Bakery Research Development Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

About Ferrero:
Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.
About the Role:
We have a current opening for a Lab Operator and are actively reviewing applicants.
This is an opportunity for a highly skilled and hands-on Technical Laboratory Operator with a strong background in pastry and confectionery to support product innovation and development within Ferrero North America. This role blends culinary craftsmanship with scientific rigor, translating pastry expertise into lab-scale formulation, testing, and optimization of new and existing products.
As part of the R&D function, this role contributes to the development of high-quality bakery and confectionery products by applying advanced pastry techniques alongside analytical and formulation skills. The position plays a key role in supporting multiple business units, including Cookies, Ice Cream Cones, Pie Crusts, Fannie May Premium Chocolate, Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate and Power Crunch, ensuring products meet Ferrero's standards for quality, sensory excellence, and technical performance
Main Responsibilities:
• Execute lab-scale product development using advanced pastry and baking techniques, ensuring accuracy in scaling, formulation, and reproducibility
• Translate culinary concepts and pastry expertise into structured formulations, including converting between weights and percentages
• Prepare and refine prototypes for bakery and confectionery products, applying hands-on craftsmanship to achieve desired texture, flavor, and appearance
• Collaborate with R&D and cross-functional teams to develop, renovate, and improve products across quality, sensorial, and shelf-life dimensions
• Evaluate raw materials and semi-finished products, leveraging pastry knowledge to enhance product performance, structure, and cost efficiency
• Conduct analytical testing (e.g., texture, moisture, color) and interpret results to guide formulation decisions
• Prepare samples for tastings, sensory panels, and internal evaluations, ensuring high-quality presentation and consistency
• Perform competitive product benchmarking and support product reverse engineering activities
• Maintain laboratory operations including ingredient inventory, equipment upkeep, sanitation, and adherence to food safety standards and GMPs
• Document formulations, processes, and results accurately within a regulated R&D environment
About You:
• Professionally trained pastry chef (formal culinary or pastry certification strongly preferred), with practical experience in bakery and/or confectionery production
• Demonstrated experience translating culinary or pastry techniques into product development or structured formulations (R&D or pilot plant experience is a strong plus)
• Strong understanding of bakery and confectionery ingredients, functionality, and processing techniques
• Experience working in a regulated food environment, including documentation practices and adherence to food safety and GMP standards
• Proficiency in formulation calculations (e.g., scaling recipes, converting weights and percentages) and working knowledge of tools such as Microsoft Excel
• Ability to combine hands-on execution with analytical thinking to troubleshoot and optimize product performance
As part of our recruitment process, Ferrero may use artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools to assist with reviewing candidate applications. These tools are used solely to support recruiters by summarizing application information and identifying potential alignment with job requirements. AI does not independently screen out or select candidates, and it does not replace human judgment. Final decisions regarding candidate progression are always made by Ferrero recruiters and hiring managers.
Our Benefits & Perks:
Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.
Compensation Data
The base salary range for this position is $69,280 - $92,374 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This range represents the anticipated salary for this position at this time.
In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits.
DE&I at Ferrero:
Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.
Find out more here.
Ferrero is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable human rights laws. Ferrero will recruit, hire, train, and promote all persons without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity), religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, or history of disability (except where physical or mental abilities are a bona fide occupational requirement and the individual is not able to perform the essential functions of the position even with reasonable accommodations), citizenship, or any other protected characteristic.
Ferrero will accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities throughout all stages of the selection process. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise the People & Organization (HR) Representative. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.