Sr. Scientist, R&D - Process Technology
About The Position
As a Sr. Scientist within the Process Technology group in R&D Central Processing, you will serve as a technical processing expert, exploring and developing new process technologies, building internal processing capabilities, and executing complex, high-impact processing projects from concept through commercialization. You will own the technical delivery of assigned initiatives and partner with cross-functional stakeholders to translate processing concepts into manufacturable, Right-First-Time solutions. The role delivers technical execution across concurrent projects, supporting innovation and platform portfolios while meeting timelines, budgets, and technical performance targets. It develops processing solutions and documentation that satisfy manufacturability, quality, regulatory, shelf-life, consumer experience, and supply-chain readiness requirements. The position also contributes to cost optimization, value engineering, sustainability, and team capability development. The work environment is described as a normal office environment with open workspaces, at least three days per week in the office and two days remote. The role may require travel up to 25% of the time. The listed location is the Glenview R&D Center.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
- At least 4 years of experience in R&D or Engineering roles within consumer goods, food and beverage, pharma, or a similar industry.
- Hands-on experience executing end-to-end processing development projects, including pilot trials and scale-up to industrial production.
- Applied knowledge of processing commercialization tools, including CQV, FMEA, CPRA, Process Design Scopes, and Transformation Flowsheets.
- Project management skills, including maintaining detailed project plans, schedules, and risk logs for multi-stakeholder initiatives.
- Proficiency with project tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent, and advanced Excel skills.
- Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex processing data into clear recommendations for cross-functional audiences.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated experience in emulsions or shear processing, fermentation, extrusion, thermal processing and validation, aeration, drying, or powder mixing.
- Experience with pilot line setup, scale-up, and industrial production launches, including multi-site experience.
- Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP.
Responsibilities
- Identify, evaluate, and prioritize emerging process technologies, including equipment, automation, and digital technologies, aligned to business needs.
- Develop scale-up strategies from prototyping through pilot plant and right-first-time commercialization.
- Own end-to-end technical delivery for assigned complex processing projects, including technical briefings, concept development, technical design, learning plans, pilot runs, capital design, and commercialization handover to Operations and Supply Chain.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets, and Process Design Scopes, ensuring processing parameters meet quality, shelf-life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance requirements.
- Apply commercialization tools such as CQV, FMEA, and CPRA to identify and mitigate technical risks, guide design decisions, and support right-first-time launch readiness.
- Partner with Platform R&D, GDI R&D, Packaging R&D, Quality, Operations, and external suppliers to define processing requirements and success criteria, resolve technical trade-offs, and maintain project timelines and milestones.
- Lead and support pilot line trials and scale-up, translating learnings into robust commercial processing solutions.
- Contribute to STAR and Tech Review Board processes by preparing and presenting technical content on design rationale, risk status, and commercialization readiness.
- Maintain compliance with regulatory and safety requirements throughout project execution.
- Support cost optimization and value engineering efforts that improve margin, sustainability, and reinvestment priorities.
- Informally mentor junior processing engineers and share applied expertise to support capability development.
- Deliver successful technical execution across concurrent complex projects, meeting committed timelines, budgets, and technical performance targets.
- Achieve and sustain more than 95% Right-First-Time launches across assigned projects.
- Produce processing technical deliverables, including Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets, Process Design Scopes, FMEAs, and CQV documentation, that meet enterprise engineering standards.
- Generate data-driven technical recommendations and risk assessments to support go/no-go decisions at governance milestones.
- Share technical learnings, best practices, and processing expertise across the broader E2E projects organization.
Benefits
- Performance-based bonus, subject to plan terms and governing documents.
- Healthcare coverage for employees and eligible dependents, including medical and prescription drug coverage.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Leave of absence programs.
- Flexible work arrangements.
- Recognition programs.
- Training and learning opportunities.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Wellbeing programs and family support programs.
- 401(k).
- Life insurance.
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
- Disability coverage.
- Screenings and assessments.
- Physical, social, emotional, and financial wellbeing resources and events.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
