Principal Sci, R&D - Product Dev

The Kraft Heinz Company; Warrendale (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Healthcare coverage

401(k) plan

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

The Kraft Heinz Company is seeking a Principal Scientist, R&D – Product Development to lead Elevate Growth initiatives within the Sauces & Condiments platform. You will drive product development across Kraft Mayo, Kraft Salad Dressings, Miracle Whip, and Aioli, coordinating with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions and ensure quality and food safety.

This role requires a strong background in food science/engineering, hands-on experience commercializing products end-to-end, and

Qualifications

• BS in Food Science or related field with 6+ years of experience commercializing products end-to-end in the food/CPG industry (or 5+ years with a Master’s).
• Strong understanding of ingredients, interactions, and food product lab test methods.
• Executional excellence, leadership, and customer focus are essential.
• Ability to design experiments, anticipate next steps, and adjust plans as hurdles arise.
• Excellent communication, influencing, project management and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development across multiple projects with cross-functional teams.
• Learn and adapt to new product categories as needed.
• Translate research findings to cross-functional teams.
• Plan and execute product testing and qualification in lab and production environments.
• Ensure product quality and food safety requirements are defined and delivered in specs for raw materials and finished products.
• Manage technical timelines, communicate clearly, assess risks, raise issues, and develop contingency plans.
• Handle multiple projects concurrently and manage priority conflicts across initiatives.
• Mentor and coach colleagues within and outside the team.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science/Engineering

Tools

Design of Experiments

Laboratory equipment knowledge

Job description

Job Description

Principal Scientist, R&D – Product Development - Elevate Growth

This is a Research and Development (R&D) role leading Product Development initiatives within the Sauces & Condiments technical platform. The role offers a variety of businesses to support across our Emulsified product lines (Kraft Mayo, Kraft Salad Dressings, Miracle Whip, Kraft Aioli), as well as the broader Sauces & Condiments categories (Heinz Mustard, Grey Poupon) for our Retail business. The Principal Scientist is expected to provide leadership for and execution of projects across platforms. The candidate should have a proven record of executing work plans and driving for results in a variety of challenging and complex settings, across multiple categories.

Success in the role requires cross-functional collaboration, strategic influence, problem solving, and prioritization to lead multiple projects simultaneously. Successful candidates will have a technical background in food science/engineering, demonstrate strength in the commercialization process, proven ability to design product testing at plant scale, a growth mindset, and powerful teamwork skills.

Key Components of the role

• Work with cross-functional teams acting as the lead product developer to drive execution across multiple projects

• Demonstrates the willingness/ability to learn new product categories

• Translate research findings and communicate to cross-functional teams

• Manage and execute product testing and qualification while working closely with cross-functional team members in laboratory and production environments

• Collaborate with teams to understand and ensure product quality and food safety requirements are defined and delivered through the completion of raw material, finished product specifications that deliver consistent, high-quality products

• Run technical timelines, provide clear and timely communication, complete risk assessments, raise issues, and develop contingency plans demonstrating strong project management skills

• Manage multiple projects concurrently and possess the ability to call out priority conflicts between a variety of business initiatives

• Mentor, coach and collaborate with other colleagues within and outside of your immediate team

Qualifications:

• BS in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Agricultural Science with minimum of 6 years of experience successfully commercializing products end-to-end in the food or CPG industry or minimum 5 years’ experience with Master’s Degree

• Strong understanding of key subject matter in areas such as ingredients, ingredient interactions, and food product laboratory test methods

• Executional excellence, personal leadership and customer focus a must

• Self-motivated problem solver and the drive to deliver objectives in a complex environment.

• The ability to plan, put together well thought out design of experiments, anticipate next steps and incorporate course corrections when hurdles appear

• Excellent communication, influencing, project management and problem-solving skills

• Ability to lead, coach and motivate others

• Highly motivated and ability to multi-task complex projects

• Manage multiple projects concurrently with the ability to question the priority of work

• Strong understanding of Design of Experiments

• Willingness to travel 30%. Travel could include (but not limited to): United States and Canada to internal plants, co-manufacturers, and suppliers

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range:

$104,200.00 - $130,200.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and savingfor the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coveragefor benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire aphysical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments

• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training

• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs

• Financial – 401k,Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Heinz Innovation Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.