R D Engineering Jobs in North Carolina
R D Engineering jobs in North Carolina are in strong and sustained demand, concentrated in aerospace and defense, biopharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing sectors that define the state's innovation economy, with openings at every level from entry-level test engineer through principal researcher. The heaviest hiring activity sits in the Research Triangle region, Charlotte, and Greensboro, where employers like Lenovo, GlaxoSmithKline, and Wolfspeed maintain deep R&D footprints. The most sought-after specialties include embedded systems development, process engineering for life sciences, and materials research tied to the semiconductor supply chain. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find R D Engineering JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 41+ R D Engineering jobs






Overview
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced R&D Manager to lead our research and development initiatives within a fast-paced, innovative environment. The R&D Manager leads product development for Golding, with responsibility for translating customer, competitive and market targets into commercially viable sauces, dressings, marinades, condiments, beverage syrups, beverages and related products. This role combines strong technical product development capability with people leadership, disciplined project management, culinary understanding and customer focus. The Manager will lead a team from product discovery and reverse engineering through formulation, validation, scale up and commercialization while ensuring products meet customer expectations for sensory, nutrition, cost, quality, regulatory requirements and manufacturing capability. This role operates in a fast paced, customer driven development environment and requires a confident, highly organized self starter who can manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously, make sound technical decisions and maintain a strong sense of urgency without sacrificing quality or attention to detail.Join us to spearhead cutting-edge research efforts that make a meaningful impact in our industry!
Responsibilities
- Lead, coach and develop the R&D team, establishing clear priorities, accountability, technical rigor and development plans.
- Own technical execution of customer projects from concept through commercialization, including private label and branded co manufacturing programs, new products, product matching, renovations, cost optimization and continuous improvement.
- Lead reverse engineering of national brand, competitive and customer benchmark products by translating sensory, ingredient declaration, nutrition, analytical and processing information into technically sound formulations.
- Provide technical and culinary leadership across sauces, dressings, marinades, condiments, beverage syrups, beverages and related applications, including ingredient functionality, flavor systems, texture, emulsification, viscosity, acidity and product stability.
- Set formulation, sensory, nutritional, analytical and process targets and ensure development work is supported by sound experimental design, documentation and data based decision making.
- Manage a high volume, fast moving development pipeline across multiple customers and product categories, effectively prioritizing resources, balancing competing deadlines and proactively communicating risks, decisions and next steps.
- Partner directly with sales, customers and commercial teams to understand product expectations, present prototypes, translate feedback into technical action and build confidence in Golding’s development capabilities.
- Partner cross functionally with Sales, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, Commercial, Finance and Engineering to ensure products are designed for manufacturability and successfully transferred from bench to plant.
- Plan and lead plant trials, first productions and commercialization activities. Troubleshoot formulation and processing issues and provide technical support through startup and ongoing production as needed.
- Identify opportunities to improve formulations, processes, ingredients and development methods to strengthen product quality, margin, speed to market and customer value.
- Build strong relationships with ingredient and flavor suppliers and leverage external technical resources to accelerate development and solve complex formulation challenges.
- Ensure R&D activities and documentation comply with applicable food safety, regulatory, labeling, customer and Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Culinary Science or a related field required. Advanced degree is a plus.
- Minimum 7 years of food product development experience, with demonstrated progression in technical responsibility. Prior people leadership experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated product development experience in sauces, dressings, marinades, condiments, beverage syrups, beverages or similar liquid and semi solid food systems. Strong experience in sauces and dressings preferred.
- Strong experience with product matching and reverse engineering, including the ability to reconstruct competitive products using ingredient statements, nutrition information, sensory evaluation, analytical data and technical knowledge.
- Strong understanding of ingredient functionality and interactions, formulation principles, sensory evaluation, shelf life, food safety and processing considerations relevant to sauces and dressings.
- Demonstrated ability to move products successfully from bench development through pilot or plant trials and commercial production.
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple customers, projects, priorities and deadlines in a fast paced environment.
- Proven ability to lead, coach and develop technical employees and create a collaborative, accountable team environment.
- Strong written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers, technical teams, plant teams and senior leadership.
- Confident, self directed and resourceful, with demonstrated ability to take ownership, make decisions and move work forward with limited direction.
- Ability to remain agile as priorities change while maintaining technical rigor, attentionto detail and accountability for commitments.
- Ability to travel as required to support customers, plant trials, commercialization and supplier activities.
Leadership Profile
The successful candidate will be a hands on technical leader who can move comfortably between the bench, the customer and the manufacturing floor. This individual should bring structure to a fast moving development environment, ask strong technical questions, develop people, communicate clearly and maintain a high standard for execution. Success in this role requires both culinary curiosity and scientific discipline, with a strong understanding that customer development, whether for private label or branded co-manufacturing programs, must deliver against defined product targets while also meeting Golding’s manufacturing and financial requirements.
Join us as an R&D Manager to lead groundbreaking scientific initiatives that shape the future of our industry! Your expertise will help drive innovation while ensuring strict adherence to regulatory standards—making a real difference through science!
Pay: From $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See All 41 R D Engineering Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find R D Engineering JobsR D Engineering Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
R D Engineering Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Energy
- Medical Devices
- Chemicals & Materials
- Technology & Software
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in R D engineering jobs across North Carolina.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, applied physics, or a closely related technical discipline
- Demonstrated experience designing and executing laboratory or product development experiments
- Proficiency with simulation, modeling, or data analysis tools relevant to the engineering subdiscipline
- Ability to document research findings and write clear technical reports for cross-functional teams
- Experience collaborating with manufacturing or product teams to transition research into production
- Familiarity with quality management systems or design controls common in regulated North Carolina industries
R D Engineering Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a r d engineering in North Carolina?
The standard path is earning a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline from a regionally accredited program, then gaining hands-on lab or product development experience. North Carolina does not require a state license specifically for R&D roles, though engineers who sign off on public-facing designs may need a Professional Engineer license through the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors. Most hiring managers in the state's life sciences and semiconductor sectors also expect familiarity with industry-specific quality standards.
Which companies hire r d engineerings in North Carolina?
Employers hiring r d engineerings in North Carolina right now include ABB, Aptyx, and Baxter, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. North Carolina's concentration of biopharmaceutical campuses in the Research Triangle and semiconductor fabs in the Piedmont region means many of these roles sit within large, multi-site R&D organizations with ongoing hiring pipelines.
Which North Carolina cities have the most r d engineering jobs?
The cities with the most r d engineering openings in North Carolina are Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham. The Research Triangle anchors the largest share of demand, driven by the density of university research partnerships, pharmaceutical companies, and technology firms concentrated around Raleigh and Durham, while Charlotte draws R&D talent into its growing energy and advanced manufacturing base.
Are there remote r d engineering jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields. About 36% of r d engineering openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting that much of the work requires physical lab access, prototype handling, or on-site equipment. The portions most likely to go remote are computational modeling, data analysis, and technical writing tasks within larger R&D projects.
How can I get hired as a r d engineering in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a co-op or internship with one of the Research Triangle's large life sciences or semiconductor employers, which regularly recruit from NC State, UNC, and Duke engineering programs and often convert participants to full-time roles. Adjacent starting points include quality technician and process engineer associate positions at North Carolina manufacturing sites, which build the lab and documentation skills R&D teams look for. Completing a relevant capstone project and presenting it in a portfolio gives candidates a concrete advantage over those relying on coursework alone.
Where can I find and apply to r d engineering jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to r d engineering jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and target location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 41 R D Engineering Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find R D Engineering Jobs