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Danone

Global foods and beverages company

Pilot Technician

Full-TimeDeadline 5/13/27
No salary listed
Mid
Brive-la-Gaillarde, France
In Person
Biology & BiotechBioprocess & Biomanufacturing

About the job

Requirements
  • Mastery of industrial engineering concepts, including unit operations and equipment for food preparation, thermal processing, and packaging.
  • Ability to calculate pasteurization, sterilization, or cooking-value schedules.
  • Ability to define technical problems and implement associated action plans.
  • Knowledge of ingredient functionality and product-process interactions, including shear, flocculation, rheology, and gratinage.
  • Knowledge of major microorganisms present in food products.
  • Knowledge of equipment sanitation and asepsis rules.
  • Ability to analyze and synthesize information and alert stakeholders when necessary.
  • Proficiency with computer tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and autoclave programming software.
  • Ability to extract data from thermal treatments across the different platforms.
  • Proficiency with analytical tools for physical measurements.
  • Ability to define priorities and act efficiently and pragmatically.
Responsibilities
  • Prepare and conduct pilot trials in coordination with product development technicians and engineers, using technical food-process expertise.
  • Define and adapt pilot-trial conditions according to the objective and request.
  • Order and use the raw materials and packaging required to make the product.
  • Perform thermal processing on tubular, autoclave, and DSI platforms, and dose pots with the capper or bowls and plates in the mobile aseptic bubble.
  • Perform pilot-scale quality checks, including ATP measurement, pH, flow, and rapid dry-matter measurement.
  • Manage stocks of raw materials, packaging, chemicals, consumables, and the sample library.
  • Process process and thermal-treatment data and clearly document trial reports covering context, objectives, results, and conclusions.
  • Analyze results, contribute to trial planning, propose solutions and modifications, and coordinate key stakeholders such as plant contacts and external companies.
  • Maintain the pilot platform and ensure cleaning and first-level equipment maintenance.
  • Participate in product tastings and, when needed, organize tastings with project teams to assess process effects.
  • Participate in trial-preparation meetings and risk analysis.
  • Provide expertise to define the parameters or equipment to use for industrial trials and new-product development or industrial-equipment optimization.
  • Analyze, process, and document industrial-trial data.

About the company

Danone is a global food and beverage company with three main divisions: Essential Dairy & Plant-Based products, Waters, and Specialized Nutrition. It markets brands like Actimel, Activia, Alpro, Evian, Nutricia, and Volvic across more than 120 countries with over 100,000 employees. Its products aim to support health through everyday nutrition and hydration, including dairy, plant-based options, and infant nutrition. The company pursues social and environmental goals under the One Planet. One Health framework and seeks B Corp certification by 2025, differentiating itself through a mission-driven approach and broad sustainability commitments.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Paris, France

Founded

1919

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • H1 2026 sales rose 3.5% to €13.94 billion; margin reached 13.3%.
  • Danone confirmed 2026 guidance on August 26, 2026, despite inflation and higher capex.
  • September 2026 bond issuance extended maturities, while Volvic investment targets 220 million liters saved.

What critics are saying

  • Paris prosecutors opened five baby-milk investigations on February 13, 2026 after contamination recalls.
  • January 2026 infant-formula recalls triggered complaints across jurisdictions, risking fines and trust collapse.
  • Bridgeton, New Jersey closed in 2026; Danone North America cut 100-plus plant-based jobs.

What makes Danone unique

  • Danone owns health-led brands across dairy, waters, infant nutrition, and complete meals.
  • Danone completed Huel on September 4, 2026, adding direct-to-consumer functional nutrition capability.
  • Danone's enterprise mission and B Corp ambition differentiate it in sustainability-focused hiring.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Wellness Program
  • Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Parental Leave
  • Paid Vacation
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Remote Work Options
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Family Planning Benefits

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

11%

1 year growth

12%

2 year growth

12%
Yahoo Finance
Sep 30th, 2026
Danone invests $56M in Volvic bottling plant to boost sustainability by 2030

Danone is investing over €50 million in its Volvic bottling facility in France through 2030 to improve environmental performance. The programme focuses on ecological preservation, operational modernisation, and regional engagement. A primary upgrade includes deploying water reuse technology at the Chancet facility. The installation will make it the first French natural mineral water plant to repurpose treated wastewater for industrial operations, conserving 220 million litres of water annually. The investment also funds a more efficient bottling line, decarbonisation measures, and workforce upskilling. Beginning in 2027, Danone will host a water conference at the site with academic, institutional, and industrial partners. In 2025, Danone's Waters division posted revenue of €4.85 billion, down 2.6% on a reported basis but up 1.9% like-for-like.

StockTitan
Sep 21st, 2026
Danone raises $1.7B through triple-tranche bond offering to extend debt maturity

Danone has issued a triple-tranche bond totaling €1.5 billion to support liquidity management and extend its debt maturity profile. The offering comprises three €500 million tranches: 18-month notes with a floating coupon of 3-month Euribor +0.30%, 5-year notes with a 4.0910% fixed coupon, and 9-year notes with a 4.4180% fixed coupon. Settlement is expected on 28 September 2026, with listing on Euronext Paris. The company said the bond issue was widely subscribed by a diversified investor base. Danone is rated BBB+ with stable outlook by Standard & Poor's and Baa1 with stable outlook by Moody's. The food and beverage company generated €27.3 billion in sales in 2025.

La Nación
Aug 28th, 2026
Arcor and Danone inject $30M into Mastellone to pay down bank debt

Arcor and Danone have injected $30 million into Mastellone Hermanos to cancel bank debt, less than a month after taking joint control of the Argentine dairy company. The funds come from La Serenísima Unida, the vehicle both groups created to consolidate the business, and will be applied as an irrevocable contribution towards future share subscription. The capital injection arrives at a critical time for Mastellone. In the first half of the year, La Serenísima reported losses of 4.79 billion pesos, compared to 1.16 billion pesos in the same period the previous year. The company also showed financial debts of around 259.19 billion pesos. The new joint venture combines Mastellone's milk, cheese, and butter operations with Danone Argentina's yoghurt and dessert business, aiming to achieve greater scale and efficiency in a challenging market environment.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 29th, 2026
Danone delivers $15.7B H1 sales with +3.5% growth, confirms 2026 guidance

Danone reported Q2 2026 sales up 4.2% on a like-for-like basis, with volume/mix increasing 1.9% and price rising 2.3%. The EMEA region grew 3.6%, Americas 4.3%, and APAC 5.2%, driven by competitive performance in China's infant milk formula and strong aqua waters results. For the first half of 2026, sales reached €13.94 billion, up 3.5% like-for-like. Recurring operating margin improved 12 basis points to 13.3%, supported by productivity gains despite inflation. Recurring earnings per share rose 0.9% to €1.92, whilst free cash flow totalled €0.9 billion. The company confirmed its 2026 guidance, expecting like-for-like sales growth between 3% and 5%, with recurring operating income growing faster than sales. Danone recently signed agreements to acquire Huel and Made Group in APAC.

GlobeNewswire
Jun 22nd, 2026
Danone to acquire MADE Group, expanding its presence in the fast-growing healthy nutrition space in Asia Pacific

Press release – Paris, June 22, 2026, 6:00 AM CEST Danone to acquire MADE Group, expanding its presence in the fast-growing healthy nutrition space in...