Senior Scientist, Food Product Development: Lab to Launch

Kraft Heinz; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Kraft Heinz is seeking a Senior Scientist for Away From Home and KHI Product Development in a hybrid office environment. You will lead cross‑functional product development from concept through scale‑up, coordinating with formulation, testing, and commercialization teams to deliver innovative, high‑quality products.

The role requires strong technical judgment, project management, and the ability to manage multiple priorities across categories while maintaining rigorous documentation and timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Food Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field, plus a minimum of 4 years of relevant product development experience; or master’s degree plus minimum 3 years; or PhD plus minimum 2 years.
• Strong knowledge of ingredients, product formulation, processing systems, ingredient interactions, and laboratory test methods.
• Proven ability to lead product development and commercialization work across multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong communication, project management, and problem‑solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development across multiple cross‑functional projects and product categories within Away From Home / KHI, including innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance.
• Independently lead product development projects from formulation through scale‑up and start‑up.
• Translate business objectives into clear development plans and drive execution from concept through commercialization.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to advance projects, resolve technical issues, and deliver against business timelines.
• Serve as an R&D point person for manufacturing plants and support plant operations with troubleshooting, process design, and product quality‑related issues.
• Lead product testing, qualification, and commercialization activities across laboratory, pilot plant, and production environments.
• Apply strong technical judgment to product, ingredient, process, and formulation challenges and develop recommendations.
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, risks, and implications clearly to cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Manage timelines, raise issues and risks, and adjust plans as needed.
• Interface with technical experts and cross‑functional partners to understand technologies and business needs.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/related field

Master's degree in related field

PhD in related field

Job description

Kraft Heinz is seeking a Senior Scientist for Away From Home and KHI Product Development in a hybrid office environment. You will lead cross‑functional product development from concept through scale‑up, coordinating with formulation, testing, and commercialization teams to deliver innovative, high‑quality products.

The role requires strong technical judgment, project management, and the ability to manage multiple priorities across categories while maintaining rigorous documentation and timelines.