Scientist, R&D - Product Dev (Food Science)

Location: Glenview, Illinois, United States; normal office environment with moderate travel to customer locations, stores, manufacturing facilities, internal plants, co-manufacturers, and suppliers. Approximately 30% travel is required.

Salary: $77,800–$97,300 new hire base salary per year, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus.

Company

hirify.global develops and manufactures consumer food products, including Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese, and Cracker Barrel Mac & Cheese.

What you will do

• Lead new product formulation, portfolio renovation, productivity, and supply continuity initiatives across multiple brands and product formats.
• Drive projects from ideation through commercialization, including benchtop development, final production, and raw-material-to-finished-product specifications.
• Manage multiple R&D projects and timelines simultaneously.
• Apply ingredient and process knowledge, experimental design, and data interpretation to make technical recommendations.
• Coordinate product testing, qualification, and commercialization across laboratory, production, internal manufacturing, and external manufacturing environments.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and lead, coach, and motivate others.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, or a related scientific field plus at least two years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree plus at least one year of related experience.
• Understanding of ingredient functionality and the interrelationship between ingredients and processes.
• Ability to manage varying degrees of complex projects and multiple assignments concurrently.
• Excellent communication, influencing, prioritization, and project management skills.
• Strong critical-thinking skills and ability to connect technical work to the broader business context.
• Ability to lead, coach, and motivate others.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30% of the time, including travel to internal plants, co-manufacturers, and suppliers.

Nice to have

• Process cheese experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Healthcare, prescription drug, dental, vision, screening, and assessment coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Paid time off, company holidays, leave of absence, flexible work arrangements, recognition, and training.
• Employee assistance, wellbeing, family support, and learning programs.
• 401(k), life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and disability benefits.
• Equal opportunity employment with accommodation support available during the application process.