Product Development Engineer - Range Area Food Services

Are you a Foodie or interested in becoming one? 

Great, then you might be the one we are looking for. We are all passionate food lovers that develop and provide delicious, desirable, safe, healthy and sustainable food for the many people around the world. No doubt food matters to people and the planet and to the IKEA business. Our Food business is a strong contributor to the IKEA brand and business growth, and we have the ambition to drive positive change in the food industry. 

We are on an existing journey where we, over the next years, will continue to strengthen the core of what we do developing food that is good for people and the planet. Everyday we dare to challenge ourselves and living our values and we embrace the future and face the opportunities to enable success.  

Älmhult – the heart of IKEA 

This is where our culture and values were shaped and still develop. It is a melting pot of many different nationalities and cultures. Beside the IKEA Museum, IKEA Hotell, the IKEA store and many other places to learn and meet, there is Aktivitetshuset, which is a meeting place and spare time facility with lots of possibilities for IKEA co-workers and their families. If you choose to commute to Älmhult, this is not a problem because the office is a stone's throw from the train station, and the shuttle buses to Helsingborg leave right outside IKEA of Sweden 

As a Product Development Engineer (PDE) in Food, you are responsible for leading the process of developing new products, as well as contributing to continuous improvements of the quality, customer experience and compliance of our existing products range. You are accountable for bringing the required engineering competencies into the projects and secure that all the technical deliverables are on time. In a collaborative and multifunctional environment, you will lead a team of highly skilled Engineers through the product development process. This is a role with great impact. Your work influences every stage of the product development, from idea to seeing the product in our stores. You work together with vast variety of people, involved in not only the product development, but also the business side.  

Your key responsibilities are (among others):  

• Lead engineering tasks in development projects together with needed functions and specialists from brief to final product available on the sales floor, ensuring that products are delivered on time, within budget, and meet established quality standards 

• Enable collaboration and involvement of engineering competences and development partners across the value chain.  

• Drive the business for assigned product areas together with other functions to secure an efficient range and portfolio for now and the future which includes both News and running range management. 

• Staying up to date with trends in the food industry, such as new ingredients, packaging innovations, and sustainability initiatives. 

• Be involved and actively contribute to various innovation initiatives.  

• Drive for the development of new features, technology, and materials as well as risk assessments.  

• Be a main contributor to our health and sustainability agenda. 

And of course – it will be a lot of fun!   

We are looking for someone who is a skilled leader, who has experience from product development and from leading projects within product development. You strongly believe that your biggest asset is the people working with you and the network inside and outside of the company. You are good at spreading enthusiasm and energy, as well as being an excellent communicator with a strong passion for people. An analytical mindset in combination with a holistic view on strategic business decisions is essential. By always having the customer in focus, with a sound business mind and a problem-solving approach, you are creating the prerequisite to secure the development of tasty and healthy food products for the many people. You have a university degree in Food Engineering, or other experience and education which we can consider as equal. You have experience in leading technical development of physical products. IKEA of Sweden is a truly global work environment; therefore, we expect you to be fluent in written and spoken English. 

As PDE you probably have: 

• University Degree in Engineering or equivalent, university degree in Food Engineering, Food Science or Food Technology would be a strong benefit. 

• Experience in a product development for Food or a similar area. 

• Project Management experience (planning, execution, risk management) 

• Strong communication skills, building trust true 2-way dialogue. 

• Seniority in your Product development engineering role, confident leader, and self-starter and finalizer 

• Product engineering knowledge (tools, documentation, and verification methods) 

• Product development experience to find the balance between cost, quality, health, and sustainability.  

• Good insight in development processes as well as portfolio understanding. 

Does this sound like your next challenge? 

Please send us your CV and answers to the 2 questions below, in English, by the 25th April 2025.

• Which IKEA core value do you feel closest matchers your own?
• What do you believe will be your biggest impact in this role?

We look forward to seeing your application! 

For questions about the role, please contact the Hiring Manager, Jenny Nygren on jenny.nygren@inter.ikea.com

For questions about the recruitment process, please contact the recruiter, Carolina: carolina.reventberg@inter.ikea.com