Sr. Principal Engineer, R&D - E2E Complex Processing Project Delivery

Kraft Heinz; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 120,800 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k

Paid time off

Flexible work arrangements

Employee assistance program

Life insurance

Job summary

Kraft Heinz Glenview R&D Center in Illinois seeks a Senior Principal Engineer to own technical delivery of high‑impact processing initiatives from concept to commercialization. You will partner with cross‑functional stakeholders to translate processing concepts into manufacturable, Right‑First‑Time solutions while upholding rigorous engineering standards.

The role demands 8+ years in R&D or engineering in consumer goods or related industries, hands‑on processing development experience, and

Qualifications

• : Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Food Engineering or related discipline; MS/PhD preferred.
• : 8+ years in R&D or engineering in consumer goods, pharma, or related industries.
• : Hands-on experience delivering end-to-end processing development, including pilot trials and scale-up.
• : Knowledge of CQV, FMEA, CPRA, Process Design Scopes, and Transformation Flowsheets.

Responsibilities

• Deliver end-to-end technical delivery across concurrent complex processing projects.
• Develop and maintain Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets, and Process Design Scopes, ensuring parameters meet quality, shelf-life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance requirements.
• Apply processing commercialization tools (CQV, FMEA, CPRA) to identify and mitigate risks and ensure Right‑First‑Time launch readiness.
• Partner with Platform R&D, GDI R&D, Packaging R&D, Quality, Operations, and external suppliers to define processing requirements and success criteria, resolve trade-offs, and maintain timelines.
• Lead and support pilot line trials and scale-up activities, translating learnings into robust commercial processing solutions.
• Contribute to STAR and Tech Review Board processes, preparing technical content for governance milestones.
• Maintain compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements.
• Support cost optimization and value engineering efforts to improve margin and sustainability.
• Serve as an informal technical mentor to junior processing engineers.

Skills

End-to-end processing

Technical delivery

CQV

FMEA

CPRA

Project management

MS Project

Jira

Smartsheet

SAP

Excel

Pilot line scale-up

Travel

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Food Engineering or related discipline

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Jira

SAP

Excel

Job description

Job Purpose

As a Senior Principal Engineer on the End-to-End (E2E) Complex Projects team, you will serve as a deep technical processing expert responsible for hands‑on execution of complex, high‑impact processing projects from concept through commercialization. You will own the technical delivery of assigned initiatives, partnering closely with cross‑functional stakeholders to translate processing concepts into manufacturable, Right‑First‑Time solutions. This role prioritizes technical rigor, executional excellence, and applied engineering expertise over portfolio strategy or people management.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Execute end‑to‑end technical delivery across assigned complex processing projects, including technical briefing, concept development, technical design, learning plans, pilot runs, capital design, and commercialization handover to Operations/Supply Chain.
• Develop and maintain detailed technical documentation including Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets, and Process Design Scopes, ensuring processing parameters meet defined quality, shelf‑life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance requirements.
• Apply processing commercialization tools (CQV, FMEA, CPRA) to systematically identify and mitigate technical risks, drive design decisions, and ensure Right‑First‑Time launch readiness.
• Partner with Platform R&D, GDI R&D, Packaging R&D, Quality, Operations, and external suppliers to define processing requirements and success criteria, resolve technical trade‑offs, and maintain project timelines and milestones.
• Lead and support pilot line trials and scale‑up activities, translating learnings into robust commercial processing solutions.
• Contribute to STAR and Tech Review Board processes, preparing and presenting technical content that clearly communicates design rationale, risk status, and commercialization readiness.
• Maintain compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements throughout project execution.
• Support cost optimization and value engineering efforts that improve margin, sustainability, and reinvestment priorities.
• Serve as an informal technical mentor to junior processing engineers on the team, sharing applied expertise and supporting capability development.

Key Outputs & Deliverables

• Deliver successful technical execution across concurrent complex processing projects within innovation and platform portfolios, meeting committed timelines, budgets, and technical performance targets.
• Achieve and sustain >95% Right‑First‑Time (RTF) launches across assigned projects, ensuring processing solutions meet manufacturability, quality, regulatory, and supply chain readiness criteria at first commercial production.
• Produce high‑quality processing technical deliverables — including Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets, Process Design Scopes, FMEAs, and CQV documentation — that meet enterprise engineering standards.
• Generate clear, data‑driven technical recommendations and risk assessments that enable informed go/no‑go decisions at governance milestones.
• Contribute to team capability by sharing technical learnings, best practices, and processing expertise across the broader E2E projects organization.

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Food Engineering or related discipline required; advanced degree (MS / PhD) preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in R&D or Engineering roles within consumer goods, food & beverage, pharma, or a similar industry.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience executing end‑to‑end processing development projects, including pilot trials and scale‑up to industrial production.
• Strong applied knowledge of processing commercialization tools including CQV, FMEA, CPRA, Process Design Scopes, and Transformation Flowsheets.
• Solid project management skills, with experience maintaining detailed project plans, schedules, and risk logs on multi‑stakeholder initiatives.
• Proficiency with project tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent), advanced Excel skills; familiarity with ERP systems (SAP).
• Strong technical communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex processing data into clear recommendations for cross‑functional audiences.
• Experience with pilot line setup, scale‑up, and industrial production launches, including multi‑site experience preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10 to 15% of the time.

New Hire Base Salary Range

$120,800.00 - $151,000.00

Bonus

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

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

• 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, 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.