R&D Eng Principal Engineer

About the Position

We are seeking a R&D Eng Principal Engineer to develop novel process solutions for snack cooking and extrusion technologies at PepsiCo. This role involves applying fundamental and creative engineering principles to innovate and improve snack product processes and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Apply engineering principles to develop novel process solutions for snack cooking, forming, drying, and frying operations.
• Invent new technological platforms for processing shelf-stable snack products and designing cost-effective extrusion equipment.
• Work on multi-year programs to develop breakthrough product and process designs for international commercial scales.
• Design and install pilot-scale equipment to demonstrate new process technologies.
• Define new capital requirements, specify unit operation performance criteria, and qualify new installations at commercial scale.
• Lead global brand stewardship to maximize scale advantages for PepsiCo’s existing businesses.
• Lead projects to develop new snack products, drive manufacturing cost savings, and improve human sustainability and health.
• Leverage external and internal experts for scientific, analytical, and sensory research.
• Perform economic evaluations on new processes and estimate potential business value.
• Partner externally to source ingredients and food processing equipment.
• Participate in cross-functional business development teams to scale successful processes to commercial production scale.
• Lead the identification, assessment, validation, and commercialization of new products and technologies.
• Design and execute experiments to develop new snack products and improve their nutritional quality.
• Provide technical and business risk assessments and mitigation plans related to new product and process development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Biology, or related fields and ten (10) years of experience in the job offered or related role.
• OR Master’s degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Biology, or related fields and seven (7) years of experience in the job offered or related role.
• Three (3) years of experience with product-process commercialization, optimization, and productivity.
• Two (2) years of experience with food extrusion technologies and food extrusion science and engineering principles.
• One (1) year of experience with leading technical communities of practice and working with global programs and teams.

We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work in a dynamic and innovative environment.
• Professional development and growth opportunities.

About the Company

PepsiCo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Location: Plano, TX, USA

Job Type: Full-time

Travel Required: Up to 25% of the time