R&D Technician

Position Title: R&D Technician
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Requisition ID: 40837
R&D Technician .
About McCain .
At McCain, we're feeding the world: from French fries to Smiles, we contribute to the important role food plays in people's lives. That's why we're dedicated to ensuring our core values-Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality-shine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in more than 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that we can work together, along with our business and community partners, to bring sustainable growth and positive change today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. Join us and see how you can MAKE IT at McCain!
Why join the McCain family .

• Your Life - we're here to help you fulfil your potential, flourish, and thrive in work and life.
• Your Success - work alongside passionate individuals who are committed to supporting your career ambitions, drive, and success.
• Your Impact - we want you to make a meaningful, lasting impact for you, for your colleagues, and for the business.

About the role .
Play a key role in bringing new products to life by supporting the R&D team at every stage-from hands-on kitchen and pilot trials to successful factory implementation. Keep projects moving by delivering requests on time, managing customer samples, and supporting logistics across the business. Work closely with Sales to create engaging customer presentations that highlight our products at their best. Own the kitchen environment, ensuring it operates safely, efficiently, and to the highest food safety standards.
Leadership Principles .
Our principles, each with related practices, guide our actions across the organisation. Together, they address how McCain interacts with our customers and employees, and how we work as individuals and collectively to find success. While each role adheres to the Leadership Principles, individual roles may focus more on a specific principle or principles.
We are customer obsessed. Customers are our starting point. By understanding their needs and leveraging data and consumer insights, we drive mutual success.
We think big and plan ahead. Through ambition, curiosity, and smart risks, we can accomplish goals, refine processes, and innovate to scale success.
We bring out the best in our people. We create safe spaces for our people so that trust and empowerment come naturally. Inclusion is about listening first, showing humility, and working together.
We act like owners. Together, we clear obstacles and do the work that makes us all successful and proud to be part of McCain.
Accountabilities .
Product Development & Project Support

• Support Food Service, Retail, and QSR projects across all stages of development.
• Deliver tasks accurately, on time, and fully documented using standard templates.
• Apply food knowledge and creativity to refine and optimise recipes.
• Support development activities including cooking directions, specifications, defect evaluation, weights, trials, and shelf-life testing.
• Progressively support small, bespoke projects under guidance from Senior Innovations.

Presentation Preparation & Delivery

• Coordinate products, equipment, and people for sales presentations, food photography, and research activities.
• Ensure all equipment is clean, organised, and presentation-ready.
• Manage repair or replacement of damaged equipment to maintain full functionality.

Kitchen Management & Hygiene

• Maintain a clean, safe, HACCP-controlled, audit-ready development kitchen.
• Uphold high food hygiene and safety standards at all times.
• Manage weekly laundry and maintain appropriate stock levels of sundries, PPE, and disposables.
• Coordinate appliance servicing and maintenance as required.
• Work collaboratively with Technician and Senior Technician to ensure smooth kitchen operations.

Sample Requests

• Coordinate UK and international sample distribution, ensuring timely delivery and complete documentation.
• Act as a key departmental contact for sample requests and courier arrangements.
• Maintain accurate records of shipments, couriers, and costs, producing monthly reports.
• Provide cover and support during holidays or absences and assist wider R&D coordination.

Qualifications:

• Basic knowledge of food preparation and food safety principles.
• Strong organisation skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Detail-focused, able to follow instructions accurately while confidently suggesting improvements.
• Effective team player with the ability to work independently when required.
• Curious mindset with a proactive approach to learning and problem-solving.
• Competent in basic computer applications.
• Full, valid driving licence.

Location.
Our head office (Customer Experience Centre) is on the outskirts of Scarborough - 1.5 hours away from Leeds City Centre, and about an hour from York.
The benefits of working for McCain .
Although we do encourage you to taste the goods you'll be pleased to know we don't pay you in 'chips'. For working hard, you'll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:

• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay
• Flexible holidays - where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year
• Optional health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• 'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the competitiveness, resilience, and long-term development of McCain communities across the globe

And of course, being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future. We have an ambitious 5-year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.
The McCain experience (standard across all job postings) .
We are McCain: this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individually-your impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive while being yourself. Join our team to see why we're better together.
#LI-OW1
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Research & Development
Division: Global Research and Development
Department: Technical
Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : England : Scarborough
Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd