Product Designer

Product Designer

Location: Glenbervie, Aberdeenshire
Full Time | Permanent | Monday to Friday

Join our Team at Macphie

Let us introduce ourselves...

Macphie is an internationally acclaimed family-owned ingredient manufacturer, proudly situated in the picturesque and tranquil landscape of Glenbervie in Aberdeenshire, with additional sites in Glasgow and the Midlands. Our expertise spans a spectrum of delicious food solutions, including sauces, bakery ingredients, ice cream toppings, plant-based and gluten-free products. Trusted by some of the world's leading food brands, we're passionate about turning ideas and creativity into exceptional food solutions.

Description

Are you passionate about food innovation and excited by the opportunity to turn ideas into products that can be manufactured at scale?

We’re looking for a Product Designer to join our R&D team at our Glenbervie site. Working across both Macphie-branded and customer-specific products, you’ll play a hands-on role in developing innovative food solutions, with a particular focus on our powder and paste product categories.

Whether you’re currently working as a Product Developer, NPD Technologist, Development Technologist or Food Technologist, this could be a great opportunity to take the next step within our R&D team.

This is a varied role where you’ll be involved throughout the product development journey – from recipe formulation and testing through to factory trials, troubleshooting and supporting successful product launches.

Working closely with colleagues across R&D, Operations, Technical, Commercial, Purchasing, Planning and QC, you’ll help ensure projects are technically robust, commercially viable and delivered to agreed timescales.

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing and formulating new and existing products, with a primary focus on powder and paste categories.
• Planning and coordinating product trials and testing, including developing alternative test methodologies where appropriate.
• Creating, costing and maintaining recipes using our recipe development systems and IFS.
• Progressing product development briefs from initial concept through testing, factory trials and completion.
• Supporting new product development, product simplification and waste reduction projects that contribute to sustainable and profitable growth.
• Coordinating factory trials with Production, Operations, Purchasing, Stock Control, Planning and QC.
• Supporting production troubleshooting and investigating product, process or customer quality issues.
• Maintaining accurate records of recipes, testing, results and product information.
• Preparing specifications, technical data, production and packing methods, QC information and product standards.
• Working directly with customers and suppliers to understand requirements and progress projects.
• Supporting Commercial colleagues during key customer meetings and presentations.
• Keeping up to date with developments in ingredients, food technology, manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Analysing results, identifying opportunities and recommending appropriate next steps.

We’re looking for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with curiosity, creativity and a genuine interest in developing great food products.

Ideally, you’ll have:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science, Chemistry or another relevant scientific discipline
  .
• Demonstrable experience within Product Development and/or Research & Development in the food industry.
• Strong technical and product knowledge, with an understanding of food chemistry.
• Knowledge of functional raw materials, including relevant legislation and permitted usage levels.
• A good understanding of HACCP, food safety, quality systems and standards
  .
• Experience with in bakery and/or FMCG would be advantageous.
• Experience of recipe formulation, product testing and taking products through development and manufacturing trials.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• A creative and inquisitive approach, with the confidence to explore new ideas and challenge conventional thinking.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills,…