Sr. Scientist, R&D - Process Technology

About the role

Kraft Heinz is hiring a Senior Scientist in R&D for its Process Technology function in Glenview, Illinois. The role delivers successful technical execution across concurrent complex processing projects in innovation and platform portfolios, meeting timelines, budgets and technical performance targets.

Key responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate and prioritize emerging process technologies (equipment, automation, digital) aligned to business needs.
• Develop scale-up strategies from prototyping through pilot plant to commercialization, and execute end-to-end technical delivery including technical briefing, concept development, technical design, learning plans, pilot runs, capital design and handover to Operations/Supply Chain.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation such as Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets and Process Design Scopes.
• Apply commercialization tools (CQV, FMEA, CPRA) to identify and mitigate technical risks and ensure right-first-time launch readiness.
• Partner with Platform R&D, GDI R&D, Packaging R&D, Quality, Operations and external suppliers to define requirements, resolve trade-offs and keep project timelines.
• Lead and support pilot line trials and scale-up activities, and contribute to STAR and Tech Review Board processes.
• Maintain regulatory and safety compliance, support cost optimization and value engineering, and mentor junior processing engineers.

Required profile

• BS/MS/PhD in Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline.
• At least 4 years of R&D or engineering experience in consumer goods, food & beverage, pharma or a similar industry.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with end-to-end processing development, pilot trials and scale-up to industrial production.
• Preferred: experience with emulsions/shear processing, fermentation, extrusion, thermal processing & validation, aeration, drying or powder mixing, and multi-site launch experience.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

Required skills

• Applied knowledge of CQV, FMEA, CPRA, Process Design Scopes and Transformation Flowsheets.
• Project management with detailed plans, schedules and risk logs; MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira or equivalent.
• Advanced Excel and familiarity with SAP.
• Strong technical communication and synthesis of complex processing data.