PepsiCo is hiring a creative, results-oriented Agricultural Science Technician to execute breeding activities primarily across potatoes and oats, with potential expansion to other crops, at its breeding facility in Rhinelander, WI. This role supports breeding programs, leads projects, and drives improvement of raw agricultural materials important to PepsiCo across greenhouses, growth chambers, fields, and phenotyping facilities.
About the Role – PepsiCo Agricultural Science
Company Focus: Major food enterprise sourcing raw agricultural materials including tuber, grain, and fruit & vegetable crops worldwide
Function: Agricultural Science within PepsiCo Foods R&D
Crops: Primarily potatoes and oats, with potential expansion to other crops
Work Environments: Greenhouses, large walk-in growth chambers, fields, and phenotyping buildings
Compensation: $54,700 – $82,050 plus comprehensive benefits package
Career Growth & Research Opportunity
Strategic Location: Rhinelander, WI – home to a dedicated PepsiCo breeding research facility
Research Impact: Directly contribute to improving raw agricultural materials for a global food company
Skill Development: Hands-on experience with phenotyping, UAV operation, and breeding data systems
Career Growth: Strong foundation for a long-term career in plant breeding and agricultural R&D
Position Overview
The Agricultural Science Technician is responsible for assisting breeding programs, leading projects, and working within breeding programs to drive the improvement of raw agricultural materials important to PepsiCo. This position works closely with existing assistant breeders to execute breeding operations as set by the manager, while also making independent decisions to meet project objectives, across greenhouses, large walk-in growth chambers, fields, and phenotyping facilities in Rhinelander, WI.
Why This Role Matters: As Agricultural Science Technician at PepsiCo, you contribute directly to breeding programs shaping the future of potato and oat crops, gain hands-on experience with phenotyping, UAV technology, and grain quality assessment, work within a dedicated research facility alongside experienced breeders, and build a strong foundation for a long-term career in agricultural science and plant breeding.
Key Responsibilities
Breeding Program Support
- Work with oat breeders, assistant breeders, and other technicians across greenhouses, growth rooms, fields, and phenotyping facilities
- Support phenotyping activities in breeding trials and research nurseries, including in-season field data collection
- Operate UAVs as trained, conduct raw potato grading at harvest, and perform oat milling and grain quality assessments
Field Activities & Recordkeeping
- Support field activities including seed packaging, planting, sampling, harvesting, and organizing breeding materials
- Prepare materials for shipment and ensure accurate records are taken and entered in a timely fashion
- Use barcoding and inventory software to track and store seed, tuber, plant, and seed samples
Greenhouse & Growth Room Operations
- Support growth area preparation, seed pulling, planting, and crop maintenance
- Perform pathogen testing, crossing, seed extraction, inventory management, and harvest activities
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and promptly report challenges with breeding operations while proposing solutions
Continuous Improvement & Safety
- Continuously identify opportunities for improving efficiency and quality of breeding operations
- Comply with local EHS requirements, including prevention, incident reporting, and remedial actions
- Adapt to unexpected delays and changes in workflows to maintain overall productivity
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- BS preferred in Plant Breeding, Horticulture, Agronomy, Biological Systems Engineering, Biology, or related discipline
- All qualified applicants will be considered, including those with relevant hands-on experience
Experience Requirements
- Relevant experience in an active breeding/genetics program, agriculture, leading teams, data analysis, or inventory tracking is preferred
- Demonstrated experience collecting data from plants and curating it for consistency and quality prior to uploading in company databases required
Essential Skills
- Attention to detail and accurate record keeping
- Ability to organize projects, lead teams, and drive for results
- Excellent communication and networking ability with local and remote teams
- Proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and relational databases
- Comfort with change, flexibility, and the ability to act as an ambassador of change
- Willingness to travel 10-15% of the time, primarily in North America
- Ability to work in hot and wet/dry environments and lift up to 50 lbs safely
About PepsiCo Agricultural Science
PepsiCo is a major food enterprise sourcing a variety of raw materials of agricultural origin, including tuber, grain, and fruit & vegetable crops, from around the world. Within its Foods R&D division, PepsiCo operates dedicated breeding facilities, such as the one in Rhinelander, WI, where agricultural science teams work to improve raw agricultural materials critical to the company’s global food portfolio, offering employees a full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
Career Excellence: Build a hands-on agricultural science career supporting global food innovation through PepsiCo’s plant breeding programs.
Who Should Apply?
- Plant Breeding & Agronomy Graduates: Interested in hands-on breeding and phenotyping work
- Horticulture & Biology Graduates: Seeking research experience in a commercial breeding program
- Agricultural Technicians: With field, greenhouse, or growth chamber experience
- Data-Focused Researchers: Comfortable with inventory software, barcoding, and databases
- UAV & Field Technology Enthusiasts: Interested in applying drone technology to crop research
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