Principal Scientist, R&D - Product Dev

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401k

Paid time off

Job summary

The Kraft Heinz Company in Glenview, IL is seeking a Principal Scientist in R&D for Packaging Dev to lead growth and innovation across Lunchables and Adult Snacking. You will own end-to-end packaging commercialization, scale-up trials, and post-launch support to deliver cost-advantaged, high-quality solutions.

Success requires strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to translate consumer insights into packaging requirements, with a track record in project management,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Packaging, Mechanical, Materials, Chemical Engineering or related degree.
• Expert understanding of packaging materials, barrier properties, functionality, testing methods, qualification and commercialization of formats.
• Excellent, proven communication and cross functional collaboration, influencing and project management skills.
• Strong ability to lead, coach and motivate others.

Responsibilities

• Work with internal teams to understand portfolio and strategy opportunities and build solid plans with defined timing and deliverables.
• Identify and quantify growth spaces and opportunities for new usage occasions, formats, or channels.
• Lead end-to-end packaging commercialization on key platform projects, owning scale-up, validation, launch, and post-launch support.
• Translate consumer insights into packaging design requirements (ease-of-use, freshness, portability).
• Lead multiple large initiatives across cross-enterprise platforms and mentor junior developers.

Skills

Packaging expertise

Leadership

Data analysis

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

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

PhD or Master’s with relevant experience

Job description

Job Description

Principal Scientist, R&D – Packaging Dev

Job Overview:

This position offers an excellent opportunity toidentify, 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,demonstratingproof of concept,scaling uptechnology, 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 understandportfolio and strategyopportunities and build solid plans with defined timing and deliverables.

• Identifyand 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, freshnessperception, portability, convenience).

• Lead end-to-end packaging commercializationon key platform projects-owning scale-up trials, qualification/validation, launch execution, and post-launch stabilization-todeliver high-qualitypackaging toon time and at target cost.

• Partner with Brand/Insights to define and interpretpackaging-focused consumer tests(what to test, success criteria).

• Ability toideatenovel ideas for new product solutions.

• Lead multiple/large initiatives with complex scopes and/orcross enterpriseplatforms 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 drivingdecisionsand technology adoption.

• Lead and drive functional training and process improvements for the pkg organization.

• Havea high degree of autonomy.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’sin Packaging, Mechanical, Materials, ChemicalEngineeringor relateddegreeplus minimum7years of relevant experience, or master’s degree plus minimum6years of relevant experience, or PhD degree plus5years of relevant experience.

• Expert understanding of packaging materials, their barrier properties,functionality,standard test methods,qualification and commercialization of multiple packaging formats, design ofexperimentsand ability to coach others in these areas.

• Excellent, proven communication (presentations to global teams, senior leadership, cross functional collaboration), influencing, project/platformmanagementand 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 valuechainexternally.

• 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 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)

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.