Entry Level Research And Development Jobs in Florida

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Position Summary

The R&D Associate I is an entry-level R&D support role responsible for assisting with sample preparation, ingredient handling, documentation, work-area readiness, and basic product-development support under the direction of the R&D Manager. This role supports PMAD's ability to develop, sample, document, and commercialize private-label and white-label products safely, accurately, and on time. The Level 1 Associate is expected to follow instructions carefully, maintain clean and controlled work practices, protect confidential formulas and customer information, and build the technical skills needed to support PMAD's R&D function.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Sample Preparation and R&D Support

• Assist with preparation of R&D samples, prototypes, bench batches, trial materials, and customer samples under the direction of the R&D Manager or other authorized leader.
• Weigh, measure, stage, label, mix, package, and organize ingredients, materials, packaging components, and samples according to approved instructions.
• Support R&D work across applicable PMAD product formats, including gummies, center-fill products, blister products, liquid fills, powders, chocolates, and other PMAD-supported product lines.
• Assist with taste, texture, color, appearance, packaging, and process observations when requested.
• Prepare sample labels, sample kits, retains, photos, and customer sample materials as assigned.
• Do not change formulas, ingredients, process steps, labels, packaging, equipment settings, or customer instructions unless directed and approved by authorized PMAD personnel.

Documentation and Data Accuracy

• Complete assigned R&D records, sample logs, ingredient logs, batch notes, checklists, labels, photos, tracker updates, and other documentation accurately, legibly, completely, and on time.
• Record weights, lot numbers, expiration or retest dates, sample identifiers, observations, process notes, and other required information at the time work is performed.
• Support organization of formula files, sample records, customer approvals, sensory feedback, test results, development notes, and other R&D documentation as assigned.
• Use PMAD's designated systems for R&D tracking, documentation, communication, and project visibility, including Replit or any successor system implemented by the Company.
• Immediately report missing instructions, unclear formulas, documentation errors, mismatched labels, incorrect ingredients, or incomplete approvals.

Ingredient, Material, and Sample Control

• Stage, organize, label, and return ingredients, packaging components, sample materials, utensils, tools, and supplies according to PMAD procedures and supervisor instructions.
• Check material identity, lot information, expiration or retest dates, allergen or cross-contact considerations, and quality status before using materials, when trained and authorized to do so.
• Assist with maintaining R&D ingredient inventory, sample inventory, lab supplies, packaging materials, and replenishment requests.
• Keep samples, formulas, retains, ingredients, and customer-specific materials protected from contamination, mix-ups, damage, loss, unauthorized access, or unauthorized use.
• Support proper segregation, labeling, storage, and disposal of R&D materials, samples, waste, or work-inprocess as directed by the R&D Manager, QA/QC, or PMAD procedures.

cGMP, SOP, Safety, and Sanitation Compliance

• Follow approved SOPs, cGMP expectations, hygiene, gowning, PPE, sanitation, allergen or cross-contact controls, equipment-use instructions, safety rules, and supervisor or Quality instructions.
• Clean and sanitize assigned work areas, utensils, equipment, tools, containers, and sample-preparation areas before, during, and after R&D work as required.
• Operate only equipment, tools, or systems for which the employee has been trained and authorized.
• Report spills, injuries, near misses, equipment problems, contamination risks, quality concerns, ingredient concerns, labeling concerns, formula concerns, or documentation issues promptly.
• Never bypass safety devices, quality checks, sanitation steps, documentation requirements, material controls, or QA/QC holds. Cross-Functional Support and Communication
• Communicate sample status, material needs, missing information, delays, or concerns clearly and promptly to the R&D Manager.
• Support coordination with QA/QC, Procurement, Production, Packaging, Warehouse, Sales/Customer Success, and Operations as assigned.
• Assist with preparing samples for internal review, customer review, shipping readiness, production trials, or QA/QC review as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality of PMAD formulas, customer products, development projects, specifications, sample photos, product concepts, and proprietary information.
• Maintain a professional, clean, organized, accurate, and team-oriented approach to R&D work. Training and Skill Development
• Complete required onboarding, cGMP, safety, sanitation, equipment, documentation, confidentiality, and jobspecific training before performing assigned work independently.
• Build familiarity with PMAD ingredients, product formats, sample-preparation methods, weighing practices, documentation expectations, and quality requirements.
• Ask questions before performing unfamiliar tasks or when instructions are unclear, incomplete, outdated, or inconsistent with actual conditions.
• Accept coaching and feedback from the R&D Manager, QA/QC, Operations leadership, and other designated trainers.
• Demonstrate increasing accuracy, speed, independence, organization, and judgment as training progresses.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED, or equivalent practical experience.
• 1 year of experience in R&D, food production, manufacturing, laboratory, culinary, quality, packaging, warehouse, or related work environment.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Basic math, weighing, measuring, reading, labeling, record keeping, and computer or tablet-use skills.
• Strong attention to detail, cleanliness, organization, confidentiality, and follow-through.
• Ability to work safely in a fast-paced, changing, startup-style manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and communicate respectfully with R&D, QA/QC, Production, Packaging, Warehouse, Procurement, and Operations personnel. Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework, certificate, associate degree, or practical training in food science, culinary arts, chemistry, biology, nutrition, quality, manufacturing, or a related field.
• Experience in food, beverage, nutraceutical, supplement, confectionery, gummy, chocolate, powder, liquid-fill, or private-label manufacturing.
• Familiarity with cGMP, SOPs, sanitation, food safety, QA/QC, batch records, or regulated manufacturing documentation. PMAD - R&D Associate Level 1 Job Description
• Experience weighing ingredients, preparing samples, following recipes or formulas, organizing materials, or working in a production or lab environment.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are helpful.

Work Environment

This role works primarily in R&D, manufacturing, production, packaging, warehouse, and office-adjacent environments. The employee may regularly enter cGMP-controlled areas and must follow hygiene, gowning, PPE, sanitation, safety, confidentiality, and access-control requirements. Work may involve exposure to production equipment, ingredients, packaging materials, cleaning chemicals, allergens or potential cross-contact risks, noise, temperature or humidity controls, moving equipment, and time-sensitive customer sample deadlines.

Physical Requirements

The role requires regular standing, walking, reaching, bending, measuring, weighing, labeling, organizing materials, cleaning work areas, preparing samples, reviewing documents, and communicating with employees across departments. The role may require climbing steps or platforms, wearing PPE, and occasional assistance with sample, material, or production-support tasks. Specific lifting requirements should be confirmed by PMAD based on actual job duties. PMAD will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.

Expected Schedule

This is a full-time non-exempt position. The schedule is based on business needs and may require early mornings, evenings, weekends, overtime, customer sample support, production trial support, audit support, or schedule changes to support R&D priorities, customer deadlines, production needs, or PMAD startup demands. Non-exempt employees must accurately record all hours worked and obtain required overtime approval according to PMAD policy.

Compensation

$20 - $25/hr based on experience

Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected. It is not intended to list every duty or responsibility. PMAD may change duties, responsibilities, reporting relationships, schedules, or assignments at any time, subject to applicable law. This job description does not create a contract of employment or alter the at will employment relationship.