R&D Analytical Principal Scientist - Biopolymers and Botanicals

R&D Culture

Our R&D organization recognizes both the talent of our people and the scope of our impacts, and we share a set of beliefs that elevate our ability to reach our goals and business objectives. We encourage each other to pursue innovative solutions without fear of failure by nurturing a culture where talent development and continuous learning are key priorities. We look for and assume the best in each other. We are a global team that works collaboratively across business categories/sectors/regions to deliver meaningful outcomes faster.

This Principal Scientist role will be based at PepsiCo Plano R&D facility. The position is the global subject matter expert for polysaccharides (starch, beta-glucan, pectin, and other dietary fibers), proteins and enzymes applied to PepsiCo’s food and beverage ingredients and finished formulations. The responsibilities will include the development and maintenance of analytical technologies and methods to enable data-driven business decisions for R&D product and process development. In this role, the position will work with our partners and stakeholders in the cross-functional areas of Product Development, Process Development, Quality, Food Safety and Supply Chain.

Responsibilities will include the creation and interpretation of analytical data to advance R&D projects and troubleshooting. Importantly, the incumbent will leverage other cross functional data sets and, by applying scientific first principles and statistical tools, will advance our predictive analytical efforts to enable more rapid decision making for critical business questions and new product development. In addition, the auxiliary functions of this position include providing scientific insights and developing methods for bio functional ingredients, pesticides, food allergens and mycotoxins. The role will use the lab platforms to document all data and reports using digitized tools and formats.

As a technical leader within the team, this incumbent will be responsible to mentor and coach more junior associates and will have people management responsibilities.

• Lead analytical efforts for global stakeholders on biopolymers characterization technologies and methods for content and functional determination. The biopolymers include polysaccharides such as starch, beta-glucan, pectin, and other dietary fibers, proteins and enzymes
• As the global Subject Matter Expert for Biopolymer analyses, provide technical expertise and insights to substantiate product and process performance and claims.
• Collaborate with R&D stakeholders to prioritize and manage projects to understand the problem to solve then, generate, analyze, interpret data, to deliver, accurate, impactful, and actionable reports and insights.
• Proactively seek new technologies for robust, and rapid ways to deliver fit for purpose methods and practices that promotes lab performance and efficiencies
• Be an advocate for the deployment of Measurement Sciences Smart-data and Digitalization strategies
• Maintain, track, troubleshoot and improve existing instruments/systems/work processes of analytical capabilities.
• Represent PepsiCo R & D in professional organizations to influence and shape the external technical landscape to ensure science-based, fit for purpose industry methods.
• Follow all mandated safety and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) procedures
• Coach and guide chemists and technicians
• Leverage digital and statistical technologies to maximize insights from various data sets thereby transforming our approach to product development and risk mitigation
• Maintain accurate records and documentation
• Manage small team

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $106,400 - $178,100.
• 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 12% 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.

• Looking for a deep PhD chemist with minimum 5 years' experience applying analytical techniques in biopolymers and botanicals

Knowledge and Experience:

• Ph. D. in Biochemistry / Chemistry /Natural Products / Food Science with 5-10 years of experience in an R&D analytical/product development team in the food/beverage industry with deep level biopolymer experience
• Experienced with size exclusion chromatography, light scattering, SDS-PAGE, spectroscopy, enzyme chemistry, protein characterization and familiar with general analytical equipment
• Capable of learning and applying various analytical techniques including method development
• Working knowledge/experience with lab information management systems and statistical tools
• Mentor and coach junior scientists
• Work with minimal supervision and lead as a role-model
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaborative skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience in foods and beverages preferred

Critical Competencies:

• Demonstrated logical/critical thinking and good technical writing/presentation skills
• Proficiency and strong knowledge in polysaccharides/protein chemistry, chromatography (size exclusion chromatography), spectroscopy (Light scattering, UV, NIR), physical characterizations (viscosity and particle size), material sciences, analytical chemistry, and related disciplines
• Proven ability to draw on past experiences and leverage internal and external inputs and expertise
• Capability to identify root causes and implement thoughtful and corrective actions
• Working knowledge/experience in digital data processing
• Able to work in a team and to guide and supervise scientists / technicians to achieve team goals
• Ability to self-initiate, manage multiple projects / tasks independently to meet business objectives
• Able to communicate complex technical information and outcomes to non-technical people
• Flexible, and be able prioritize to meet goals and needs of the team and business

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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