R&D Manager - Food Process Engineering

Overview

The R&D Principal Engineer position will be an integral part of our flavor & seasoning team reporting to F&S director leading process & commercialization team, setting the vision for process excellence, developing new protocols, tools and processes to ensure successful launches of new flavor innovation in market. The individual will also lead identification and validation of new process technologies and centerline required to enable PEP+ agenda in collaboration with global science and technology team. The associate will apply technical principles, project management skills and experimental design/analysis to create effective strategy, principles, protocols, process designs and technology roadmaps for innovation, renovation and brand stewardship projects across foods portfolio. The associate will have the opportunity to work on many of our consumer loved brands including Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos, Lays and others.

• Leads and manages the commercialization team (2 technicians and 1 contractor) within PFNA flavor & seasoning team and work closely with all seasoning developers to ensure successful trials, trade-calls and launch of new products into market with excellence on seasoning functionality and performance.
• Sets the vision for seasoning/flavor commercialization and process excellence; leverage effective analytical and modeling tools, develop strategy for effective risk-rigor matrix, new protocols, and processes to align and influence cross-functional teams on testing rigors to ensure successful product launches.
• Prioritize trial agenda and manage execution budget based on data driven risk assessments.
• Work closely with all product developers on formulation requirement to ensure new formulation can function properly at manufacturing plants.
• Map and comprehend the various equipment used in the seasoning process across PFNA plants, as well as document and highlight the distinctions in processing equipment and relationship of equipment capabilities to seasoning functionality in collaboration with supply chain and operations team.
• Understand statistical process control and has the ability to measure and understand cpk/process capability for seasoning performance on multiple lines.
• Collaborate with global process team to establish centerline equipment and processes for all applications. Establish process settings, guardrails and centerline for innovation & renovation launches.
• Collaborate with global teams (product, process, flavor excellence and external innovation team) regarding the most recent technological developments in application and process; responsible for identify and validate new process, equipment, measurement tools and methods for PFNA to enable innovation and renovation agenda.
• Leverage the expertise of subject matter experts (SMEs) in seasoning functionality to provide cross-functional technical input in the design of new seasoning formulations or application systems - internal and external collaboration with OPS, Engineering, seasoning developers and suppliers.
• Work with global team to expand usage and future enhancement of Seasoning Behavior Prediction tool to support all application platforms; lead specific PFNA strategy and implementation.
• Willingness to travel 30-40% of the time.

• BS/MS or higher in Engineering or Food Processing related fields
• 7+ years experience in R&D or manufacturing/production environment in foods, seasoning, flavors, ingredients or CPG industry.
• Proven track record of applying engineering and science principles to solve technical problems.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business objectives into strategic and tactical project goals and objectives.
• Proven ability to make significant technical scientific advances utilizing internal and/or external resources.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to incorporate business needs into technical decisions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments/ tasks.
• Proactive in starting assignments, identifying opportunities/gaps, asking questions, and seeking solutions.
• Experience on statistical process control.
• This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States

• Past experience in foods product development or flavor & seasoning processing a plus.
• Past experience in process design, optimization and field experience a plus.

• Health and insurance benefits to help you and your family live a healthy lifestyle. Our medical options provide access to quality, affordable health care.
• Well-being programs for you and your family to help you reach your personal, physical, emotional, and financial well-being goals, including extended maternity/parental leave.
• Retirement benefits are designed to help you reach your future retirement goals.
• Work/life benefits programs that can save you time, money, and hassle.