Sr. R&D Engineer

Job Description

Job DescriptionWho We Are
At JonnyPops, our team is empowered to make an impact at work every day from producing high-quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. We look for bright and ambitious individuals who seek out challenges, thrive in fast-paced and high-growth environments, align with our core values, and get fulfilment from seeing their work transform the world around them.

Based in Elk River, MN, JonnyPops develops, manufactures, distributes, and markets frozen novelties. Retailers from coast to coast including Target, Costco, Publix, Kroger, Cub, along with thousands of regional and local grocers make JonnyPops part of their assortment.

Growing from a dorm room start-up in 2012, JonnyPops’ mission is to make "A Better Pop for a Better World!" JonnyPops leads the frozen novelties space in innovation and uses simple ingredients with no artificial dyes. Every pop stick includes a kind deed, spreading kindness every day.

Joining JonnyPops is an exciting opportunity to be part of high-growth brand and have a direct impact on the company’s success. Join our team and help us make “A Better Pop, for a Better World!”

Job Summary
We are seeking a Senior R&D Engineer to lead the advancement of our frozen novelty manufacturing capabilities and product innovation. This role is responsible for developing, optimizing, and commercializing processing technologies that translate product concepts into scalable, high-quality frozen novelties. The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise in dairy and frozen systems, creative problem-solving, and strong cross-functional collaboration to drive innovation and operational excellence.

As a key technical resource, you will design and validate new process systems, lead plant trials, and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, consistency, and product performance. You will work closely with Production, R&D, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless transfer of new products and technologies from concept through full-scale manufacturing. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of our frozen novelty portfolio by applying advanced food engineering principles, data-driven insights, and practical manufacturing experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide R&D engineering leadership from early-stage feasibility through pilot and commercial scale-up for innovation, renovation, and productivity initiatives
• Design, execute, and analyze complex experimental trials, from lab-scale formulation work to pilot and full-scale manufacturing runs, ensuring technical learnings directly inform commercial implementation.
• Develop and optimize process parameters (freezing, aeration, mixing, crystallization, and heat treatment) to achieve target product quality, consistency, and manufacturing efficiency in dairy and frozen systems.
• Demonstrate hands-on expertise in prototype development and process modification, adapting formulations and equipment setups to test and validate new technologies, ingredients, and process designs.
• Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Quality, and external technical partners to drive seamless transfer of new formulations and processes into manufacturing.
• Lead plant trials and commercialization efforts, providing on-site technical leadership to troubleshoot, optimize, and validate R&D-developed processes under real manufacturing conditions.
• Develop and standardize R&D engineering methodologies to strengthen experimental design, process mapping, and scale-up protocols, ensuring technical rigor and reproducibility across projects.
• Balance multiple complex priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, effectively aligning resources and technical focus with evolving business and consumer needs.

Food Safety Responsibilities

• Participate in process validation studies to confirm that manufacturing procedures consistently produce safe food
• Integrate food safety principles into every stage of product development — from concept to commercialization.
• Work closely with QA, Regulatory, and Operations teams to ensure food safety compliance.
• Ensure all R&D data and experimental results are properly recorded and traceable.
• Identify and implement innovative food safety technologies
• Clearly reflect food safety and quality as part of the JP brand, when planning and executing projects, and while interacting with relevant external and internal stakeholders.
• Adhere to GMPs as is required of all JP personnel

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or other related field and 5+ years of product development and commercialization experience.
• Possesses solid mechanical and electrical skills with demonstrable ability to build prototypes
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the agility and adaptability to manage multiple situations with a strong learning mindset
• Desire to be a possibilities thinker that will be able to translate ideas into action
• Builds effective relationships and partnerships with internal and external partners.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Preferred experience with process development and/or commercialization experience in a food space or industry
• Experience with Digital tools (e.g., modeling, Process Analytical Technology)
• Preferred experiencing leveraging AI and building agents
• Preferred experience with modeling software, and/or programming language (e.g. Python, R, etc.)
• Experience with one of more of the following technologies: food processing, mixing, extrusion, thermal processing and fluid dynamics

Additional Requirements

• Naturally curious, with an appreciation for ambiguity and the ability to embrace the “test and learn” mentality in pursuit of continuous improvement.
• Alignment to our mission to spread kindness – JonnyPops is a kindness-based company
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm.

Physical Demands and Work Environment
Physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; talk and hear, and reach with hands or arms. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee consistently lifts and/or moves up to 100 lbs and is on their feet for the majority of the workday. Works comfortably in a variable temperature environment.

Expected Pay Range: $120,000-$140,000

JonnyPops offers a competitive benefits package which includes the following:

• Medical/Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• HSA
• FSA
• DCFSA
• Life & AD&D Insurance
• Short & Long Term Disability
• FTO/PTO
• EAP Programs
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Referral Program
• Sick & Safe Leave
• 401k
• Company Sponsored Meal Plan

* Hired candidates may be eligible to receive additional compensation in the form of bonuses and/or commissions.

Powered by JazzHR

7cGvLZNSgn