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Research And Development Engineer Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

ICU Medical

Senior Engineer, R&D

Salt Lake City, UT · On-site

$101K - $138K/yr

Position Summary The Senior R&D Engineer will play a critical role in driving the design, development, and implementation of medical devices. This role involves collaborating closely with cross ...

ICU Medical

Senior Engineer, R&D

Salt Lake City, UT

$101K - $138K/yr

Position Summary The Senior R&D Engineer will play a critical role in driving the design, development, and implementation of medical devices. This role involves collaborating closely with cross ...

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All JobsResearch And Development Engineer JobsResearch And Development Engineer Jobs in Utah

Research And Development Engineer information

See Utah salary details

$18.2K

$87.9K

$137.5K

How much do research and development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for research and development engineer in Utah is $87,915.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,600.00 and $106,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Research And Development Engineer vs Product Development Engineer?

AspectResearch And Development EngineerProduct Development Engineer
Primary FocusInnovating and exploring new technologies or conceptsDesigning, developing, and improving specific products
Work EnvironmentLabs, research facilities, early-stage projectsManufacturing, testing, and product launch phases
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, research experience, possibly advanced degreesEngineering degree, practical product design experience

Research And Development Engineers focus on creating new technologies and exploring innovative ideas, often working in labs and research settings. Product Development Engineers concentrate on transforming concepts into market-ready products, working closely with manufacturing and testing teams. Both roles require engineering backgrounds, but their core objectives and work environments differ significantly.

How much money do R&D engineers make?

Research and Development (R&D) engineers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $70,000 to $120,000, depending on experience, industry, and location. Senior R&D engineers with specialized skills or advanced degrees can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $130,000 annually.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Research and Development Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research and Development Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, problem-solving abilities, and often an advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and project management systems is typically required, along with knowledge of industry-specific standards. Creativity, effective communication, and collaboration are crucial soft skills for innovation and teamwork. These skills enable R&D Engineers to design cutting-edge solutions, efficiently manage projects, and drive technological advancements in their industry.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves working in high-demand industries, holding managerial or executive positions, or possessing rare expertise and certifications.

What Is a Research and Development Engineer?

A research and development engineer is responsible for conducting experiments and analyzing processes to determine better approaches to solving problems or product building. You can have this career in industries such as petroleum, aerospace, and mechanics. Your job duties include analyzing processes to find areas of improvement, conducting experiments to determine better approaches, and documenting findings so they can be shared with others. You may be required to use sophisticated tools such as computer-aided design software to create simulations and advanced microscopes for observing chemical reactions.

How does a Research and Development Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the product development cycle?

Research and Development Engineers often work closely with teams such as product management, quality assurance, and manufacturing throughout the product development process. They contribute technical expertise during brainstorming sessions, share progress updates in regular meetings, and incorporate feedback from other departments to refine prototypes. Effective communication and teamwork are key, as R&D Engineers must ensure that their designs align with project requirements, regulatory standards, and production capabilities. This collaborative environment helps facilitate innovation while maintaining project timelines and product quality.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering with extensive experience and advanced skills can earn $500,000 or more annually. High compensation often involves leadership roles, bonuses, stock options, or working in high-demand industries requiring advanced certifications and expertise.

What does a research and development engineer do?

A research and development engineer designs, develops, and tests new products, processes, or technologies to improve existing offerings or create innovative solutions. They often work with scientific principles, use tools like CAD software, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to bring concepts to production. R&D engineers typically require strong problem-solving skills and may hold degrees in engineering or related fields.

What are Research and Development Engineers?

Research and Development (R&D) Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test new products, processes, or technologies. They work to innovate and improve existing products, often collaborating with other engineers, scientists, and product managers. Their responsibilities include conducting experiments, analyzing data, and ensuring that new developments meet industry standards and customer needs. R&D Engineers play a crucial role in keeping companies competitive by driving innovation and technological advancement.
More about Research And Development Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Research And Development Engineer jobs in Utah? For Research And Development Engineer jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Research And Development Engineer jobs in Utah look for? The top searched job categories for Research And Development Engineer jobs in Utah are:
What are popular job titles related to Research And Development Engineer jobs in UT? For Research And Development Engineer jobs in UT, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Research And Development Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research And Development Engineer job openings in Utah as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Locum Tenens, 77% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 6% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,915 per year, or $42.3 per hour.

Research & Development Manager

Thrive Foods

American Fork, UT

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Research and Development Manager

Department: Quality 

Reports to: Vice President of Quality

Location: American Fork, Utah

Position Summary

The Research & Development (R&D) Manager is responsible for leading innovation, product development, process optimization, and technical commercialization for Thrive Freeze Dry’s portfolio of human and pet food products. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customers to deliver safe, high-quality, and scalable freeze-dried ingredients and finished goods. The R&D Manager ensures that all new products, reformulations, and process improvements align with Thrive’s strategic goals, meet customer expectations, and comply with regulatory and certification standards across our North American manufacturing network.

Product Innovation & Development
Lead the design, development, and testing of new freeze-dried ingredients, meals, snacks, and formulations for human and pet applications.Translate customer needs, market trends, and internal strategy into actionable R&D roadmaps and prototypes.Manage bench-top trials, pilot tests, and plant-scale validations to ensure product performance, stability, and manufacturability.Maintain responsibility for ingredient functionality, sensory attributes, nutritional profiles, and shelf-life performance.Other duties as assigned
Commercialization & Process Optimization
Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to define processing parameters for new and existing products.Lead commercialization efforts from concept through first production, ensuring a smooth transition to full-scale manufacturing.Identify opportunities to improve yield, reduce waste, enhance throughput, and optimize cost without compromising product quality.Support continuous improvement initiatives across the freeze-drying process, blending, packaging, and handling systems.
Regulatory, Compliance & Documentation
Ensure all R&D activities align with FSMA, HACCP, FDA, USDA, Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher, SMETA, and customer-specific requirements.Collaborate with the Quality team to verify that product specifications, formulations, processing instructions, and change controls are accurate and compliant.Create and maintain R&D documentation, including formulas, spec sheets, SOPs, work instructions, and experimental summaries.Support customer audits, technical reviews, and documentation requests related to new or existing products.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Project Management
Manage R&D teams across Thrive Freeze Dry’s North American network.Manage multiple concurrent R&D projects across categories, customers, and manufacturing sites.Facilitate communication between Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Sales to ensure alignment and efficient execution.Provide technical leadership to plant teams during scale-ups, troubleshooting, and process validations.Represent R&D during customer visits, technical presentations, and collaborative development sessions.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Nutrition, or related field.5+ years of experience in the food industry, including pet food and/or functional ingredients; experience in both areas and within a freeze-drying environment preferred.Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading, managing, and developing a team. Strong technical understanding of freeze-drying process parameters, product formulation, ingredient interactions, and analytical testing methods.Experience managing technical projects from ideation to commercialization.Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and apply them to product design and documentation.Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational skills.Ability to travel between manufacturing sites and customer locations as needed, including international, up to 25%.

Physical Requirements – Must be able to perform the following functions with or without accommodations:

Consistent and reliable attendancePhysical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching; and frequent fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity: 40% or more sitting, 40% or more walking, and 40% or more standing. The job is performed under occasional temperature variations and in a food manufacturing office environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.

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