Principal Scientist - Decatur, IL

Archer Daniels Midland•Decatur, IL

12d

About The Position

Are you ready to lead the next wave of innovation in carbohydrate materials and engineering? We are seeking an exceptional Principal Scientist to drive cutting-edge research, development, and engineering efforts in carbohydrate-based materials. This role combines scientific expertise, engineering acumen, and leadership to deliver transformative solutions across industries such as food, construction, fermentation, plant care, packaging, papers, and personal care. Position Overview As a Principal Scientist specializing in carbohydrate materials, you will lead multidisciplinary teams to design, develop, and optimize advanced carbohydrate-based systems and processes. You will play a critical role in bridging science and engineering, applying your deep expertise to create high-value materials and ingredients that drive commercial success. This role goes beyond research—it demands a visionary leader who can integrate engineering principles with scientific discovery to develop scalable processes and systems. You will collaborate across functions, manage complex projects, and mentor teams to ensure delivery of innovative solutions. Your contributions will position you as a thought leader within the organization and the broader scientific and engineering communities.

Requirements

Education: PhD or Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Organic Chemistry, or a related field.
Experience: Minimum of 10 years of industrial experience in biobased materials engineering and sustainability, with expertise in packaging, construction, fermentation, plant care, home, and personal care industries. Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams and large-scale projects. Extensive knowledge of carbohydrate materials, including starch, cellulose, and other natural products, with hands-on experience in extrusion processes and process engineering.
Technical Skills: Expertise in process design, optimization, and scale-up for carbohydrate-based systems. Proficiency with advanced analytical instrumentation and characterization techniques for carbohydrate materials. Strong knowledge of statistical software, DOE methodologies, and Microsoft Office Suite.
Soft Skills: Exceptional leadership, communication, and project management abilities. Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to identifying and driving innovation. Ability to collaborate across functions and build strong relationships with external partners.
Travel: Willingness to travel up to 20% to support research, collaboration, and customer engagement efforts.

Responsibilities

Process Design and Optimization: Lead the design, development, and optimization of scalable manufacturing processes for carbohydrate-based materials using advanced engineering principles. Oversee process development efforts, including extrusion, chemical reactor systems, mixing technologies, and pilot-scale production. Develop and implement strategies to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance sustainability in carbohydrate material production.
Technology Integration: Evaluate and implement emerging technologies, including advanced manufacturing techniques and automation systems, to drive innovation in carbohydrate materials engineering. Collaborate with operations teams to integrate new processes into existing manufacturing systems while ensuring compatibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
Equipment and Pilot Plant Management: Provide technical leadership in the operation, maintenance, and optimization of pilot and lab-scale equipment. Design and execute experimental plans to test and refine equipment performance for carbohydrate-based systems.
Team Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams, including scientists, engineers, and technicians, to drive complex R&D and engineering projects from concept to commercialization. Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence.
Strategic Planning: Develop and execute strategic plans for carbohydrate materials R&D, aligning with business goals and market trends. Identify opportunities for growth and innovation, proactively proposing new projects and initiatives that advance organizational objectives.
Project Management: Manage large-scale, multidisciplinary projects using gated project management methodologies, ensuring on-time delivery of milestones and objectives. Coordinate resources, budgets, and timelines to achieve project success while maintaining alignment with safety and quality standards.
Material Innovation: Lead efforts to modify and engineer carbohydrate materials for enhanced functionality, performance, and sustainability across diverse applications. Develop advanced carbohydrate-based systems for industries such as packaging, construction, fermentation, plant care, and personal care.
Experimental Design and Analysis: Design and execute robust experimental plans to investigate the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of carbohydrate systems. Apply advanced statistical tools and design of experiments (DOE) software to optimize experimental designs and extract actionable insights.
Analytical and Rheological Techniques: Utilize advanced analytical tools (e.g., NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, DSC, imaging technologies) and rheological techniques (e.g., rotational rheometers, capillary rheometers) to characterize and optimize carbohydrate systems. Investigate molecular interactions, structural properties, and functional performance to enhance product development.
Technical Communication: Deliver clear, impactful technical materials, presentations, and reports to communicate findings and opportunities to internal stakeholders and external customers. Represent the organization at conferences, trade associations, and academic collaborations, showcasing technical leadership and expertise.
Safety Leadership: Ensure safe working practices in research labs, pilot plants, and manufacturing facilities, meeting or exceeding safety standards. Develop and enforce safety protocols for hazardous material handling and equipment operation.

Benefits

In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
Additional benefits include:
Paid time off including paid holidays.
Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
Tuition assistance.
Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.