R&D Product Development (Assoc Scientist) / 24 Month Contract

PepsiCo; Cambridge; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global food and beverage company in the Region of Waterloo is seeking a Food Product Development Scientist. This role will lead the development and launch of innovative food products, requiring a strong background in food science and collaborative skills. Candidates should hold a relevant degree and have experience in product development within the industry. The position offers competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Dynamic and inclusive culture

Support for professional growth

Qualifications

• Product Development experience in the Foods or Beverages Industry is required.
• Ability to prioritize and manage complex projects with flexibility.
• Interest in working in laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop food products leveraging ingredient functionality.
• Lead product development life cycles from ideation to launch.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure product safety.

Skills

Strong product development skills

Knowledge of Food or Beverage ingredient functionality

Collaborative team player

Strong communication skills

Education

BS, MS or PhD Degree in Food Science & Technology

Job description

Overview

The Food Product Development Scientist is responsible for leading the design, development, and launch of innovative food and beverage products. This role manages the full product lifecycle, from concept and prototype development through scale-up and commercialization, while ensuring products meet quality, safety, and regulatory standards. The position requires strong technical expertise in food science, ingredient functionality, and processing technologies, as well as the ability to design experiments, analyze data, and make sound recommendations. Success in this role depends on effective cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering, as well as clear communication of project updates across technical and business teams.

What you can expect from us:

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits designed to fit your unique needs
• A dynamic and inclusive culture that promotes you to bring your whole-self to work
• Inspiring positive change for people and the planet with sustainability goals
• A supportive team that will encourage your professional growth and development

Responsibilities

• Develop food products with superior design leveraging food chemistry, ingredient functionality and experimental design
• Lead accelerated product development life cycles that include new idea generation, prototype development, product optimization, production start-up and national launching of new products
• Follow technical stage gate innovation process to drive robust product design and specifications with full cross functional alignment
• Design and execute experiments, analyze & interpret data to make sound technical recommendations on product & process needs
• Collaborate with R&D cross functional partners including Marketing, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Packaging, Life Sciences, Regulatory and Sensory & Consumer Product Insights to ensure robust, consumer-centric, safe and legal product designs
• Ensure scaled-up formulas meet product specifications at plants; partner with engineering and Supply Chain to identify, test and scale-up any new equipment requirements to produce new products at plants

Qualifications

• BS, MS or PhD Degree in Food Science & Technology or related scientific field
• Product Development experience in the Foods or Beverages Industry
• Strong product development skills with knowledge of Food or Beverage ingredient/product functionality and processing technologies
• Innovative/creative mindset with a positive and results driven, “can-do” attitude
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work across functions and influence both above and below level
• Ability to prioritize and manage complex projects or multiple projects with flexibility/adaptability
• Strong communication skills (oral and written) are needed to provide project updates both within the technical community and with our business partners
• The ability and interest to work in the laboratory, pilot plant and manufacturing scale environments

Why work at PepsiCo

At PepsiCo, you’re invited to be a part of a global team of innovators who make, move, and sell these products—which are enjoyed by more than 1 billion people a day. A career at PepsiCo means working in a culture where everyone’s welcome. Here, you can dare to be yourself. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you can influence the people around you and the world at large. By showing up, you’ll have the opportunity to learn, develop and grow your skills for the future. Our supportive teams can fuel your professional goals to make a global impact on people and the planet. Join us. Dare for Better.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

Industries

• Manufacturing and Food and Beverage Services