Food & Beverage STEM OPT Jobs in Wisconsin
Food & beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin draw on the state's deep roots in dairy processing, beverage manufacturing, and food science. Companies like Kraft Heinz, Organic Valley, and MillerCoors have Wisconsin operations that hire for technical roles in food science, quality assurance, and supply chain, fields that commonly qualify under STEM OPT's designated degree categories.
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Get Access To All JobsRequisition ID: 67168
Position Type: (US) Full Time
Workplace Arrangement:
About Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
About the role
The RD&A Scientist, Food Protection & Preservation, is responsible for developing and commercializing innovative preservation and freshness solutions that help customers extend shelf life, improve food safety, reduce spoilage, and maintain product quality. This role leads projects from concept through commercialization, partnering closely with customers, manufacturing, regulatory, marketing, and business development teams.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and optimize preservation and freshness systems for food and beverage applications.
- Lead customer-driven innovation projects from concept, formulation, and testing through scale-up and commercialization.
- Design and execute experiments, evaluate competitive products, and develop differentiated, cost-effective solutions.
- Optimize existing products, processes, and manufacturing performance.
- Lead pilot plant trials, production scale-ups, and commercialization activities.
- Support technology transfer activities and collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure successful implementation.
- Develop and improve manufacturing processes including fermentation, spray drying, filtration, centrifugation, homogenization, pasteurization, sterilization, and evaporation.
- Troubleshoot product and process challenges at pilot and commercial scale.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement, yield enhancement, and risk reduction.
- Collaborate with Regulatory, Marketing, Operations, Business Development, and external customers to achieve project objectives.
- Deliver technical presentations, project updates, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications and skills
- BS or MS degree in Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Food Science, or a related field.
- 1-2+ years of experience in product development, process development, commercialization, or a related role within the food industry.
- Experience with food preservation, shelf-life extension, food processing, and product commercialization.
- Knowledge of food chemistry, food processing, sensory evaluation, packaging systems, and food engineering principles.
- Experience supporting pilot plant trials, scale-up activities, and manufacturing operations.
- Strong troubleshooting, project management, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement mindset.
- Willingness to travel up to 20%.
The pay range for this position is $70,100 - $109,050 in Annual Salary. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement. This job posting is anticipated to expire on January 2027.
Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).
Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.
Recruiter:
Posting Type: DNI
Requisition ID: 67168
Position Type: (US) Full Time
Workplace Arrangement:
About Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
About the role
The RD&A Scientist, Food Protection & Preservation, is responsible for developing and commercializing innovative preservation and freshness solutions that help customers extend shelf life, improve food safety, reduce spoilage, and maintain product quality. This role leads projects from concept through commercialization, partnering closely with customers, manufacturing, regulatory, marketing, and business development teams.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and optimize preservation and freshness systems for food and beverage applications.
- Lead customer-driven innovation projects from concept, formulation, and testing through scale-up and commercialization.
- Design and execute experiments, evaluate competitive products, and develop differentiated, cost-effective solutions.
- Optimize existing products, processes, and manufacturing performance.
- Lead pilot plant trials, production scale-ups, and commercialization activities.
- Support technology transfer activities and collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure successful implementation.
- Develop and improve manufacturing processes including fermentation, spray drying, filtration, centrifugation, homogenization, pasteurization, sterilization, and evaporation.
- Troubleshoot product and process challenges at pilot and commercial scale.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement, yield enhancement, and risk reduction.
- Collaborate with Regulatory, Marketing, Operations, Business Development, and external customers to achieve project objectives.
- Deliver technical presentations, project updates, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications and skills
- BS or MS degree in Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Food Science, or a related field.
- 1-2+ years of experience in product development, process development, commercialization, or a related role within the food industry.
- Experience with food preservation, shelf-life extension, food processing, and product commercialization.
- Knowledge of food chemistry, food processing, sensory evaluation, packaging systems, and food engineering principles.
- Experience supporting pilot plant trials, scale-up activities, and manufacturing operations.
- Strong troubleshooting, project management, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement mindset.
- Willingness to travel up to 20%.
The pay range for this position is $70,100 - $109,050 in Annual Salary. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement. This job posting is anticipated to expire on January 2027.
Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).
Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.
Recruiter:
Posting Type: DNI
STEM OPT Food & Beverage Job Roles in Wisconsin
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Search Food & Beverage Jobs in WisconsinFood & Beverage STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
Which food & beverage companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's food and beverage sector includes large manufacturers with documented sponsorship histories, such as Kraft Heinz in Beaver Dam, Organic Valley in La Farge, and Haribo of America in Pleasant Prairie. Breweries and dairy processors across the state also hire technical talent. Sponsorship decisions vary by role and headcount, so confirming OPT employer eligibility and STEM designation status with each company's HR team is essential before applying.
Which cities in Wisconsin have the most food & beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
Madison and Milwaukee are the primary hubs, offering corporate food science, quality control, and R&D roles at both large manufacturers and mid-size processors. Green Bay has significant food processing activity tied to dairy and meat industries. Beaver Dam and Sheboygan also host major production facilities. Madison benefits from proximity to UW–Madison's food science programs, which can align well with employer recruiting pipelines in the region.
How do I find food & beverage F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin?
Migrate Mate lets you filter specifically for food and beverage roles in Wisconsin that are open to F-1 STEM OPT candidates, surfacing employers with verified OPT sponsorship history rather than requiring you to screen each listing manually. Because STEM OPT eligibility depends on your degree's CIP code matching a designated STEM field, it helps to search for roles in food science, agricultural engineering, chemical engineering, and related disciplines where your credentials are most likely to align.
What types of food & beverage roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles in food science and technology, quality assurance engineering, process engineering, supply chain analytics, and data science within food manufacturing are among those most likely to qualify, provided they connect to a STEM-designated degree. Positions requiring applied skills in microbiology, chemical engineering, or agricultural science also frequently meet the CIP code criteria. Customer-facing, sales, or general management roles typically do not qualify regardless of the employer's industry.
Are there Wisconsin-specific considerations for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship in food & beverage?
Wisconsin's food and beverage industry is heavily concentrated in dairy, brewing, and processed foods, so many technical openings are tied to production facilities rather than corporate headquarters. Employers at these sites may be less experienced with STEM OPT paperwork than larger multinationals, making it worth confirming early whether a company has a DSO-familiar HR team. Wisconsin also participates in E-Verify, which STEM OPT employers are federally required to use, so verifying enrollment status before accepting an offer is a practical step.