Junior R&D Technologist

Overview

Kraft Heinz is hiring a Junior R&D Technologist for its New Zealand research and development team in Hastings. This is a permanent full-time opportunity for someone eager to build a career in product development within a fast-moving, collaborative environment.

The role offers the chance to contribute to the creation and enhancement of food products and processes while working with cross-functional teams across manufacturing, procurement, marketing, and quality.

What you will do

You will help deliver new and improved products and processes with a strong focus on meeting timelines, quality standards, and cost targets. The work will cover feasibility assessments, prototype creation, ingredient review and approval, cost calculations, production method setup, factory documentation, trial support, and commercial launch activities.

• Assess project feasibility and contribute to early-stage planning.
• Develop prototypes and support product improvements.
• Evaluate and approve new ingredients and help with product costing.
• Set up manufacturing methods and prepare factory documentation.
• Assist with factory trials and support commercial production runs.
• Work on new product development, value engineering, and contract or co-pack manufacturing where needed.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Support manufacturing and procurement teams with technical input.
• Maintain recipe records and ensure data is entered accurately and on time into control systems.
• Prepare progress updates and final reports in the required format.
• Develop technical product documentation such as BOMs, production methods, label details, ingredient specifications, product specifications, and shelf-life assessments.
• Provide technical guidance to help projects stay aligned with business processes and marketing objectives.
• Support growth and savings initiatives for relevant business categories using commercial awareness and category knowledge.
• Contribute technical input to QRMP and other quality-related business programs.
• Carry out duties in line with food safety, environmental, health and safety, ethical, and human resources policies, programs, and goals.

What we are looking for

The ideal candidate will bring product development experience in the food industry, along with practical technical knowledge of products and processes. Strong planning, communication, and analytical skills are essential, as is a detail-oriented and accountable working style.

• Ability to plan work effectively and stay organised.
• Confidence in analysing data and turning it into practical recommendations.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills with strong interpersonal ability.
• A strong sense of ownership, accountability, and integrity.
• Focus on consumers and product quality, while weighing risk against reward.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
• Strong problem-solving ability and close attention to detail.
• Experience in food product development with relevant technical, product, and process knowledge.
• Understanding of how ingredients, additives, recipes, processing methods, and packaging interact.
• Comfort using business and production systems, including Excel and Word, with good keyboard skills.
• Experience working through stage-gate processes for new product development.
• Working knowledge of FSANZ food standards and food labelling requirements.

Benefits

• Flexible hybrid working that supports choice in when and where work is done.
• Additional leave options, including volunteer leave and LiveWell leave.
• Recognition as a Great Place to Work in Australia and New Zealand.
• Access to in-house training programs.

Additional information

This is a permanent role based in Hastings, New Zealand, at the King Street location. Applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position can be closed at any time.

Equal opportunity

Kraft Heinz is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from underrepresented ethnic minority groups, women, veterans, people with disabilities, and individuals of any sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as other protected groups.