3rd Shift R&D Technician

We are a leading manufacturer of premium, ready-to-eat link sausages and hot dogs. Founded in 2004 by the Salm brothers, we have expanded to two production plants with over 1,000 partners in Denmark, WI. In 2023, Johnsonville acquired Salm Partners to grow both brands. We are committed to growth and to our partners—apply today to discover your opportunity to grow with us. Position Overview Assists the R&D Director with product development and testing, documentation, production scale‑up, and product and process improvements. Supports all activities and documentation associated with commercialization of products, in compliance with safety, food‑safety, GMP, USDA‑FSIS, and regulatory requirements. Provides technical assistance to the Blending team. Responsibilities Essential duties and responsibilities include the following: Assist with developing new product prototypes and revised formulations to match ingredient statements, nutritional profiles, and product attributes. Create product samples from recipes and evaluate results. Monitor and oversee production testing; develop and document the process. Assist with production trials and new product start‑ups. Develop finished product and processing specifications. Ensure formulations are entered into MAS 500 promptly. Provide raw material source information and vendor documentation for MAS entry. Assist with identifying new vendors and sourcing raw material, ingredients, and/or packaging supplies. Develop and provide operations with process procedures. Assist with scale‑up from testing to production to ensure an effective first production run of new products. Establish audit processes to ensure that customer requirements and specifications are met. Aid in the development and revision of product specifications, forms, and procedures. In conjunction with Operations personnel and others, implement strategies for product and process improvements. Participate in process validation activities. Assist with preparing and submitting label approvals to USDA‑FSIS. Maintain the R&D test kitchen supplies, utensils, and equipment. Provide technical assistance and act as a resource for Blending personnel. Support the SQF process and ongoing compliance. Support the Lean Manufacturing initiatives of the company. Perform all other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. Education Experience A minimum of 3 years of experience in a USDA‑FSIS‑regulated food manufacturing environment is required, preferably with ready‑to‑eat processed meats. Experience with the USDA‑FSIS label approval process is desirable. Understanding of meat processing and USDA‑FSIS regulations for fully cooked meat & poultry sausage products is required. Experience with process improvement activities and documentation is preferred. Skills Communication/Interpersonal Skills Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to work effectively within a team; ability to read, interpret, summarize, and present documents and data meaningfully. Computer Skills Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Experience with MRP or ERP systems (e.g., MAS 500) strongly preferred. Mathematical Skills Strong math skills, including calculation of formulas and percentages, metric conversions, basic statistical analyses, and interpretation of data. Other Requirements Reasoning Ability Common‑sense decision making; strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills; root‑cause analysis training preferred; ability to apply the scientific method to analytical problems; ability to read and understand government regulations and guidelines for foods, laboratory practices, and validation. Physical Demands Frequent standing, walking, sitting, hand use, reaching, occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs, monitoring sensory evaluation, and working in a variable temperature environment (35°–100° F). Requires close vision, depth perception, color vision, and sense of taste and smell. Protective gear including frocks, hearing protection, slip‑resistant footwear, and hairnets is mandatory in production areas. Benefits and Compensation Full‑time partners have access to 401(k) with company match, health, dental, and vision coverage, optional Health Savings Account (HSA), company‑paid short‑term disability and life insurance, and paid time off. Compensation varies with skills and experience. Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located without sponsorship now or in the future. Sal Partners is an equal opportunity employer, including Vet/Disability. We embrace the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including protected veteran and disability status. At Sal Partners , we view our employees as partners and are committed to fostering growth and community engagement. #J-18808-Ljbffr