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Intern Culinary Research Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Intern - Culinary

Mashantucket, CT

$14 - $18.75/hr

Under the direction of experienced personnel, the incumbent gains knowledge and experience of company operations as required by an accredited college, university or technical school. Must be enrolled ...

Director of Culinary R&D Reports to: Chief Operations Officer Location: Looking for candidates that live in Dallas, TX but would also consider LA based candidates FLSA Status: Exempt Compensation ...

Intern - Culinary

Mashantucket, CT · On-site

$14 - $18.75/hr

Under the direction of experienced personnel, the incumbent gains knowledge and experience of company operations as required by an accredited college, university or technical school. Must be enrolled ...

$90 - $120/hr

We're looking for an R&D Culinary Technologist to own how Winston equipment is tested, validated, and proven. By constantly rethinking culinary solutions, the Culinary R&D Technologist conducts ...

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Intern Culinary Research Development information

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How much do intern culinary research development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for intern culinary research development in the United States is $17.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an intern in culinary research and development do?

An Intern in Culinary Research and Development assists professional chefs and food scientists in creating, testing, and refining new recipes or food products. Their tasks often include ingredient sourcing, preparing samples, documenting experiments, and analyzing feedback to improve taste, texture, or presentation. They may also help with sensory evaluations and participate in brainstorming sessions for innovative menu or product ideas. This role provides valuable hands-on experience in both culinary techniques and the product development process within the food industry.

What types of projects and responsibilities can an intern in culinary research and development expect to work on?

As an Intern in Culinary Research and Development, you can expect to support the development of new recipes, assist with product testing, and participate in sensory evaluations. You'll often help with sourcing ingredients, preparing samples, and collecting data for ongoing projects. Collaboration with chefs, food scientists, and marketing teams is common, providing you valuable exposure to the full product development lifecycle. This hands-on experience will deepen your understanding of both the creative and technical aspects of food innovation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an intern in culinary research and development, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Intern in Culinary Research and Development, you need a solid foundation in culinary techniques, food science principles, and an educational background in culinary arts or food technology. Familiarity with recipe development software, kitchen equipment, and basic lab testing tools is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you contribute innovative ideas and collaborate effectively with culinary teams. These skills are crucial for developing new food products that are both high-quality and marketable in a competitive industry.

What is the difference between Intern Culinary Research Development vs Intern Food Product Development?

AspectIntern Culinary Research DevelopmentIntern Food Product Development
CredentialsBasic culinary knowledge, relevant courseworkBasic food science or culinary background
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, culinary test kitchensProduct testing facilities, kitchens
Industry UsageFood companies, R&D departmentsFood companies, product innovation teams
Search IntentResearch-focused roles, culinary innovationProduct creation, market testing

Intern Culinary Research Development roles focus on culinary research, recipe testing, and innovation within R&D labs, while Intern Food Product Development emphasizes creating and testing new food products for market readiness. Both roles require culinary or food science knowledge and are common in food industry companies, but they differ in their primary focus—research versus product development.

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Infographic showing various Intern Culinary Research Development job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,436 per year, or $17 per hour.

Away from Home Culinary R&D Scientist / Chef.

PepsiCo

Plano, TX • On-site

$73K - $122K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


PepsiCo rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 896 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

153rd of 440 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Overview
PepsiCo Culinary R&D focuses on creating distinctive culinary solutions that enhance our core brands and expand to new occasions. Our vision is to support PepsiCo's food products, making them iconic and integrating them into global food culture with consumers at the heart of each design.
Responsibilities
This role involves leading and supporting technical and creative culinary product development by translating consumer needs into innovative product designs. You will support the expanding Away from Home (AFH) business and Meals category for billion-dollar brands like Lay's, Doritos, and Cheetos. Collaboration with the Global Culinary Team is essential to build best-in-class culinary capabilities.
  • Culinary Leadership: Provide support for Annual Operation Planning (AOP) and Strategic Development Direction (SDD) for PFNA AFH and Meals.
  • Consumer-Centric Solutions: Work with commercial partners and the R&D community to create executable culinary inspirations.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Product Development, Sales, and Marketing to understand customer needs, back-of-house operations, ingredient sourcing, supply chain, and other constraints.
  • Prototype Development: Generate creative product prototypes to illustrate technical possibilities and align stakeholders.
  • Consumer Insights: Utilize consumer research and testing insights to guide product development, partnering with Sensory & Consumer Experience teams.
  • Trend Application: Apply food trends and culture to develop meaningful product attributes that meet consumer needs.
  • Technical Assessment: Evaluate the preliminary technical feasibility of concepts with customers.
  • Product Design: Contribute to product design for commercialization, including flavor recommendations, competitive assessments, and product development consultation.
  • Global Applicability: Ensure concepts developed locally have global relevance.
  • External Interfaces: Build relationships with external culinary suppliers, seasoning houses, flavor experts, and universities.
  • Vendor Collaboration: Identify and collaborate with ingredient vendors while protecting PepsiCo's intellectual property.
  • Food Culture Program: Execute aspects of the food culture adoption program.
  • Culinary Capabilities: Develop and share best-in-class culinary methodologies, tools, and practices globally.
  • Ingredient Transformation: Drive innovation through creative culinary techniques and new product forms.
  • Culinary Exploration: Engage in culinary explorations, including cookbook libraries, cuisines, cooking methods, trends, menu analysis, and market immersions.

Recommended Behaviours
  • Passion for Culinary Innovation: Demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for creating new and exciting food products.
  • Attention to Detail: Show meticulousness in recipe formulation, ingredient sourcing, and product testing.
  • Collaborative Spirit: Exhibit strong teamwork skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
  • Adaptability: Be flexible and open to feedback, making necessary adjustments to recipes and processes.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Address and resolve issues related to taste, quality, cost, and preparation time in recipe development.
  • Continuous Learning: Stay informed about emerging food trends, innovations, and consumer preferences through research and continuing education.
  • Strong Communication: Effectively present new products and concepts to stakeholders, and train staff on new recipes and techniques.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Bring fresh ideas and creative solutions to the table, pushing the boundaries of culinary possibilities.
  • Technical Expertise: Possess a deep understanding of food science, ingredient functionality, and food safety regulations.
  • Leadership: Lead projects with confidence, guiding the culinary product development process from concept to execution.

Compensation and Benefits:
  • The expected compensation range for this position is between $73,400 - $122,850.
  • Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
  • Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 5% of annual salary paid out annually.
  • Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
  • In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts or Food Science with applied culinary training required or equivalent working experience within the Culinary R&D discipline.
  • Skills: Understanding of trends, ingredients, culinary techniques, and integration into product development. Strong knowledge of food and nutrition science.
  • Experience: 3-5 years of experience preferred.
  • Attributes: Ability to incorporate business needs into culinary designs, manage multiple assignments, strong communication skills, and intellectual curiosity.
  • This role is designed to inspire and lead culinary innovation, ensuring the successful development of new food products.
  • Travel: 20-40%

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Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age
If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.
Please view our Pay Transparency Statement

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About PepsiCo

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Industry

Food and drink manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Purchase, NY, US

Year founded

1965