Sr Principal Scientist, R&D - Protein Chemist

The Kraft Heinz Company
Illinois
Workplace: HybridFull timeUSD 120,800 - 151,000Function: Research & Scientific (R&D)Experience: 6+ yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Intellectual curiosity","Communication","Collaboration","Problem-solving","Prioritization"]

Lead applied protein chemistry R&D to develop innovative, high-quality food ingredients and products across the Kraft Heinz portfolio. Apply expertise in protein functionality and ingredient interactions to improve food texture, stability, and performance, from formulation and pilot work through commercialization. Partner with cross-functional teams to evaluate new proteins, design and execute experiments, document results, and translate findings into product and processing strategy while building an external research network.

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The Kraft Heinz Company
The Kraft Heinz Company
3 months ago

Sr Principal Scientist, R&D - Protein Chemist

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Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 27 days agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead applied protein chemistry R&D to develop innovative, high-quality food ingredients and products across the Kraft Heinz portfolio. Apply expertise in protein functionality and ingredient interactions to improve food texture, stability, and performance, from formulation and pilot work through commercialization. Partner with cross-functional teams to evaluate new proteins, design and execute experiments, document results, and translate findings into product and processing strategy while building an external research network.
Location: Illinois
Workplace: Hybrid
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Research & Scientific (R&D)
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Apply knowledge of protein functionality (e.g., emulsification, gelation, water binding) to improve food texture, stability, and performance.
  • •Lead formulation and application work using dairy and meat proteins across multiple food categories; translate knowledge to plant-based proteins as needed.
  • •Partner with Product Development, Process Engineering, Nutrition, Regulatory, and Marketing to support product innovation from concept through commercialization.
  • •Evaluate new protein ingredients and technologies from suppliers and academic partners; identify opportunities for joint research and technology scouting.
  • •Design and execute experiments on protein behavior under processing and storage conditions, and maintain detailed documentation; support invention disclosures and patent landscape analysis.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 120,800 - 151,000
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVision401kPaid LeaveLife InsuranceDisability

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s with minimum 8 years, or Master’s with minimum 7 years, or PhD with minimum 6 years in applied protein chemistry or food formulation, focused on dairy and/or meat proteins.
  • •Degree in Food Science, Biochemistry, Dairy/Meat Science, or related field is highly preferred.
  • •Strong understanding of protein structure and how proteins behave in real food systems and during processing.
  • •Deep expertise in protein characterization and protein-based ingredient interactions (protein-protein, protein-carbohydrate, protein-lipid) plus analytical/modeling approaches.
  • •Experience with pilot plant trials, ingredient functionality testing, and cross-functional product development.
Experience:6+ yearsApplied protein chemistryFood formulationDairy proteinsMeat proteinsPilot plant trials
Education:Bachelor's in Food Science, Biochemistry, Dairy/Meat Science, or a related field
Skills:Intellectual curiosityCommunicationCollaborationProblem-solvingPrioritization

Company Brief

The Kraft Heinz Company
The Kraft Heinz Company is a global food and beverage company producing iconic packaged foods and condiments across categories like cheese, meals, condiments, and beverages, serving retail, foodservice, and consumer markets worldwide.
Industry: Food & Beverage
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Revenue: USD 1B+
Growth: Public Company
Valuation: Public Company (Market Cap in USD)
Funding: IPO / Publicly Listed
Headquarters: Chicago, United States
Founded: 2015
WebsiteLinkedIn