R&D Technician II

Great things are happening in the Europe and Australia (EUAU) region. Each day, our 2,500 plus colleagues bring their passion to our offices, manufacturing sites, R&D center, and commercial/distributor markets across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. We are energized by over 150 years of bringing people together with the food they love. With beloved brands Old El Paso, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Fibre One,  Latina Fresh and more, we are on a mission to become the undisputed growth leader in food for EUAU.  In a world that's ever-changing, we look to stay ahead and seek people who share our love of food and are hungry to shape the future. 

What your role is

OVERVIEW

Our EUAU Old El Paso and Green Giant business is growing and needs an R&D Technician II to support the growth of the business by collaborating with the team during the development and commercialization of innovation and renovation projects.

The R&D Technician II role is in support of the Europe Australia Old El Paso Brand under the Meals Platform and across various technologies and formats. The position involves providing Product support and across:

• Innovation: Leverage existing and new capabilities to create exciting new products.
• Renovation: Support initiatives focused on business maintenance, raw material risk mitigation, and quality enhancements.
• Holistic Margin Management (HMM): Generate, explore, and implement HMM ideas in collaboration with a cross-functional team.

This position is based at our San Adrian Technical Center in Navarra, Spain, with some flexibility for remote work.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, coordinate, and execute experiments from the lab to full-scale manufacturing, including consumer testing. Analyze experimental data and extract key learnings.
• Develop in-depth technical expertise in specific areas, becoming a go-to resource for troubleshooting and problem-solving.
• Build and leverage internal and external networks (manufacturing facilities, suppliers) to support project execution.
• Lead and own specific portions of projects, driving them to successful completion.
• Participate in pipeline building activities for new products, renovations, and HMM initiatives.
• Provide broad support across all areas of responsibility.
• Collaborate with scientists on method development and enhancements.
• Maintain ownership of pilot plant unit operations, ensuring safety and GMP compliance.
• Build trust and credibility through high-quality work, effectively communicating progress, risks, and challenges, escalating issues appropriately, and offering alternative solutions.
• Actively participate in the San Adrian Technical Center community, contributing to organizational effectiveness, promoting inclusion and diversity, supporting team and culture building, fostering connections and learning, and contributing to sustainability efforts.

ACTIVITIES

• Produce benchtop prototypes of new and improved products in the pilot plant/lab.
• Support the execution of line trials and the start-up of new products and lines.
• Implement, maintain, and improve pilot plant GMPs, 5S methodology, and food and people safety policies.
• Perform administrative tasks to ensure smooth team operations, including documentation support, invoice and PO management, shipments, and customs procedures.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and adapt to fast-growing and constantly changing business needs.

What you bring to the team
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree or High School in Food Science and Technology, Innovation in Food Industry, Agronomical Engineering, Food Engineering or related fields.
• 1- 2 years of experience in Food industry and in an international working environment as an R&D Product Developer. Experience within the Tacos and Chips Industry will be much appreciated.
• English Certificate level B2 or above.
• Basic computer/technology skills (Office Suite and other computer programs).
• Comfortable working in a processing (pilot plant or plant) environment and operating equipment.
• Basic understanding of food safety and human safety principles.
• Valid driving license.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS/EXPERIENCES

• Contribute to a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Action-Oriented and Adaptable: Demonstrate a strong bias for action, readily adapting to shifting priorities and multiple demands. Navigate ambiguity and work autonomously, showcasing high learning agility.
• Supportive and Enabling: Provide crucial support for bench-top experiments and pilot plant runs, managing logistics (product pick-up, shipping/receiving). Provide backup support for absent team members, demonstrating flexibility and leadership.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10% of the time. 

What you get from us

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

In this role, you will gain:

• In-depth knowledge of ingredients and technologies used in the Meals Platform.
• Experience in product formulation and industrialization of high-quality products.
• Benchtop and commercialization experience with coaching from an experienced team.
• Strong support for career development through employee-manager partnerships.