Senior Process technologist in Haverhill

KatKin goes hardcore for cat health. We make the UK’s only fresh cat food: 100% human-quality meat, gently cooked, and frozen for freshness. Where the competition cuts corners, catfishes customers and puts profits over health, we put cat wellbeing first. No shortcuts. No secret recipes. We’re cutting the fluff, thinking fresh and channelling hardcore love into industry-wide change.

We’re all-in for cats, and it shows: our energy will blow you away from day one. You’ll be surrounded by knowledgeable scientists, big creative thinkers, astute business brains, and a whole team of hardcore cat parents. All on a mission to make hardcore love the new standard in cat care – with a fresh take on every product in the cat industry.

We are looking for an experienced Process Technologist to be part of our Product Development Team to lead product concepts into scalable, repeatable, and operationally viable manufacturing processes and own product launches into regular production. This role will be responsible for process design, scale‑up decisions, and manufacturing readiness, including defining and validating process parameters and constraints. New equipment scoping and validation for new products and processes will be part of this role, in close collaboration with other teams on‑site.

Key ownership areas:

• Provide input into product development projects at concept definition phase and assess equipment suitability/needs.
• Own line trial scheduling, cross functional set‑up, lead execution, ensuring compliance with factory processes, food safety and health and safety.
• Ensure the pre‑defined trial goals are successfully achieved and interpret learning to inform next steps or changes where needed.
• Own defining parameters and settings for production on main line to match concept samples and pilot kitchen products during validation and scale up phases.
• Trial new equipment (upscaled for line) to validate it meets expectations, supports volumes and delivers the desired product results.
• Ensure new product formulations are correctly set up for line execution.
• Own preparation of trial related paperwork and handover to technical/ops in timely manner.
• Summarise process parameters and pilot learnings for decision making.
• Develop or update production SOPs for new processes and train operators for production hand over.
• Supervise first production day and support with process & product expertise.
• Collect details on yield & efficiencies.
• Ensure scale up validations are successfully completed in preparation for product launches.
• Document and record validation details in collaboration with other teams.
• Provide input in pre-launch product panel and QAS approval.
• Verify documentation and parameters match validated PK and line trial processes.
• Support Ops during initial production.
• Document any final process optimisations or observations.
• Coordinate product launch dates in collaboration with Planning, Product Strategy and Operations.
• Undertake post launch review to improve process and products going forward.

Who we are looking for:

• You have owned or lead factory scale trials in a product development environment, working cross‑functionally with Operations, Technical, Engineering and Nutrition.
• You have owned or lead production upscales, from pilot kitchen, onto main line, into launch.
• Experience interpreting data to inform product or process decisions; able to communicate decision rationales clearly.
• Strong communicator, problem solver and analytical thinker.
• You can operate independently within defined project scopes, progressing tasks and reporting back on progress in a timely manner.
• Able to identify risks and mitigations and escalating when necessary.
• Comfortable delivering high quality outputs suitable for stage gate decision.

Qualifications and experience:

• Food Science / Food Technology / Process Engineering Degree.
• HACCP and Food Safety Certificate.
• 5 years experience in FMCG or related industry.

What We Offer:

• A career‑defining opportunity to scale an innovative brand, fast.
• A genuine opportunity to quickly develop and grow your scope and responsibility level.
• A small, close‑knit team with zero egos and plenty of passion.
• 33 days holiday + your birthday off.
• Discounts on KatKin’s fresh meals.
• Comprehensive AXA health insurance, including optical and dental coverage.
• A yearly personal development budget to keep growing your skills.
• Company pension to keep your future secure.