Principal Scientist, R&D - Product Dev (Packaging Development)

Location: Glenview R&D Center, Glenview, Illinois, United States. The role requires 30% travel.

New hire base salary: $104,200–$130,200 per year, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus.

Company

hirify.global develops and commercializes branded food products, including solutions for the Meat, Cheese, Coffee, and Snacking platform.

What you will do

• Identify, develop, and commercialize packaging technology opportunities for Lunchables and Adult Snacking.
• Work with Core, Innovation, Club Marketing, Brand, Insights, suppliers, technology partners, and industry partners to define opportunities and execution plans.
• Build business cases covering value creation, cost, risk, timing, and resource requirements, and present recommendations to leadership.
• Translate consumer insights into packaging requirements and lead packaging-focused consumer tests.
• Lead scale-up trials, qualification and validation, launch execution, and post-launch stabilization for key platform projects.
• Execute research plans involving patent and literature reviews, prototyping, laboratory testing, pilot or production-equipment qualification, data analysis, and technical problem-solving.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Mechanical, Materials, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with at least 7 years of relevant experience; alternatively, a master’s degree with at least 6 years or a PhD with at least 5 years.
• Expert understanding of packaging materials, barrier properties, functionality, standard test methods, packaging-format qualification, commercialization, and design of experiments.
• Proven communication, influencing, project or platform management, and problem-solving skills, including presentations to global teams and senior leadership.
• Ability to lead, coach, and motivate others; manage concurrent assignments; and prioritize work for self and others.
• Ability to assess risks, develop multiple business options, and influence stakeholders across the packaging value chain.
• Willingness to travel 30% and work from the Glenview R&D Center.

Culture & Benefits

• Healthcare coverage for employees and eligible dependents, including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision plans.
• Paid time off, company holidays, leave of absence programs, flexible work arrangements, and recognition programs.
• 401(k), life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, and disability benefits.
• Employee assistance, family support, wellbeing programs, learning opportunities, and training.