Principal Scientist, R&D – Consumer Experience Packaging Research SME

Location: Glenview, Illinois, United States. Hybrid schedule with virtual work permitted up to two days per week and in-person work required at least three days per week. Travel up to 20%.

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

Company

hirify.global is a food and beverage company developing and commercializing consumer products and packaging.

What you will do

• Provide technical leadership and define consumer experience information needs across assigned product portfolios and development milestones.
• Design end-to-end qualitative and quantitative consumer experience research plans from exploration and ideation through launch readiness and validation.
• Translate consumer learning into product and packaging experience requirements, decision criteria, and design tradeoffs.
• Lead executive and technical stakeholder readouts, synthesizing findings into clear, actionable implications.
• Evaluate research methods, analytics, suppliers, study quality, data integrity, and deliverables.
• Coach scientists and partners through training, playbooks, toolkits, and standardized best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in consumer behavior, psychology, marketing research, engineering, food science, human factors, industrial design, or a related STEM field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• At least 6 years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, 5 years with a master’s degree, or 4 years with a PhD in consumer, product, or experience research supporting product development and commercialization.
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodology, including study design, instrument development, analysis planning, synthesis, and storytelling.
• Direct experience with consumer research methodology for packaging technical design and product or packaging innovation.
• Ability to oversee vendor methods, analysis, interpretation, research quality, and data integrity.
• Strong cross-functional leadership, stakeholder management, quantitative interpretation, prioritization, and communication skills.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible hybrid work arrangement supporting up to two virtual days each week.
• Healthcare, prescription drug, dental, vision, and screening or assessment coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Paid time off, company holidays, leave programs, training, and flexible work arrangements.
• 401(k), life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and disability benefits.
• Wellbeing, family support, employee assistance, learning, and recognition programs.