Product Development Senior Scientist Protein Innovation

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader operating in more than 200 countries and territories with a product portfolio that includes 22 world-famous, billion-dollar brands. From Gatorade to Quaker, LIFEWTR to Lay’s, we make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to be the global leader in convenient foods and beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business.

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This Senior Scientist will leverage knowledge and experience to develop and commercialize new products within the Value-Added Protein space across Ready To Drink (RTD) and powdered beverages.

Lead the development efforts of RTD and powdered protein products for retail application from concept through commercialization

• Lead and own end-to-end product development work, which includes the development of formulation design, benchtop prototypes that are safe, stable and legal, scale-up, and launch
• Understand ingredient interactions, processes and packages to support development of refresh, reframe, and breakthrough protein category innovation
• Conduct in-depth research, create reports, and effectively communicate technical results to non-technical employees
• Effectively conduct troubleshooting and root cause analyses for product issues and work with the Technical Brand Stewardship team appropriately to implement solutions
• Act as technical lead to provide technical guidance and insight to cross-functional team members to ensure flawless end-to-end execution
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including timely and accurate status updates of development/research projects
• Understand application of consumer research and experimental design to project objectives
• Accurately maintain laboratory notebook and follow all safety requirements (e.g. PPE)
• Build strong relationships with relevant internal and external partners
• Mentor junior scientists or interns and contribute to team capability building
• Ability to self-initiate and manage multiple project tasks independently to meet business objectives and to support individuals within the workgroup
• Ability to communicate and highlight risks by leveraging experience gained
• Ability to support and assess technical feasibility and development across multiple thermal process platforms (i.e. low acid retort, low acid aseptic and powder processing)
• Development of complex beverage systems that incorporate knowledge of flavors (liquid and powdered)
• Ability to quickly learn and leverage experience to demonstrate proper laboratory techniques and formulation of complex beverage systems

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $84,000 - $140,650.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 8% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

• BS or MS in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline
• Must have a minimum of 3-4 years of experience in product development or 1-2 years if with advanced degree
• Experience with RTD and powdered protein beverages desired
• Experience with hydrocolloids and emulsifying systems for application in protein-based beverages desired
• Successful leadership of technical projects across cross-functional teams desired
• In-depth knowledge of protein chemistry, ingredient interaction, and processing technologies
• Ability to translate bench-top products (RTD and powders) into commercial manufacturing scale
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good time management and organization skills
• Good communication skills (verbal and written) and experience with building effective client/customer.
• Ability to provide thought leadership on tactical aspects of projects
• Outstanding teamwork and communication skills
• Ability to analyze and communicate implications of experimental results
• Percent Travel: 15-25%

Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity.

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy

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