overtime production as needed, including working up to 4 hours of overtime before or after the assigned shift and occasionally 8–12 hours on weekends.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area, including proper storage of tools, equipment, and materials.
• Comply with all company safety standards, plant rules, and quality procedures to ensure consistent, safe production of food products.

• High school diploma or equivalent with 1–3 years of relatable experience in production, sanitation, machine operation, labor roles, or warehouse environments.
• Experience operating industrial equipment in a production or manufacturing setting.
• Familiarity with using hand tools for assembling and disassembling equipment.
• Experience with sanitation processes, including working with sanitation chemicals and cleaning production equipment.
• Understanding of human and food safety fundamentals, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), HACCP principles, and Lock-out Tag-out procedures.
• Ability to safely lift, manipulate, and transport up to 55 lbs consistently and repeatedly.
• Ability to wear required protective clothing and equipment such as safety…