You’ve learned a lot as a student already. Want to put it into practice at PepsiCo? 

Our placement programmes are structured to give you the chance to make an impact on some of the world’s biggest brands. From day one, you’ll be working on projects that matter. You’ll shake things up, shape trends, and get guidance and development to help you discover your potential. 

We’re home to some of the world’s favourite brands, such as Walkers, Pepsi Max, Quaker, Tropicana, Doritos, Pipers, Naked, Copella, Lipton, Monster Munch and 7UP to name just a few! Our business covers the full product lifecycle from creating new flavours in our labs to dreaming up ad campaigns and delivering packs to stores. There’s plenty in between too.  

We build brands we are really proud of and we have a mission to create more smiles with every sip and bite. Here at PepsiCo we think like entrepreneurs. We voice opinions fearlessly. We celebrate diversity and differences. We care about growing sustainably. And we get a lot of free Doritos.  

We are looking for enthusiastic undergraduates to join our Research & Development team based in Leicester a 12 month placement programme.  

“I was welcomed by the friendly yet hard working and professional environment that is central to PepsiCo’s culture. My work at PepsiCo has filled me with a great sense of pride and they have definitely helped me prepare for my final year at University as well as whatever my future career may hold.” 

Sophie Clark 

Innovation takes centre stage at PepsiCo! That means our Global R&D team are at the heart of the action and are kept busy creating the products of the future, for our global consumers. In a fast paced consumer environment, our research and development capability is crucial to provide a fresh twist to our favourite brands as well as creating new to the world healthy choices that we need to succeed in the market. Our research and development focusses on building a consumer-centric understanding, enabling us to design products for the latest consumer needs - whether nutrition, refreshment or indulgence – driving our growth both now and in the future.  

Within the R&D Foods Global Process Engineering team you will be involved in identifying, exploring and evaluating new technologies as well as improving the design performance and efficiency of existing technologies for PepsiCo. The main aspects of the role involves managing work streams in technology evaluation projects, which means conducting experiments to build scientific understanding, and manufacturing product prototypes to illustrate possibilities and progress.  

What you will be doing: 

• Design new technologies and support the improvement performance initiatives related to existing technologies. 

• Organise and execute experimental studies and trials in collaboration with project managers to improve the understanding of the key unit operations. 

• Provide deeper understanding into how process parameters effect key product attributes by working with Subject matter experts in the researching and analysing results from trials. 

• Analyse and interpret key data from existing operation plants to plan, design, conduct and report experimental trials to provide solutions for process design problems. 

• Support the installation and commissioning phase of key unit process equipment. Demonstrating its capability to produce desired product safely and efficiently. 

• Participate in safety assessment aspects of projects. 

• Working with product developers to understand process and production interactions. 

• Owning and managing project activity with external and internal stakeholders. 

• Support the knowledge capture and transfer of best practice between the full scale production lines across the business globally. 

• You’ll have considerable interaction with project team members from general operators, up to senior directors across multiple functions and disciplines. 

• Maintain a systematic approach to scheduled work activities. 

• Raise Purchase Orders for services and equipment needed to carry out key accountabilities: approval via Line Manager or Director. 

• You’ll sustain an organized environment in the pilot plant during periods of high activity, including working with pilot plant team to ensure a seamless supply of raw materials and services
   

​​​​​​What are we looking for: 

• An undergraduate student where the course includes the option of completing a sandwich placement. Following path to a degree level qualification in Chemical/Mechanical/Process/Biochemical Engineering. 

• Disruption. An intellectual curiosity and a willingness to challenge accepted ways of doing things 

• Passion. For our company, for your development and for sustainability. 

• Ambition. Eagerness to learn and grow your career and aspire to be our future leaders. 

• Creativity. Bring your new thinking and fresh ideas to our brands. 

• You! At PepsiCo we bring ourselves to work and embrace diversity and inclusion. We believe our differences is what makes us special. 

• Good verbal and written communication skills 

• Initiative and drive to deliver results of trials and activities with and able to be pro-active and multi-task 

• Keen to gain experience of working in the Food Industry 

What else do you need to know? 

The placement starts in July 2022, and will last for 12 months, with a salary of £21,000 

Other benefits: 

• Vibrant culture 

• Development and mentoring 

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 days bank holidays  

• Discounted PepsiCo products 

• Competitive pension scheme 

• And a whole lot more… 

“The opportunities that PepsiCo have offered me as part of my role have been tremendous. I have been involved in multiple projects and activities on top of my day-to-day role which keeps my placement super exciting. I have met some outstanding and friendly people who I know I will keep in touch with after my placement year. The culture here is so collaborative and supportive that I’m never afraid to ask questions or ask to learn new things.” 

Niyanee Porte 

Application Closing Date – 1st November 2021 

Our application window is scheduled to close on the above date, however, in the event of a large response we will close applications early. We would therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

Assessment Centre Date: w/c 29th November

***At PepsiCo we care about diversity. That’s why all of our student opportunities are being advertised & recruited using Be Applied, a platform that uses anonymised applications and skills based hiring to reduce bias. Please note: only applications received via Be Applied will be considered. ***

What does this mean for you? As an applicant, you will no longer submit a CV for review. Instead you will answer a selection of hypothetical, skills-based questions alongside verbal and numerical reasoning tests.

**Please note if you require any additional time for your timed verbal and numerical reasoning assessment, please email hello@beapplied.com with your name, email address and role details and they will be able to arrange this for you before you submit an application**