Job Name
Research Engineer
General Information
Date Published
30-Jul-2026
Advertising Ends
13-Aug-2026
ID#
16320
Role Type
Science & Technology
Work Type
Permanent Full-Time
Workplace Type
On-site
Country
New Zealand
Location
Manawatu
Position Description
Imagine Tomorrow with Us | Ata whakaarohia tō āpōpō
At Fonterra Te Mātāpuna, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves.
Whether you're early in your career or ready for your next step, Fonterra offers a unique opportunity to grow with a global dairy co-operative that values care, collaboration, and contribution.
Owned by New Zealand dairy farmers and supported by a dedicated team, we are all working together to create a better future. Imagine tomorrow with us, where your career can grow, and you can create positive change.
Mō tēnei tūranga | About the Opportunity
We’re looking for three Research Engineers to join our Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North on a permanent basis, with opportunities across three key areas:
• Research Engineer – Cheese Foods, supporting our Cheese, Cream and Milkfat team.
• Research Engineer –Cultured Foods, supporting our Protein and Powders team.
• Research Engineer –Milkfat Products, supporting our Cheese, Cream and Milkfat team.
In these roles, you’ll deliver commercially viable engineering solutions that support new product and technology development across your portfolio. Applying strong engineering principles, you’ll solve complex technical challenges and help turn early-stage research into practical, scalable solutions.
Working closely with other researchers, technical teams, manufacturing, innovation and business partners, you’ll contribute to projects that create sustained commercial value for the Co-op. This includes delivering quality research outputs, supporting business and technology development, maintaining subject matter expertise, and translating technical insights into solutions that meet customer and business needs.
Key role responsibilities include:
- Apply engineering first principles and high quality hypothesis-driven research to solve complex product, process and technology challenges and develop practical, scalable solutions that deliver business value.
- Maintain subject matter expertise across relevant research, technologies, manufacturing processes and customer applications, while supporting technical officers or technicians in project teams as needed.
- Support research strategy by identifying opportunities, contributing technical insights and prioritising work that delivers business value.
- Collaborate with researchers, innovation teams, manufacturing, technical experts, IP advisers, regulatory teams, customers and external partners.
- Support scale-up, implementation and continuous improvement across relevant projects.
- Record and communicate research plans and outcomes clearly, including literature summaries, modelling, experimental results and key learnings.
Mōu | About You
You’ll bring a passion for R&D, strong engineering curiosity, and the ability to apply first-principles thinking to solve complex technical challenges. You’ll be comfortable working independently, while also collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to turn ideas into practical, scalable solutions.
With strong research credentials and a solid foundation in process, chemical or food engineering, you’ll enjoy working in a technical environment where innovation, problem solving and continuous learning are key. You’ll be a clear communicator, a natural collaborator, and someone who can build trusted relationships across technical, manufacturing and business teams.
You will also bring:
• A bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering, such as Chemical, Process, Bioprocess or Food Engineering; a PhD would be preferred.
• Strong knowledge of unit operations, modelling and engineering first principles.
• 2+ years’ experience in R&D, pilot plant and/or research facilities, with knowledge of process scale-up, experimental approaches, uncertainty and relevant statistical methods.
• Understanding of fluid dynamics, reaction kinetics, mixing, blending, refrigeration technologies or thermal processing.
• Familiarity with capital projects, design and scale-up would be beneficial.
• A collaborative, curious and delivery-focused mindset, with strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Our Values | Ngā Aura
At Fonterra, our values of Good Together, Better Every Day, and Every Drop Counts, are for everyone – no matter your background, identify or experience. These values guide us in delivering exceptional outcomes for our farmers, customers, communities, and each other. Discover how your values align with ours by taking our Values Quiz
Our Commitment to You | Tā mātou oati
We care for our people globally. Our comprehensive benefits support your well-being, development, and work-life balance:
- Fair and equitable pay
- Health and well-being programs (medical, mental health support)
- Professional development opportunities
- Career growth support
- Work-life balance options (flexible/hybrid working where possible)
- Employee recognition
- Support for community involvement and cultural connection
To learn more, visit Fonterra Careers
A Career of Opportunities | Ngā Mahi
At Fonterra, we are inspired by purpose and guided by our principles and values. Together, we create goodness for generations and make a global impact at a local level. As part of our Co-operative, you are an everyday creator, imagining what Fonterra, dairy, and you can be here.
Join Us | Tātou Tātou
Does this sound good to you? Come join our whānau - bring your whole self, and let's solve for better together.
You, me, us together, Tātou, tātou.
Together, we're shaping a future of inclusion | He Wāhi mō te Katoa
Inclusion is key to our Co-operative. We're building a team that reflects the diverse world we live in, believing it drives better decisions and innovation.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds (ethnicities, genders, identities, orientations, ages, abilities, neurotypes, cultures, religions).
Even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply; we value your potential and growth.
If you face accessibility issues or need accommodations during the process, please contact your recruiter. We ensure fair participation, allowing you to be at your best. Tātou, tātou.
Applications close at midnight on Thursday, 13th of August
