Food Science (R&D) Intern 2026

This is a placement year opportunity for 2026-2027, and not a grad scheme. This is only suitable for students who are due to finish their second year (doing a sandwich degree) and seeking a placement year opportunity!

About McCain. At McCain, we're feeding the world: from French fries to Smiles, we contribute to the important role food plays in people's lives. That's why we're dedicated to ensuring our core values - Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality - shine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in more than 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do.

Join us and see how you can MAKE IT at McCain!

Why join the McCain family:

• Your Life - we're here to help you fulfil your potential, flourish, and thrive in work and life.
• Your Success - work alongside passionate individuals who are committed to supporting your career ambitions, drive, and success.
• Your Impact - we want you to make a meaningful, lasting impact for you, for your colleagues, and for the business.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're recruiting for a R&D Food Science Intern. You'll join a line of successful interns that have all been in the same shoes, who walked through the doors of our HQ to gain valuable experience as part of their University Placement year. Some of which have since returned to continue their careers with us.

When: Join us in July 2026 for an epic 12-month journey with our Global R&D team. You'll get an insight into what life is like working for one of the largest frozen food companies in the world, and experience lots of different elements within R&D, from working on new development projects to new ingredient evaluation. Other projects may include specific studies on appetiser ingredients and impact to recipes, line extension development of our current product portfolios, cook direction and abuse studies as well as conducting tastings to evaluate shelf life samples.

As an intern, you'll not only get hands-on experience, but you'll also experience development within a professional environment where you'll work towards set objectives, with a clear development plan and regular one-to-ones with your line managers. You'll also build a network both inside and outside of McCain as well as creating connections with other interns across the business.

ABOUT YOU!

Here at McCain we are go-getters. We are winners. And we work hard. And that's what we look for in our interns. But you must also:

• Be currently studying a relevant degree in Food Science or equivalent.
• Full clean driving license.
• Have a passion and interest in food.
• Be seeking a 12-month placement year to support your degree studies (which will run from July 2026 to June 2027).
• Must be available to start early July.
• And of course, a love of potatoes!

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

Although we do encourage you to taste the goods you'll be pleased to know we don't pay you in chips. For working hard, you'll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:

• Sign on bonus additional to your annual salary - to help you get started!
• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay.
• Flexible holidays - where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year.
• Optional health cash plan.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• 'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the competitiveness, resilience, and long-term development of McCain communities across the globe.

WHERE YOU'LL WORK

Our HQ in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. We're all about flexibility. It's not about where you work, but what you achieve. We won't pin you down to a specific number of office days but we do need you to be present for the majority of the week as you'll be in the test kitchen, on the pilot line, or at the factories to ensure you get as much exposure to support your placement year.

The McCain experience: We are McCain: this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individually - your impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive while being yourself. Join our team to see why we're better together.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.