Staff Scientist R&D Process Technology

The Hershey Company•Lower Swatara Township, PA

33d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Process Technology R&D, the Staff Engineer, Process Technology R&D provides technical leadership for complex process development programs within The Hershey Company’s Research & Development organization. This role applies process engineering and food science expertise to develop scalable process technologies that support innovation, validation, and commercialization across key product platforms. The primary focus of this position is leading chocolate and process development work across Salty Snacks, Better-for-You, CMG, Sweets & Refreshments, focusing on Baking, Protein, Fiber, and Wafers. The role leads technical strategy and process development from early research through commercial implementation, ensuring solutions are technically sound, scalable, and aligned with business objectives. This position also contributes to strategic technical direction within R&D by leading high-complexity projects with a high degree of autonomy and partnering effectively with cross-functional teams to advance business priorities.

Requirements

BS in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field with 8 to 10 years of related experience.
Experience working in or around food processing, snacks, Fiber, Protein, Baking, Tortilla Chips, and Wafers is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead complex process development and validation programs across Better-for-You, Salty Snacks, CMG, Sweets & Refreshments platforms.
Identify, evaluate, and advance new process technologies that support innovation and business growth.
Provide technical leadership for high-complexity projects in multitexture and baked product, across multiple platforms (Salty, Sweet, BFY, etc.,) including process development and finished product commercialization.
Drive scale-up from early development through pilot and commercial implementation.
Partner with cross-functional teams to deliver commercially viable process solutions aligned with business objectives.
Transfer technical knowledge, process learnings, and recommendations to Product Development, Commercialization, Operations, and Manufacturing teams.
Mentor junior engineers and provide leadership and direction to technicians supporting development activities.
Build and maintain external technical networks with suppliers, research institutes, universities, and industry experts where appropriate.