2027 Summer Intern: R&D (PhD)

Overview

At PepsiCo, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your career, make an impact, and help shape what’s next. As one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, our beloved brands—including Gatorade, Lay’s, and Quaker—help create smiles with every sip and bite. Behind our products is a connected system that spans how we source and grow ingredients with farmers and how we make, move, and deliver products while driving positive impact for our business and communities. At the heart of PepsiCo are our people—professionals who bring curiosity and fresh thinking and work together to turn ideas into action.

In this role, you’ll join a connected community where your contributions matter, your voice is heard, and your development is supported.

Responsibilities

• Work with cross-functional teams within the R&D function and business unit leaders to design, execute, and launch new innovative products across PepsiCo’s portfolio.
• Play a critical role in the innovation lifecycle by providing technical insight from ideation through product launch.
• For R&D Food Scientist opportunities: participate in product development, including idea generation, prototype development, product optimization, and production start-up across beverage and snack product categories.
• For R&D Global Functions Specialist opportunities: support four pillars—Compliance, R&D Data and Systems, and Technology Ventures and Global PMO.
• Within those pillars, work with teams that may include: Quality, Sensory, Food Safety, Data Intelligence and Management Analytics, External Innovation, Scientific Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Product Crisis & Incident Management, Supplier Quality Assurance, Nutrition Science, or Microbiology.
• Primarily be placed in headquarters locations for R&D full-time hires: Plano, TX; or Purchase/Valhalla, NY (New York). In some cases, placement may be in satellite locations, discussed during the interview process.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing an Engineering, Food Science, Agriculture, or related degree.
• Must graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree within one (1) year of internship completion.
• Eligible to work in the United States without work authorization sponsorship.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business objectives into strategic and tactical project goals.
• Proven ability to make significant technical/scientific advances using internal and/or external resources.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to incorporate business needs into technical decisions.
• Ability and interest to work in laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing scale environments.
• Familiarity with data science preferred.
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments/tasks.
• Effective communication skills (oral and written).
• Willingness to travel.
• Actual working location determined at the point of offer: Barrington, Plano, or Valhalla.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD: Candidates should be completing at least their first year of studies.
• This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

Compensation and Benefits

• The expected compensation hourly pay ranges for hires into the 2027 campus intern openings is $21.09–$55.40 per hour.
• Hourly pay for campus hires is pre-determined and non-negotiable.
• Role, degree discipline, degree level, and location are part of the process when determining actual starting salary for positions.
• PepsiCo offers full-time opportunities: full-time positions include a comprehensive benefits package to support employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility (Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), and Defined Contribution Retirement Plan).

Equal Opportunity

• PepsiCo considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law, including the Fair Chance laws referenced in the original posting.
• All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
• PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.