Principal Scientist, R&D - Sensory Science

Location: Golf

Job Description As a Principal Scientist in the Consumer Experience (CX) – Sensory Center of Excellence, you will serve as a recognized sensory science subject matter expert leading complex, technically rigorous projects with broad impact across R&D and the North American Zone. You will proactively cultivate foundational sensory knowledge to accelerate and deepen the organization's technical understanding of ingredients, product, packaging, and processes.

You will utilize sensory foundational mastership and advanced design of experiments modeling techniques to drive innovation and renovation through advanced experimental design and predictive modeling. You will apply methodological rigor to answer critical business and technical questions, guiding product development. As a leader in the North America CX – Sensory Science team, you will demonstrate best-in-class Sensory tools, methods, and ways of working across the business.

As a Sensory Science subject matter expert, you will provide coaching and mentorship to drive technical excellence and sensory rigor within the team and across the organization including consultation and training to improve the application of sensory insights in our long-term ingredient technology research. You will partner closely with Central R&D (New Generation Ingredients, Analytical, Nutrition, Product & Process Development, Packaging, CX – Product Insights, Culinary) and external suppliers to ensure sensory perception measurement is translated into practical product, packaging, and technical decisions.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities Develop and lead comprehensive sensory research projects focused on understanding new ingredients and technology in application using all available sensory tools and predictive modeling. Develop and document sensory science capabilities, methodologies, and standards for application across R&D, ensuring cross-functional understanding and consistent application. Partner with Nutrition and Analytical Sciences to ensure correlation with sensory technical measurements and incorporation into final product and process specifications for existing core products and during new product development.

Lead development of Sensory Science best practices and center of excellence standards. Lead Sensory fundamentals training for R&D to ensure consistent team evaluation practices. Create recommendations for Sensory method development, and collaborate with internal digital transformation and data sciences teams on expansion of AI/modeling capabilities. Contribute to the sensory research vendor ecosystem by identifying and qualifying new and emerging high-quality vendor partners with cutting-edge capabilities and world-class recruiting and executional excellence.

Actively engages with industry professionals, standards bodies (e.g., ASTM, SIMS), and academic institutions to advance sensory science, shape best practices, and represent Kraft Heinz as a technical leader in the field. Provide coaching and mentorship for Sensory support staff and more junior team members. Organizational Relationships Interacts and influences all levels cross-functionally. Actively collaborates with NGIAN and CX – Product Insights.

Manages activities of research suppliers. Sets high standards, provides ongoing feedback. Appropriately questions and challenges suppliers to ensure best thinking and continuous improvement. Expected Experience & Required Skills

Education:

Minimum Master of Science degree in Sensory Science;
PhD preferred.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years with MS, 6 years with PhD of Sensory research experience in increasingly responsible positions. Experienced across all sensory research techniques and applications. Consumer packaged goods experience…