Principal Food Systems Engineer
About The Position
The Principal Food Systems Engineer is a senior technical expert responsible for advancing the scientific and engineering understanding of how food interacts with Marmon Foodservice Technologies equipment—including holding bins, toasters, heated platforms, and emerging foodservice technologies. This role applies food systems science, thermodynamics, modeling and simulation, mechanical design, hands-on prototyping, and validation to develop technologies that improve food quality, operational performance, and customer value. As part of the Advanced R&D Technology Team, this role explores, incubates, and matures food-system technologies that support future product roadmaps, competitive differentiation, and improved customer outcomes. Working closely with engineering, product management, and product teams, this individual identifies technology opportunities and translates complex food-quality challenges into predictive models, engineering solutions, measurable performance metrics, proof-of-concept technologies, and actionable technical insights that drive future product development. The role is expected to personally contribute throughout the innovation process via simulation, engineering design, CAD development, prototype creation, instrumentation, experimentation, and technical analysis that advance technologies from concept through feasibility and validation. This is a highly hands-on Advanced R&D Principal Engineer role focused on technology exploration, concept development, proof-of-concept maturation, and solving complex challenges involving food systems, heat transfer, thermal management, and food-equipment interaction through scientific rigor, modeling and simulation, engineering analysis, and experimental development.
Requirements
- Experience developing commercial food equipment, collaborating with QSR R&D teams, or advancing foodservice technologies in innovation-focused environments.
- Experience working hands-on in concept development, proof-of-concept work, prototyping, experimental development, and technology feasibility assessment.
- Experience applying rigorous scientific and engineering principles, including DOE, root cause analysis, and multi-variable performance characterization to solve problems involving food behavior, thermal response, texture, moisture, and equipment interaction.
- Experience exploring, incubating, and maturing new technologies from concept through proof-of-concept and technical feasibility validation.
- Deep expertise in food systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, thermal management, modeling and simulation, mechanical design, and food-equipment interaction.
- Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical challenges, develop new methods and frameworks, and translate technical insights into innovative solutions through effective cross-functional collaboration.
- Master's or Ph.D. in Food Engineering, Food Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a related technical discipline
- 10-15+ years of experience in food systems engineering, food science, food service equipment development, advanced product development, or related innovation-focused technical environments
Nice To Haves
- Thermodynamics, heat transfer, thermal management, and food-equipment interaction
- Food systems engineering, food texture, rheology, and product quality analysis
- Modeling, simulation, mechanical design, prototyping, and instrumentation
- Experimental design, DOE, and data-driven problem solving
Responsibilities
- Develop, validate, and apply analytical, numerical, and simulation models to evaluate concepts, test hypotheses, predict food-system behavior, and guide design decisions before physical prototyping and full-scale testing.
- Analyze heat transfer, mass transfer, airflow, humidity behavior, contact conditions, and thermal response to better understand food-equipment interaction.
- Integrate simulation results, experimental data, and observed food performance to guide design tradeoffs, reduce development risk, and accelerate concept maturation.
- Work directly in the front-end innovation phase to shape concepts, evaluate feasibility, and identify promising technical pathways.
- Create mechanical concepts, CAD models, design layouts, prototype configurations, and experimental setups to support early-stage technology evaluation.
- Independently design, build, instrument, test, and refine prototype systems, fixtures, sensors, data acquisition setups, and proof-of-concept hardware with minimal reliance on dedicated technical support.
- Partner closely with engineering, product management, and product teams to translate scientific insight into physical concepts, test articles, and practical design improvements.
- Identify, evaluate, and assess emerging technologies, scientific advancements, customer needs, and industry trends that may create future opportunities for Marmon Foodservice Technologies.
- Perform technical feasibility assessments to understand the applicability, risks, benefits, and limitations of new technologies and concepts.
- Develop technology maturation plans that advance concepts from exploration through proof-of-concept, feasibility assessment, technology validation, and roadmap readiness.
- Generate technical insights and recommendations that inform technology roadmaps, innovation investments, future product strategies, and potential intellectual property opportunities.
- Work directly with engineering and product teams to translate food science and application data into engineering constraints, design criteria, and validation strategies.
- Design and execute experiments, including DOE and hypothesis-driven testing, to resolve complex development questions.
- Apply technical judgment and evidence-based analysis to influence design direction across multiple programs.
- Serve as a technical mentor and subject matter expert, helping elevate organizational capability in food systems, thermal management, modeling and simulation, experimental methods, and technology development.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug insurance plans
- Access to a Health Advocate who is an expert in Marmon’s health plan and can help you select the best health benefits for you and your family
- Tax advantaged spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses
- Wellness programs and resources including Telehealth, Mental Health, Fitness, and Family Planning
- Generous paid time off for personal use, holidays, and parental leave
- Company-sponsored life insurance
- 401(k) with fully vested company match; Marmon may also make an additional annual discretionary contribution to your account, whether or not you contribute on your own
- Financial and retirement advising
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
