Sr Principal Scientist, R&D – Analytical Science

Tribonet; Glenview (IL); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Wellbeing programs

Paid time off

Job summary

Kraft Heinz is seeking a Sr Principal Scientist in R&D – Analytical Science at our Glenview, IL location to lead soft matter and rheology efforts across complex food systems.

The role translates fundamental science into practical guidance, builds predictive models, and provides cross-functional scientific leadership to advance texture, stability, and shelf-life across beverages, sauces, and powders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience applying rheology and soft matter to complex formulated systems.
• Deep expertise in rheology, food physical characterization, and structure-function relationships in multiphase systems.
• Strong ability to translate fundamental science into practical product and process decisions.
• Proven scientific leadership and cross-functional influence.
• Experience with food systems such as sauces, dairy, beverages, gels, or powders.

Responsibilities

• Lead scientific understanding of soft matter in food systems, including emulsions, gels, foams, suspensions, colloids, polymers, and other multiphase systems.
• Apply rheology, tribology, food physics, and related material science principles to improve texture, stability, processability, and sensory performance.
• Develop predictive models and scientific frameworks that connect formulation, structure, and processing conditions to product functionality and shelf-life outcomes.
• Translate insights into functional guidance for formulation design, ingredient selection, and process optimization.
• Partner cross-functionally with ingredient, flavor, process engineering, and sensory teams to solve complex product and technology challenges.
• Provide scientific leadership within a broader soft matter and food physics context, ensuring these capabilities support enterprise needs.

Skills

Scientific leadership

Cross-functional influence

Rheology & soft matter

Formulated foods expertise

Communication

Education

Advanced degree in materials/physics/engineering/food science

Job description

An educational platform on tribology — the science of friction, wear and lubrication

Who is it for

Engineers, researchers, students and industry professionals

Sr Principal Scientist, R&D – Analytical Science

This role serves as Kraft Heinz’s subject matter expert in soft matter, rheology, and food materials science across complex formulated food systems. The scientist in this role will build understanding of how structure, processing, and material behavior influence texture, stability, shelf life, and sensory experience, translating first principles into practical formulation guidance and predictive tools.

Key Responsibilities

Lead scientific understanding of soft matter in food systems, including emulsions, gels, foams, suspensions, colloids, polymers, and other multiphase systems relevant to product performance

Apply rheology, tribology, food physics, and related material science principles to improve texture, stability, processability, and sensory performance across food and beverage applications

Develop predictive models and scientific frameworks that connect formulation, structure, and processing conditions to product functionality and shelf-life outcomes

Translate insights into functional guidance for formulation design, ingredient selection, and process optimization

Partner cross-functionally with ingredient, flavor, process engineering, and sensory teams to solve complex product and technology challenges

Provide scientific leadership within a broader soft matter and food physics context, ensuring these capabilities support enterprise needs without duplicating existing platform ownership

Mentor scientists and help build enterprise capability in rheology, food physics, and predictive formulation science

Required Qualifications

Master’s or PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Food Science, or a related field

10+ years of experience applying rheology and soft matter or materials science to complex formulated systems

Deep expertise in rheology, food physical characterization, and structure-function relationships in multiphase systems

Strong ability to translate fundamental science into practical product and process decisions

Proven scientific leadership and cross-functional influence

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with food systems such as sauces, dairy, beverages, gels, or powders

Familiarity with sensory science, consumer research, or tribology-mouthfeel linkages

Experience building predictive models based on structure or rheology

Collaboration with external research or academic partners

Recognized thought leadership through publications, patents, or invited talks

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

$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.

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.

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:

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

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

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.