From food and drink to personal care, household products, and Over the Counter health, the FMCG sector is at the heart of designing, formulating, scaling, maintaining and developing, and distributing many of the items that enable us to live happy and healthy lives.  

FMCG organisations and the skilled people that work within them operate in high-volume, fast-paced environments, in roles that are not only vital to their sector, but also to the public, as they strive to maintain – and constantly improve – product quality, cost, and sustainability.  

As a result, FMCG is an increasingly attractive sector to work and build a career within – especially for graduates and early-career professionals. FMCG offers variety and diversity, a fast learning and growth curve, early responsibilities and opportunities to make an impact, and clear pathways into a fulfilling, exciting career.  

Below, we outline the some of the key entry‑level and graduate roles within FMCG, what each role entails, the opportunities they present, and the skills that will help candidates thrive in them.  

Top Entry-Level & Graduate Roles in FMCG 

Process Engineer 

What they do:

Design, optimise, and scale manufacturing processes to improve throughput, yield, cost, and sustainability. Process Engineers are key to ensuring on-line efficiency, OEE, bottleneck removal, and process validation across high‑volume production. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Rapid exposure to end‑to‑end operations and cross‑functional teams across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, etc. 

  • Potential progression into Senior Process Engineer, Continuous Improvement Lead, Manufacturing Manager, or Operational Excellence roles. 

  • Develop Lean/Six Sigma expertise and automation awareness. 

Skills required to succeed:

Statistical analysis, problem‑solving, Lean/Six Sigma (Green Belt desirable), process mapping, data literacy, strong stakeholder communication skills, and a safety‑first mindset. 

Formulation Scientist 

What they do:

Create and optimise product formulations (e.g. for beverages, confectionery, cosmetics, and household cleaning). Balance performance, stability, sensory, regulatory, and cost while working through lab‑to‑pilot scale. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Potential pathways to Senior Formulator, Technical Lead, or Product Owner. 

  • Build expertise in materials science, rheology, emulsions, surfactants, preservatives, and clean‑label trends. 

  • Strong collaboration with NPD, QA/Regulatory, and Procurement. 

Skills required to succeed:

Chemistry/biochemistry background, experimental design (DoE), stability testing, sensory science, documentation, regulatory awareness, and meticulous lab practice. 

NPD Scientist (New Product Development) 

What they do:

Translate consumer insights into new products and line extensions to satisfy requirements and demand. Run concept‑to‑launch projects, including prototyping, pilot trials, plant commissioning, and post‑launch optimisation. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Potential project leadership roles, category technical ownership, or innovation management. 

  • Exposure to brand, marketing, and commercial teams alongside R&D. 

  • Opportunities to build skills in stage‑gate processes, cost engineering, and sustainability. 

Skills required to succeed:

Project management, DoE, sensory & consumer testing, cross‑functional communication, commercial awareness, and agility under tight timelines. 

Development Scientist 

What they do:

Focus on technology and product optimisation, with emphasis on improving stability, shelf life, texture, efficacy, and manufacturability. Often bridges R&D and factory operations. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Technical specialist tracks (stability, materials, packaging interactions) or broader technical leadership. 

  • Extensive exposure to scale‑up and validation in live manufacturing environments. 

Skills required to succeed:

Analytical thinking, method development, root cause analysis, data interpretation, documentation, and collaboration with QA/Production. 

Chemical Engineer 

What they do:

Chemical engineers apply chemical engineering principles to unit operations (mixing, heating, separation, reaction), scale‑up, mass/energy balances, and process safety in food, drink, personal care, and household goods. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Potential for progression into Process Design, Manufacturing Excellence, Sustainability/Decarbonisation, or Plant Management. 

  • Ability to build expertise in process modelling, safety, and CAPEX projects. 

Skills required to succeed:

Process modelling, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, equipment design, EHS knowledge, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement. 

Reliability Engineer 

What they do:

Improve asset reliability and uptime for high‑speed lines. Use root cause analysis, FMEA, and preventive and predictive maintenance strategies with operational data to reduce failures and costs. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Potential to progress into Reliability Lead, Maintenance Manager, or Asset Strategy roles. 

  • Early impact through measurable uptime/OEE improvements and cost savings. 

Skills to succeed:

RCA/FMEA, condition‑based monitoring, data analytics, CMMS proficiency, spare parts strategy, and cross‑functional communication. 

Design & Development Engineer 

What they do:

Design or customise equipment, tooling, and components for high‑volume manufacturing. They are responsible for helping to balance cost, manufacturability, ergonomics, safety, and sustainability; and support trials and commissioning. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Experience in equipment design, packaging machinery development, or engineering project management. 

  • Building CAD, prototyping, and supplier collaboration experience. 

Skills required to succeed:

CAD, GD&T, materials and manufacturing processes, DFM/DFA, risk assessment, and test/validation planning. 

Mechanical / Electrical Maintenance Engineer 

What they do:

Maintain and repair production equipment (mechanical drives, pneumatics, hydraulics, sensors, motors, panels). Execute PPM schedules, troubleshoot breakdowns, and support continuous improvement. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Potential to move into Senior Maintenance Engineer, Shift Lead, Reliability, or Engineering Supervisor roles. 

  • Hands‑on expertise across diverse assets and technologies in fast‑paced environments. 

Skills required to succeed:

Fault‑finding, electrical/mechanical diagnostics, reading schematics, safety systems, and strong teamwork under pressure. 

Maintenance / Engineering Management (Graduate Pathways) 

What they do:

Coordinate maintenance strategy, budgets, schedules, and compliance; lead teams; drive reliability and improvement projects; and liaise with production, quality, and H&S. 

Opportunities the role offers: 

  • Potential pathways to Engineering Manager, Site Maintenance Manager, or Multi‑site Asset Manager. 

  • Strategic exposure to CAPEX planning, vendor management, and performance KPIs. 

Skills required to succeed:

Leadership, planning, stakeholder management, KPI ownership, risk management, and continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma). 

How to get into an FMCG Career 

To enter the FMCG sector, candidates need a solid technical education in relevant areas such as Chemistry, Engineering, or Food Science, complemented by hands-on experience through internships or project work.  

Industry certifications including Lean Six Sigma and health and safety qualifications enhance a candidate’s profile, as do specialised training in PLC or automation. Building a portfolio of impactful projects, such as process optimisation or reliability engineering, and demonstrating strong soft skills like communication, analytical thinking, and teamwork can prove key to standing out in a talent pool. 

Successful candidates proactively seek growth and show readiness to contribute meaningfully in fast-paced environments. 

Earning Potential in FMCG Careers 

With the importance of, and demands on, vital scientific sectors – including FMCG – ever-growing, there is an increasing need for highly skilled workers who can contribute to the evolution of FMCG’s processes and production.  

As a result, as discovered in recent SRG research, FMCG job trends are suggesting that competition for talent is high, with salaries robustly aligned with demand for specialist expertise and leadership talent.  

This presents challenges to employers and hiring managers, but on the other hand provides plenty of opportunities for candidates to maximise their career and salary prospects.    

Find your FMCG role with SRG  

SRG is an industry leader in providing next generation talent solutions for life sciences, across sectors including Biotech, Medtech, Pharma, as well as Chemicals, Food, Drink & FMCG, and Clean Tech & Renewables.  

Drawing on deep industry knowledge and the expertise of our recruitment and workforce specialists, we connect innovative organisations with exceptional talent from across the scientific landscape. Our expertise spans recruitment for permanent positions, contract roles, and project-based assignments, giving businesses the flexibility to adapt and succeed in a competitive market.   

If you’re looking for your next role, whether it’s the first step in your FMCG career journey or an opportunity to progress to the next level, explore our current vacancies to see where your adventure could take you.