Principal Applications Technologist

Synergy Flavors•Wauconda, IL

15h•$147,000 - $190,000

About The Position

The Principal Scientist serves as Synergy’s highest-level technical expert in savory applications, responsible for leading advanced product development, defining category strategy, and delivering world-class scientific innovation. This role independently directs complex, ambiguous programs with significant organizational impact and provides expert guidance during commercialization, customer collaborations, and global technical problem-solving. The Principal Scientist also plays a vital role in developing technical talent, driving global knowledge-sharing, and representing Synergy’s capabilities within industry communities. The position carries with it considerable internal, customer-facing, and industry impact and recognition.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science or higher in Food Science or relevant applied science required. MS or PhD strongly preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in savory product development, flavor applications, or relevant food science disciplines.
Demonstrated recognition as a technical or scientific expert in a key savory category.
Experience leading major cross-functional or enterprise-wide initiatives.
Proven track record supporting commercialization, plant trials, complex customer projects, and global technology development.
Expert-level command of flavor chemistry, food processing, ingredient interactions, and delivery systems.
Ability to develop and articulate scientific strategy, influence technical roadmaps, and guide global initiatives.
Advanced analytical and problem‑solving capabilities, including the ability to resolve highly ambiguous technical challenges.
Strong documentation, experimental design, and technical communication skills; proficiency in analytical tools and internal databases.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic influence skills.
Ability to lead globally distributed teams and manage cross-functional scientific programs.
Strong organizational agility and ability to influence without authority.
Skilled at navigating complexity and ambiguity while driving clear outcomes.
Demonstrated thought leadership, innovation mindset, and ability to shape category direction.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience with retort processing, aseptic systems, emerging processing technologies, and complex formulation platforms.

Responsibilities

Product Development & Innovation Lead the design, development, and optimization of high‑impact savory product formulations leveraging advanced flavor delivery systems and novel technologies.
Architect breakthrough category strategies and guide long‑term technical roadmaps for savory applications and customer solutions.
Direct complex formulation programs involving new technologies, proprietary processes, and platform initiatives with high business visibility.
Evaluate and implement emerging scientific methods , processing technologies, and ingredient innovations to drive category leadership.
Establish local and global best‑practice standards for formulation, processing, batching, and product design.
Oversee and validate advanced shelf‑life, stability, and stress‑testing protocols across global teams.
Technical Expertise & Support Serve as the internally recognized global expert for the savory category, with deep scientific, processing, and application mastery.
Provide world‑class technical leadership during customer engagements, strategic demos, plant trials, commercialization efforts, and cross‑regional problem‑solving.
Guide the interpretation of complex nutritional panels, labeling requirements, and regulatory constraints across global markets.
Drive local and global capability building by identifying technical gaps and establishing training programs, technical guidance, and knowledge‑sharing systems.
Maintain leadership-level awareness of global ingredient innovation, scientific advancements, processing trends, and regulatory developments.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Lead local and global cross-functional teams across Product Development, Flavor Creation, Regulatory, Quality, Marketing, Business Development, Sales, and Operations.
Define category strategy in partnership with senior leadership and influence business decisions across multiple functions.
Serve as a senior technical representative on strategic customer visits, innovation sessions, and co‑creation workshops.
Act as category thought leader by shaping internal and external narratives for savory trends, technologies, and category direction.
Represent Synergy/Carbery in global technical communities and speak at industry events.
Project Management & Strategic Problem Solving Independently lead major scientific programs or global initiatives with significant commercial, operational, or strategic impact.
Deliver structured, deep scientific analysis to guide strategic decisions, resolve ambiguous challenges, and shape long-term category direction.
Manage complex, multi-year product development pipelines; evaluate project outcomes and convert learnings into organizational strategy.
Anticipate emerging risks and opportunities that influence global category development, product performance, regulatory changes, or customer needs.
Mentorship, Leadership & Influence Act as a local and global mentor and technical coach , developing junior technologists, scientists, and category specialists.
Provide technical oversight and review of team outputs; ensure scientific rigor and high-quality deliverables.
Support talent development by training others in specialized techniques, category insights, and strategic thinking.
Influence organizational strategy through deep technical expertise, innovation leadership, and cross-functional authority.
Foster a high-performance, collaborative environment across global technical teams.
Domestic and international travel (approx. 20–30%) to support key customer meetings, strategic initiatives, plant trials, innovation forums, and global collaboration efforts.
Represent Synergy’s global technical capabilities at industry events, conferences, and trade shows.