R&D Technician

This position exists to provide support to the R&D Department.  The R&D Technician supports research, product development, and process optimization activities across dairy and beverage categories, including cultured products (yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese), fluid milk, and ice cream mixes. This role provides hands-on exposure to formulas, data collection, analytical testing, and cross functional collaboration with Operations, Quality, Procurement and Regulatory teams.

Duties and responsibilities

• Conduct routine dairy physical and chemical tests including, but not limited to:  pH, titratable acidity, salt, viscosity, solids, fat, protein, sensory observations.
• Prepare benchtop formulations, ingredients, and samples for testing and evaluations.
• Understand pasteurization principles and pilot plant operating procedures and basic maintenance.
• Support scale-up trials, ingredient evaluations, and process optimization.
• Conduct and track shelflife studies with subsequent documentation.
• Packaging and shipment of product samples to customers and vendors.
• Responsible for sample preparation, equipment calibration & operation, experiment set-up, and clean up.
• Compile and organize experimental data, trial summaries, and observations.
• Support preparation of technical reports and presentations and effectively communicate results.
• Under direct supervision of the R&D Scientists, will support and assist in R&D activities and support development of products from concept through commercialization.
• Follow GMP’s, food safety, and sanitation practices in the lab and manufacturing environment
• Participate in team meetings, project updates, and problem-solving discussions.
• Travel to UNC Dairy Manufacturing Facilities 20% of the time

Qualifications

• Strong interest in food science, dairy processing, and analytical testing
• Ability to follow lab protocols, formulas, and SOPs
• Strong attention to detail, organization skills, and willingness and desire to learn new skills
• Comfort working in lab, pilot plant, and production environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft excel and basic data analysis

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Natural Sciences, or a related field.  An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Working conditions

• Interpersonal Climate: Upstate Niagara is a company that values professional, cordial, quality communication and collaboration among staff members and takes place via a coordinated team approach. The ideal candidate will be willing and excited to join the team and support its efforts to generate innovative quality products.
• Physical Climate: This position sometimes requires the candidate to enter wet and/ or humid conditions with mild to moderate noise levels. Safety training and protective equipment are required and provided by the company.

Pay: $22 -$35 per hour*

* The salary range listed for this position represents the good faith and reasonable minimum and maximum pay for this role at the time of posting.  Actual compensation may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, training, knowledge, education, and overall qualifications.  The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.