Job Summary Required Qualifications and Skills
We are seeking an R&D Assistant for a direct hire opportunity in a food and beverage production environment in Irvine, CA. This role is ideal for someone with 1 to 2 years of hands-on experience in bakery production, product development, food testing, or technical production support.
The R&D Assistant will support product formulation, ingredient testing, sample preparation, and production line trials. This is a great opportunity to work closely with product development, sales, suppliers, brokers, and customers while gaining valuable experience in food manufacturing and commercial bakery processes.
This position offers a steady Monday through Friday schedule, a collaborative team environment, and the chance to contribute to new product development in a hands-on, fast-paced setting. Candidates who enjoy detailed work, food science, baking processes, and cross-functional teamwork will find this role especially rewarding.
Key Responsibilities
- Support product development activities, including formulation assistance, ingredient evaluation, and production testing.
- Obtain, prepare, and test materials used in dough, filling, proofing, baking, and finishing processes.
- Assist with production line testing to evaluate product quality, consistency, and process performance.
- Prepare and bake product samples for shows, customer presentations, and internal review.
- Communicate with customers, brokers, sales team members, and suppliers to support R&D activities.
- Complete miscellaneous R&D tasks while following food safety, quality, and procedural standards.
Compensation and Benefits
- Pay range: $21 to $22.50 per hour.
- Job type: Direct hire.
- Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
- Lunch: 30-minute lunch period.
- Location: Irvine, CA 92618.
- Support food product formulation, testing, and production line trials.
- Prepare and bake samples for product development, shows, and customer-related needs.
- Coordinate with internal teams, suppliers, brokers, sales representatives, and customers.
- Assist with R&D documentation, testing procedures, and sample preparation tasks.
- 1 to 2 years of relevant experience in food production, bakery production, R&D support, or a related technical production role.
- Knowledge of dough and filling handling, proofing, baking, and finishing processes.
- Understanding of food safety standards and the importance of quality control in a production environment.
- Ability to follow detailed instructions, procedures, and testing protocols carefully.
- Strong communication skills for working with internal departments and outside contacts.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Reliable, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a hands-on food manufacturing environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience in bakery, pastry, frozen dough, bread, fillings, or commercial food manufacturing.
- Experience supporting R&D, product testing, sample preparation, or new product development.
- Familiarity with production line trials, ingredient testing, or customer sample preparation.
- Interest in food science, baking technology, product innovation, or technical food production.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans
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For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.
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