Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to develop and optimise innovative snack products from concept to market.
- Company: KP Snacks is a leading snack manufacturer, part of the Intersnack family, creating beloved snacks like Hula Hoops.
- Benefits: Enjoy comprehensive healthcare, a generous pension plan, 25 days holiday, and exclusive online perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive team that values your ideas and contributes to sustainability goals.
- Qualifications: A background in food science or product development, with strong analytical and creative skills.
- Other info: Diversity is key; we welcome unique perspectives and encourage applications from all backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Join our snack-loving team! We are looking for a Research & Development Technologist to join our team at KP Snacks. This R&D Technologist role sits at the heart of the KP Snacks Research & Development team and offers the opportunity to shape the future of snacking. Working across product category teams, you’ll support the creation and optimisation of innovative, high-quality products that delight consumers and align with our sustainability goals.
With a passion for food design, you’ll develop technical and consumer insight to help bring new product concepts to life — from initial idea through to factory trials and final market launch. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Operations, Technical, Commercial, Procurement and Insights, as well as suppliers and manufacturing sites.
Responsibilities include:
- Hands-on product development, trial execution, benchmarking, and sample preparation, while maintaining compliance with safety, quality, cost and efficiency standards.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone eager to contribute to an ambitious, values-led business, with scope to develop their skills and technical expertise in a supportive and collaborative environment.
What’s in it for you?
- Comprehensive Healthcare Support – Access to a Medicash Health Cash Plan, including a Digital GP service, Best Doctors (Second Medical Opinion Service), and specialist Cancer Care.
- KP Pension Plan - contribution matching up to 7% of your salary.
- 25 days holiday + holiday buy scheme.
- KP4ME - online benefits, discounts, prizes, competitions and information platform with access to mental, physical and financial wellbeing information and tools.
What will you be doing?
- Drive hands-on product development, creating and refining snack concepts from bench work through to full-scale factory trials.
- Tackle the exciting challenge of bringing innovative, consumer-loved products to market while balancing creativity with manufacturing feasibility and cost-efficiency.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams across R&D, Operations, Technical, Marketing and Procurement.
- Make a real impact by contributing to KP Snacks’ People & Planet goals, ensuring products are not only delicious but also aligned with sustainability and compliance standards.
- Gain valuable experience across the full product lifecycle, with opportunities to grow technical expertise, develop commercial awareness and contribute to strategic projects.
Who are we?
We are KP Snacks, proud to be part of the Intersnack family. We are about 2,400 strong, spread across seven factories and our Slough HQ. We believe in speaking our minds, celebrating our differences, and pushing boundaries together. Diversity isn’t just a buzzword for us. We’re on a mission to create a workplace where everyone belongs.
We’d love to hear from you if you can demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and experience:
- Brings a strong foundation in food science, product development or food processing, with a curiosity for flavour, consumer behaviour and innovation.
- Applies solid technical, analytical and creative skills to deliver accurate and effective product development.
- Demonstrates transferable experience across product lifecycles, ideally with experience in consumer goods and a proven ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Project management, packaging or European market experience is a plus.
- Aligns with KP’s values through a proactive, can-do attitude, strong interpersonal skills and a passion for continuous improvement, teamwork and consumer-led thinking.
Research & Development Technologist employer: KP Snacks
Contact Detail:
KP Snacks Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Research & Development Technologist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with KP Snacks' product range and their sustainability goals. Understanding their current offerings and how they align with consumer trends will help you demonstrate your passion for food design during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food science and product development sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you to opportunities at KP Snacks.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of your hands-on product development experience. Be ready to share how you've tackled challenges in previous roles, particularly in relation to balancing creativity with manufacturing feasibility.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your collaborative skills by highlighting experiences where you've worked with cross-functional teams. KP Snacks values teamwork, so demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively and solve problems in a group setting will set you apart.
We think you need these skills to ace Research & Development Technologist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food science, product development, or food processing. Emphasise any hands-on product development work and your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for food design and innovation. Mention specific examples of how you've contributed to product development in the past and how your values align with KP Snacks’ mission.
Showcase Your Skills: Clearly outline your technical, analytical, and creative skills in your application. Provide examples of how you've applied these skills in previous roles, particularly in managing multiple priorities and collaborating across functions.
Highlight Your Understanding of Sustainability: Since KP Snacks values sustainability, include any relevant experience or knowledge you have regarding sustainable practices in product development. This will demonstrate your alignment with their People & Planet goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at KP Snacks
✨Show Your Passion for Food Innovation
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for food design and innovation during the interview. Share examples of how you've contributed to product development in the past, and discuss any unique ideas you have for new snack concepts.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
Since this role involves working with various teams, be prepared to discuss your experience collaborating with different departments. Highlight specific projects where you successfully worked alongside marketing, operations, or procurement teams to achieve a common goal.
✨Highlight Your Technical Skills
Be ready to talk about your technical knowledge in food science and product development. Discuss any relevant tools or methodologies you've used in previous roles, and how they can apply to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
✨Align with Company Values
KP Snacks values a proactive and can-do attitude. During the interview, demonstrate how your personal values align with theirs. Share examples of how you've embraced teamwork, continuous improvement, and consumer-led thinking in your previous experiences.
