Staff Scientist Popcorn & Kid Snacking

The Hershey Company • Lower Swatara Township, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Scientist, R&D – Fried Snacks leads complex product and process development initiatives across tortilla chips, potato chips, and other fried salty snack platforms. This role serves as an advanced technical expert in dough systems, masa processing, potato processing, extrusion for expanded snacks, frying systems, oil chemistry, seasoning application, and shelf‑life performance. The Staff Scientist works independently to design experiments, lead commercialization, identify and solve manufacturing challenges, and drive long‑term capability development. The role collaborates extensively with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, Consumer Insights, and Sensory to deliver innovation, renovation, and productivity projects across multiple snack platforms. The ideal candidate has deep hands-on expertise in fried snacks, strong cross-functional influence, and the ability to mentor junior scientists while advancing Hershey’s salty snack technology roadmap. This role reports to Sr. Manager, Popcorn and Kid Snacking and is based at Hershey Technical Center.

Requirements

• Deep understanding of fried snack processing, including: Tortilla chips: masa systems, nixtamalized corn, dough hydration, sheeting, baking/drying, frying. Potato chips: potato chemistry, slicing, blanching (if used), frying control, oil quality, color management. Additional fried snacks: extruded snacks, pellet expansion, multi-step frying, seasoning systems.
• Expertise in frying science: heat transfer, moisture loss, oil degradation, filtration, turnover, oxidation, acrylamide control.
• Proficiency in seasoning adhesion, application systems, and flavor delivery for fried snacks.
• Experience with statistical analysis, DOE design, and process optimization.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory, food safety, and quality practices relevant to frying operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross‑functional technical programs independently.
• Ability to influence decision-making across teams including Operations, Engineering, Marketing, and Procurement.
• Strong communication skills in both technical documentation and cross-functional presentations.
• Strong analytical thinker with advanced problem-solving ability.
• Curiosity-driven, innovative, and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Strong time‑management and project‑prioritization skills.
• Collaborative and able to work across multiple facilities and stakeholders.
• BS, MS, or PhD in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or related.
• 7-10+ years of experience, preferably including tortilla chips, potato chips, fried snacks, or related categories.
• Strong track record of successful commercialization from benchtop through plant start‑up.
• Experience designing and executing pilot and plant trials required.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical problem solving in manufacturing environments.
• Ability to work in lab, pilot plant, and production environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience mentoring junior staff is strongly preferred.
• Experience with sensory evaluation and consumer learning preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex product and process development initiatives across tortilla chips, potato chips, and other fried salty snack platforms.
• Serve as an advanced technical expert in dough systems, masa processing, potato processing, extrusion for expanded snacks, frying systems, oil chemistry, seasoning application, and shelf‑life performance.
• Design experiments, lead commercialization, identify and solve manufacturing challenges, and drive long‑term capability development.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, Consumer Insights, and Sensory to deliver innovation, renovation, and productivity projects.
• Mentor junior scientists.
• Conduct pilot and plant trials.
• Lead technical problem solving in manufacturing environments.

Benefits

• The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior