At PepsiCo, you’ll discover a place where our mission is to create smiles around the world. With a portfolio of more than 500 beloved brands including, Gatorade, Lay’s and Quaker, our work touches millions of people every day.

At the heart of the company is a team of thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers who collaborate to innovate and turn ideas into action. Driven by innovation and a focus on creating joyful moments through food and drinks, our decisions are guided by consumer centricity, creating opportunities for our associates to do meaningful work and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve.

Whatever your role, you’ll be part of a global community that values your ideas and empowers you to make an impact, on your career and on the world around you.

The Associate Principal Scientist will lead seasoning development across multiple brands and products on the R&D Seasonings & Flavor team and with the opportunity to work on many of our consumer loved brands including Lays, Miss Vickies, Cheetos, STAX, Meals, Dips and Sauces and others. The role includes flavor strategy research & ideation, leveraging culinary, flavor & seasoning development, seasoning vendor partnership, seasoning processing & scale up, and specifications. The R&D Associate Principal Scientist will be an integral part of our PEP+ agenda leading strategic planning and innovation programs to expand our portfolio providing more consumer choices with products that are better for the planet and people.

• Lead seasoning and flavor innovation from idea inception through product commercialization across multiple brands.
• Work effectively with other R&D functions and business cross-functional partners to develop and launch product innovations and renovations, integrating pep+ technology roadmaps.
• Work with external suppliers and vendors to identify new technology unlocks, lead new seasoning design and commercialize new ingredients and technologies.
• Provide technical and business risk assessment/perspectives related to new product development and strategic R&D project goals.
• Apply scientific and experimental design principles to solve technical problems and create robust seasoning designs.
• Leverage external and internal experts for key analytical and sensory research.
• Willing to travel, occasionally up to 40%.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $93,500 - $156,450.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 10% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

• BS, MS, or PhD in Food Science, Ingredient Science or Engineering
• 5+ years experience (BS), 3-4+ (MS), 2-3+ (PhD) in R&D or manufacturing/production environment in foods, seasoning, flavors, ingredients or CPG industry
• Demonstrated ability to translate business objectives into strategic and tactical project objectives
• Demonstrated competency to effectively influence cross-functionally with solid communication (oral & written) and collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results while overcoming obstacles
• Experience with seasoning system setup, operation, quality control, troubleshooting, etc. is a plus
• This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• Past experience in product or process development, seasoning & flavor, ingredient science or culinary a plus.

Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

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

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

Please view our Pay Transparency Statement