PepsiCo R&D Student Placement – Paid Food Science Internship – Apply Now!
Are you a food science or life sciences student looking to kick off your career with a high-impact placement job? PepsiCo is offering a 12-month industrial placement in Leicester starting July 2026 in Food Safety, Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs. You’ll work on real product safety, labelling, and compliance projects with global brands, gain hands-on experience, and be part of a fast-paced R&D team setting new industry standards.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in over 200 countries and territories. With a portfolio that includes iconic brands like Lay’s, Doritos, Gatorade, and Pepsi-Cola, PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024. Guided by the vision to be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods, PepsiCo strives to create value sustainably through its pep+ transformation strategy.
PepsiCo R&D Student Placement Details:
- Placement Title: Research & Development Industrial Placement
- Location: Leicester, United Kingdom
- Department: R&D
- Job ID: 405244
- Application Closing Date: 20th October 2025
Overview of the Role
This industrial placement offers a unique opportunity in the food and beverage industry, focusing on Regulatory Affairs, Food Safety, and Quality Assurance. You’ll play a key role in ensuring product standards, supporting new launches, and staying compliant with regulations. With hands-on experience and exposure to real projects, you’ll develop valuable skills for a successful career in this industry.
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Review raw materials to ensure compliance with food safety standards for both new product launches and existing lines.
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Assess finished product labels and oversee artwork consistency under regulatory frameworks.
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Help automate data collection for ingredient compliance and track FSQA performance metrics.
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Engage with cross-functional teams, including product development, supply chain, and regulatory, to support compliance with evolving legislation.
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Experience supplier meetings, site visits, and manufacturing oversight. Travel may be required.
What We’re Looking For
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Students in their penultimate year of studying Food Science, Life Sciences, or similar, who have or will have the “sandwich placement” option.
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Full right to work in the UK for the entire placement period.
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Strong analytical, problem-solving, and digital skills. Detail-oriented with interest in regulation, labelling, and safety standards.
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Good communicator – both written and verbal – able to explain technical terms to different stakeholders.
What You’ll Get & Benefits
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Paid Food Science Internship with a Salary of £25,500 per year for the full 12 months.
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Annual leave + bank holidays + birthday leave.
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Pension scheme, health & wellbeing benefits, mentoring, development, and discount on PepsiCo products.
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Real experience working on regulatory frameworks, product safety, quality assurance, and compliance. Opportunity to make your mark.
