Research and Development Technician

Job Description: The R&D Seed Technician supports global research and development for seeds and traits by handling all aspects of indoor material processing and packaging. This role involves receiving, scanning, cleaning, treating, sorting, counting, labeling, and shipping seeds, as well as operating specialized equipment, performing preventative maintenance, and following standardized procedures in a lab and warehouse environment. The technician plays a key role in quality control and production support within an R&D seed production facility, ensuring materials meet strict regulatory and quality standards while maintaining accurate data and documentation.

Responsibilities: Operate research and production equipment safely and efficiently, taking detailed notes and managing data with a high level of accuracy. Receive, scan, clean, treat, sort, count, label, package, and ship R&D seeds and materials according to established protocols. Comply with regulated seed stewardship standards by reading and following permit conditions, completing safety inspections and trainings, and adhering to all policies and standard operating procedures. Conduct quality testing on incoming materials to confirm they meet specified standards and document results clearly. Support production employees by overseeing quality functions, maintaining quality standards, ensuring GMP compliance, conducting safety inspections, and managing hazard identification and mitigation. Perform quality assurance tasks including routine audits, process validations, and implementation of corrective actions to address nonconformities. Provide operational support for labeling, packaging, jarring, tote maintenance, and other departments as needed to meet production and research timelines. Prioritize safe execution of warehouse and lab operations, ensuring all safety protocols and regulations are consistently followed. Work extended hours during peak season to support production demands and maintain workflow continuity. Lift and move up to 50 lbs as needed to handle seed materials and equipment. Ensure efficient and effective operation of source handling and filling processes within the R&D production facility. Conduct various quality tests for several hours per shift and report findings promptly to relevant stakeholders. Cross-train in multiple groups and areas and provide support to other teams once quality control testing is completed. Assist in operating and overseeing automated quality and filling processes, maintaining a high attention to detail and a strong quality focus. Manage the flow of seeds through automated equipment into cassettes for distribution to controlled research fields, monitoring performance and accuracy. Troubleshoot and resolve quality issues that arise during source handling, filling, and other production activities, escalating concerns when necessary. Intake all incoming R&D seeds and materials in the receiving area and perform quality control checks to ensure standards are met. Prepare seeds for production at a repetitive, detail-oriented jarring station, ensuring consistency and accuracy. Perform tote maintenance by identifying, addressing, and correcting quality issues from the source filling station so seeds can reenter production. Participate in daily meetings to coordinate coverage and communicate planned time off, especially during peak season, to maintain operational continuity. Essential SkillsHigh school diploma required.12+ years of experience in a related setting such as agriculture, environmental science, quality, or GMP-regulated environments required, unless replaced by a relevant four-year STEM degree. Strong attention to detail in handling seeds, performing tests, and recording data. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced R&D production environment with shifting priorities. Ability to lift up to 50 lbs as needed to support lab and warehouse operations. Capability to follow regulated seed stewardship standards and permit conditions accurately. Proficiency in conducting quality assurance and quality control activities, including audits, process validations, and corrective actions. Comfort with repetitive, detail-oriented tasks such as jarring and labeling while maintaining high accuracy. Ability to operate research and production equipment and perform basic preventative maintenance. Willingness to work extended hours and overtime during busy seasons (FebruaryJune) and be flexible with shifts. Basic data management skills for recording, tracking, and analyzing quality and production information.

Additional Skills & Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in agriculture, environmental science, or another STEM-related field is highly preferred and may be considered in place of related industry experience. Experience in quality assurance, quality control, packaging, production, packing, and labelling is beneficial. Familiarity with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and regulated environments such as USDA-regulated seed operations is advantageous. Ability to cross-train and work across multiple groups and areas within an R&D production facility. Strong communication skills to document findings, share updates with team members, and collaborate during daily meetings. Demonstrated reliability in managing schedules, coordinating time off with team coverage, and supporting peak season demands.

Work Environment: This role is based in an R&D seed production facility that is climate-controlled and maintained as a clean, organized environment. Work is performed in both lab and warehouse settings with regulated seed operations, including USDA-regulated seed activities and adherence to strict stewardship and permit conditions. The standard schedule is a day shift from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with overtime and shift flexibility required during the busy season from February through June. The position is part of a contract assignment through June, with prior consultants having opportunities to extend contracts or be considered for available permanent roles. Team members benefit from cross-training across multiple groups and areas, gaining exposure to diverse aspects of R&D seed production and quality control. The role includes physical activity such as lifting up to 50 lbs and working at repetitive, detail-oriented stations. Holiday schedules typically include unpaid time off for Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday) and Christmas/New Year (December 25 through January 1, subject to change), and employees accrue five days of PTO. During peak season, extended time off such as full weeks is discouraged to maintain production coverage, and single pre-planned days off are coordinated during morning meetings to ensure adequate staffing.

Job Type & Location: This is a Contract position based out of Whitestown, IN.

Pay and Benefits: The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $23.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Whitestown, IN.Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 22, 2026.About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a Clearly Rated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.