R&D Analytical Principal Scientist - Biopolymers and Botanicals

Overview

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.

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.

Qualifications

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