Associate Principal Scientist, Materials & Texture

Socket.dev; Hoffman Estates (IL); On-site; USD 71,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverages

Dental coverages

Vision coverages

401K with company match

Paid time off including vacation and 2

Life insurance

Lifestyle Spending Account

Identity Theft protection

Employee Assistance Program

Telemedicine

Job summary

Tate & Lyle in the United States seeks an Associate Principal Scientist in Analytical Material Science to strengthen our team in material characterization and ingredient functionality. This role uses rheology, tribology, microscopy, and data science to turn complex data into actionable insights for faster product innovation and scale-up.

You will lead cross-functional collaboration with Product Development, Process Engineering, Regulatory, and Sensory teams, mentor junior scientists, and

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant science field with strong research background.
• 3+ years (6+ with a Master’s) of experience in industrial or applied research in food ingredients or related sectors.
• Proven track record in food physics, soft matter rheology and structure of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids.
• Proficient in DoE and multivariate data analysis software (Minitab, Python, R, JMP).
• Preferably knowledge in analytical chemistry (mass spectrometry, chromatography).

Responsibilities

• Lead characterization of ingredients and multiphase food systems using advanced material science techniques.
• Utilize high-end profiling tools like rheometers, tribometers, particle size analyzers and microscopy.
• Design and execute experiments to understand structure-function relationships.
• Develop, validate, and optimize analytical methods and workflows.
• Apply DoE, multivariate statistics, and data science to analyze datasets and identify drivers.
• Build predictive models linking properties to texture, stability, and processability.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Application Science, Process Engineering, Regulatory, and Sensory teams.
• Support technical sales and translate data into customer-focused insights; mentor junior scientists.
• Communicate findings through presentations and scientific publications.

Skills

DoE

Multivariate statistics

Data science

Written and verbal communication

Education

PhD in Material Science, Food Science, Polymer Science, Analytical Chemistry, or a related discipline

Tools

Minitab

Python

R

JMP

Job description

Tate & Lyle in the United States seeks an Associate Principal Scientist in Analytical Material Science to strengthen our team in material characterization and ingredient functionality. This role uses rheology, tribology, microscopy, and data science to turn complex data into actionable insights for faster product innovation and scale-up.

You will lead cross-functional collaboration with Product Development, Process Engineering, Regulatory, and Sensory teams, mentor junior scientists, and