R and D Technician

Position Summary

The Research and Development Technician supports the innovation process, day-to-day new product recipe creation, and portfolio maintenance at Trailblazer Foods. This role is responsible contributing to new product development and current product improvements by conducting research, producing samples, conducting manufacturing line trials, receiving and tracking down samples, and lab cleaning and organization. The R&D Technician is tasked with supporting the development process from the initial planning phase to production.

Key Responsibilities: (include the following & other duties as assigned).

Overall

• Maintain reliable attendance, including overtime as needed.
• Follows Trailblazer policies and procedures.
• Follows GMPs and general HACCP guidelines.
• Responsible for creating new work recipes in the system, as well as editing current work recipes for rework additions or input changes. Attention to detail is required.
• Buy, receive and collect ingredients for benchtop sample creation and maintain organization of the R&D area storage and cooking area.
• Participates in SQF audit preparations as related to product realization.
• Identify and troubleshoot technical problems related to recipes.
• Set up product evaluations and conduct internal sensory testing.
• Maintain R&D documentation (Project Requests, R&D Project #'s, etc.)

Internal Customers

• Create nutrition fact panels and ingredient statements for label development, in NLEA format (Genesis software).
• Participate in cross functional label reviews.

• Support purchasing, the controller and sales team in the costing and yield calculations for potential new products.

• Complete sample requests for needed items.
• Plan and carry out test batches for all new recipes. Takes notes and recap results of all trials.
• Meet with production team for product launch preparations and conduct review meetings afterwards to finalize the results. Give feedback where needed for issues that arise.

Formulation

• Produce label and organize sales and research benchtop samples needed.

• Create standard recipes, rework recipes and special recipes (rework, changes in fruit) and reformulate discontinued and active items when needed. Update all recipes with current work instructions, packaging information and pallet formations.
• Conduct fill tests for new packaging.

Documentation

• Contribute to the development and editing of R&D documents, SOP's & provide training where needed.

• Conduct shelf-life studies to determine appropriate shelf life of new products. At times, explore the opportunity to extend the shelf life of current products.

• Identify and troubleshoot technical problems with recipes and processing practices.
• Collect data during test production runs, confidently present that information to the team for process improvement.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to plant environment to include moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and explosives. Safety Glasses must be worn when working in an area that has particles, flying objects or dust. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Trailblazer approved hearing protection and slip resistant shoes are required on the plant floor.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by…