Principal Scientist, R&D - Product Dev

Kraft Heinz; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Glenview, IL, is seeking a Principal Scientist, R&D – Packaging Dev to lead growth and innovation in packaging for Lunchables and Adult Snacking. You will own end-to-end packaging development, from concept through commercialization, collaborating with Core, Innovation, and Club Marketing to deliver high‑quality, cost‑advantaged solutions.

The role requires deep packaging expertise, strong leadership, and the ability to translate consumer insights into practical packaging designs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Packaging, Mechanical, Materials, Chemical Engineering or related degree with 7+ years experience, or master’s with 6+ years, or PhD with 5+ years.
• Expert understanding of packaging materials, barrier properties, functionality, testing methods, and commercialization.
• Excellent communication, influencing, project management and problem-solving skills.
• Strong ability to lead, coach and motivate others.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments concurrently.
• Willingness to travel 30%.

Responsibilities

• Work with internal teams to understand portfolio and strategy opportunities and define plans with timing and deliverables.
• Identify and quantify growth spaces and new usage occasions.
• Build business cases for innovation bets and present to leadership.
• Translate consumer insights into packaging design requirements.
• Lead end-to-end packaging commercialization on key platform projects from scale-up to launch.
• Partner with Brand/Insights to define packaging-focused consumer tests.
• Lead multiple large initiatives with cross-enterprise impact.
• Serve as technical/commercialization expert for junior developers.
• Execute research plans with patent reviews, prototyping, lab testing, and qualification.
• Build relationships with suppliers and industry partners to drive technology pathways.
• Translate research findings into meaningful recommendations and drive adoption.
• Lead functional training and process improvements for the packaging organization.
• Maintain a high degree of autonomy.

Skills

Packaging expertise

Project management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s in Packaging, Mechanical, Materials, Chemical Engineering or related degree

Master’s degree in related field

PhD in related field

Job description

Job Description

Principal Scientist, R&D – Packaging Dev

Job Overview

This position offers an excellent opportunity to identify, drive, commercialize, and lead growth and innovation in packaging technology within the MCCS (Meat/Cheese/Coffee/Snacking) platform, with a specific focus on Lunchables and Adult Snacking. The role serves as the Packaging point of contact, working directly with Core, Innovation, and Club Mkt, and is instrumental in delivering novel, competitive, and cost-advantaged solutions.

Responsibilities include identifying research pathways, demonstrating proof of concept, scaling up technology, and supporting commercialization. The ideal candidate brings strong technical skills and the ability to connect technologies to real-world applications, along with intellectual curiosity, problem-solving ability, leadership, the confidence to champion ideas, and solid project management skills. A collaborative mindset and a commitment to applying innovative solutions are essential.

Job Duties

• Work with internal teams and cross-functional partners to understand portfolio and strategy opportunities and build solid plans with defined timing and deliverables.
• Identify and quantifygrowth spaces(e.g., new usage occasions, formats, channel needs like Club).
• Buildbusiness casesfor innovation bets (value creation, cost, risk, timing, resource asks) and present to leadership.
• Translate consumer insights into packaging design requirements (ease-of-use, freshness perception, portability, convenience).
• Lead end-to-end packaging commercialization on key platform projects - owning scale-up trials, qualification/validation, launch execution, and post-launch stabilization - to deliver high-quality packaging to on time and at target cost.
• Partner with Brand/Insights to define and interpretpackaging-focused consumer tests(what to test, success criteria).
• Ability to ideate novel ideas for new product solutions.
• Lead multiple/large initiatives with complex scopes and/or cross enterprise platforms concurrently.
• Act as technical/commercialization expert for junior developers and flex onto projects requiring problem solving.
• Execute research plans, including patent/literature reviews, tech documentation, prototyping, lab testing, consumer testing, qualification on pilot and/or production equipment, provide solutions to hurdles and provide next steps, with updates to leadership.
• Strong data analysis experience (understanding and processing of complex data systems).
• Build and coordinate relationships with suppliers, technology, and industry partners to drive technology pathways.
• Translate research findings into meaningful recommendations, communicating results and driving decisions and technology adoption.
• Lead and drive functional training and process improvements for the pkg organization.
• Have a high degree of autonomy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Packaging, Mechanical, Materials, Chemical Engineering or related degree plus minimum 7 years of relevant experience, or master’s degree plus minimum 6 years of relevant experience, or PhD degree plus 5 years of relevant experience.
• Expert understanding of packaging materials, their barrier properties, functionality, standard test methods, qualification and commercialization of multiple packaging formats, design of experiments and ability to coach others in these areas.
• Excellent, proven communication (presentations to global teams, senior leadership, cross functional collaboration), influencing, project/platform management and problem-solving skills.
• Strong ability to lead, coach and motivate others.
• Understanding or risks as well as ability to provide multiple solutions to business as options for path forward.
• Manage multiple assignments/tasks concurrently with the ability to prioritize work for self and others.
• Influence across packaging value chain externally.
• Willingness to travel 30%

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 saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for 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 a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

Benefits

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)

Glenview R&D 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.