Location: Hershey, PA
Summary:The Senior Research Scientist, R&D - Popcorn & Kid Snacking (Flavor Development) leads the development of new seasoning systems and flavor innovations for the SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty, LesserEvil and any new brands under Popcorn and Kid Snacking platform. This role drives projects from early-stage concepting through pilot testing, scale-up, and commercialization, ensuring that flavor profiles meet consumer expectations for taste, aroma, texture, and overall eating experience.
This position requires deep technical expertise in savory flavor systems, seasoning blends, and salty snack formulation. The Senior Research Scientist partners closely with Marketing, Consumer Insights, Sensory, Quality, Procurement, Engineering, and Operations to deliver innovation aligned with business strategy. The Senior Research Scientist also mentors junior team members and contributes to the long-term flavor platform roadmap.
The ideal candidate is a strong technical problem solver, a collaborative cross-functional partner, and a proactive innovator with a passion for shaping the future of flavor in salty snacks.
Responsibilities:- Flavor Innovation & Technical Leadership.
- Lead formulation and development of new seasoning blends, flavor systems, and product concepts for SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty, and LesserEvil.
- Apply advanced understanding of flavor chemistry, ingredient interactions, processing effects, and delivery mechanisms to optimize taste and aroma.
- Conduct hands-on benchtop work, prototype creation, seasoning blending, and feasibility testing.
- Translate consumer insights and culinary trends into differentiated flavor solutions.
- Own the technical strategy for flavor development
- Sensory, Consumer Learning & Data-Driven Optimization
- Partner with Sensory & Consumer Insights to design sensory tests, consumer validation, preference mapping, and flavor optimization plans.
- Interpret sensory, analytical, and consumer data to refine formulations and guide decision-making.
- Lead technical integration of sensory learnings into product design and development standards.
- Process Scale up and Improvement
- Support pilot plant trials and manufacturing scale-up for new seasoning systems and flavor launches.
- Develop seasoning application parameters and troubleshoot issues related to adhesion, flavor intensity, stability, and batch-to-batch consistency.
- Collaboration & Project Support
- Serve as technical lead on cross-functional innovation teams, providing input on timeline, feasibility, risk, and resourcing.
- Partner with Marketing on innovation briefs, claims feasibility, and strategic flavor direction.
- Contribute technical recommendations that balance consumer delight, cost constraints, and operational feasibility.
- Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to ensure robust technical transfer to production.
Minimum experience, skills, and education requirements:Technical Skills- Knowledge of savory flavor chemistry, seasoning blends, carrier systems, ingredient functionality, and flavor delivery technologies.
- Understanding of salty snack processing (nice to have) and its influence on flavor performance (e.g., popcorn, puffed/expanded snacks).
- Strong skills in sensory analysis, consumer evaluation methods, data interpretation, and iterative product optimization.
- Experience designing and running pilot-scale seasoning application trials.
- Working knowledge of food safety, labeling, regulatory requirements, and quality systems.
Leadership & Collaboration- Proven ability to independently lead technical projects of moderate to high complexity.
- Strong influencing skills with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Insights, Engineering, Quality, and Operations.
- Excellent communication skills-able to translate technical detail for non-technical partners.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast paced, matrixed environment.
Mindsets & Behaviors- Creative, curious, and motivated by developing breakthrough flavor experiences.
- Strong analytical thinker with rigorous documentation and problem-solving skills.
- Comfortable managing multiple parallel projects with shifting priorities.
- Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable.
- BS degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related field with 3-7 years' experience, MS in Food Science or related field with 2-4 years' experience. Intern and prior research project work will be considered
- Ability to work in lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments.
- Occasional travel (10-20%) to plants, suppliers, or pilot facilities.
- Ability to lift materials and equipment (up to ~25 lbs) as needed for lab or pilot work.
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