Flavorist - Principal Scientist

PepsiCo • Town of Mount Pleasant, NY

2d

About The Position

As part of the Flavor Innovation and Taste Technology team, the Principal Scientist will drive the development, application, and commercialization of new flavors and taste modulators in support of PepsiCo’s global business growth. The role applies flavor knowledge and technical skills to deliver global innovation platforms aligned with Pepsi business growth objectives.

The position involves creating and optimizing flavors for beverage systems and other applications, applying taste-modification technologies, evaluating raw materials and technologies, and transitioning bench prototypes to large-scale commercialization. The Flavorist works with cross-functional and regional teams, vendors, and directors and senior flavorists to develop consumer-preferred, stable, cost-effective, regulatory-compliant, plant-friendly, and sustainable flavor systems. The role also provides technical support across functions and trains and mentors flavorists and direct reports.

Requirements

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in food science, chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum 8–10 years of flavor-creation experience.
• SFC Certified or Apprentice Flavor Chemist required.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to manage, balance, and prioritize multiple project initiatives to meet business objectives.
• Must have an indefinite right to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Strong background in flavors for multiple applications is strongly preferred.
• Highly motivated and team-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Create, optimize, and support production of flavors for beverage systems and other applications.
• Apply taste-modification technologies and tools, considering performance, cost, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate new raw materials and technologies for flavor creation and taste modulation.
• Partner with category teams, product development, regulatory, manufacturing, and regional teams to develop consumer-preferred beverage products and suitable flavor systems.
• Transition bench-top prototypes to large-scale commercialization in support of global growth initiatives.
• Consider technical roadmaps, quality-control principles, commercialization hurdles, and plant-friendly and sustainable flavor requirements.
• Design experiments to test hypotheses, collect data, and present results to achieve business objectives.
• Modify existing flavor formulations to deliver specific profiles and apply flavor delivery systems such as emulsions, extractions, and blends in beverages.
• Identify, accelerate, and execute market approaches that meet project goals, deliver winning taste profiles, and meet cost targets.
• Build strategic networks and effective working relationships with vendors; communicate best practices and stability requirements to flavor vendor partners.
• Collaborate under the guidance of directors and senior flavorists.
• Train flavorists in creative approaches and beverage-system development, including TTB-compliant flavors.
• Develop and mentor direct reports.
• Provide technical expertise and support to Quality, Commercialization Engineering, Product Development, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Sensory, and Regulatory.

Benefits

• Annual performance bonus with an eligibility target payout of 12% of annual salary.
• Paid time off, subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement leave.
• Medical, dental, vision, and disability benefits.
• Health and dependent care reimbursement accounts.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Accident, group legal, and life insurance.
• Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal