Scientist, R&D - Antimicrobials

The Kraft Heinz Company•Glenview, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Kraft Heinz Next Generation Ingredients R&D team is seeking a highly motivated scientist to join our team in Glenview, IL. As a key member of our team, you will lead the discovery, development, and scale-up of new ingredient technologies related to food preservation, leveraging your technical expertise and hands-on laboratory experience. This role requires a strong technical background, intellectual curiosity, and excellent communication and collaboration skills. This is a great opportunity for a scientist excited about continuous learning and having an impact on the business today and the future.

Requirements

BS in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or related field
Minimum 2 years of hands-on laboratory experience in a technical function outside of academic laboratory coursework and graduate research
Experience with microbiology techniques such as aseptic technique, different plating methods and different types of media, serial dilutions, cell enumeration
Experience cultivating microorganisms on petri plates and shake flasks as well as creating culture stocks, experience with differential media design is a plus
Knowledge of food spoilage microorganisms, direct hands-on experience with these organisms is a plus
Familiarity of microbiological models in the context of food safety is a plus
Design of model systems for novel preservative testing is a plus
Experience reading and analyzing academic literature, with the ability to apply scientific principles to new situations. Familiarity with reading patents and regulatory framework is also a plus
Strong understanding of microbial functionality, ingredient interactions, and process/packaging relationships within food systems
Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills
Experience with Design of Experiments, laboratory experimentation, and data analysis.
Ability to analyze experimental data, recommend next steps, and communicate results to stakeholders
Ability to prioritize and manage complexity, deal with ambiguity, and build strong relationships
Experience with microbial characterization and evaluation of preservatives.
Familiarity with food industry trends and technologies

Nice To Haves

Experience with differential media design is a plus
Direct hands-on experience with food spoilage microorganisms is a plus
Familiarity of microbiological models in the context of food safety is a plus
Design of model systems for novel preservative testing is a plus
Familiarity with reading patents and regulatory framework is also a plus

Responsibilities

Discover novel microbial functionalities, especially in the areas of antimicrobials, build and maintain microbial biobanks
Design, execute, summarize benchtop experiments and pilot plant trials, communicating results to technical and non-technical teams
Apply scientific principles to new situations and products with moderate autonomy
Evaluate ingredient functionality and process interactions in various food matrices, with a focus on microbial stability
Develop testing parameters for new product concepts / new technologies across multiple categories while showing excitement and ability to learn about new product categories
Maintain detailed documentation of experimental protocols and results
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Operations, Quality, and Procurement, to drive projects from concept to commercialization
Communicate with suppliers and external partners to drive innovation and growth
Stay up to date on relevant research advancements and market trends