Reporting to the Salty Division Senior R&D Manager and based in the Hershey Technical Center in Hershey, PA, the Senior Research Scientist position provides technical and project leadership across a portfolio of product development and renovation initiatives at varying stages of the innovation lifecycle. Project complexity may be driven by technical challenges, manufacturing considerations, speed to market, number of concurrent projects, and cross‑functional engagement. The ability to operate with medium to high autonomy across initiatives is required. The successful candidate consistently applies strong technical expertise, demonstrates critical thinking and problem‑solving skills, and communicates complex technical information effectively to diverse audiences.
Specific Role Focus Area:
• Focused on developing new products across our salty snacking portfolio including popcorn and puffs, as well as product renovations and quality improvement
• Perform prototyping and development from bench top to manufacturing scale
• Interact closely with a cross-functional team including marketing, QRC, manufacturing, and engineering
• Assume a leadership role on complex projects and guide them through the Salty Innovation process with cross‑functional partners
• Participate in project design and methodology, test ideas through experimentation, and determine next steps through problem solving
• Work within a team to ensure product recipe and specification documentation is complete and accurate.
of major duties:
Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:
• Demonstrated experience leading product development project to commercialize
• Hands on skills involving running laboratory and pilot plant equipment
• Demonstrated knowledge of salty snacks processing – popcorn, extruded snacks, baked snacks (pretzels)
• Excellent communication, written and critical thinking skills
• Understanding of the impact of the key processing parameters in the conversion of raw ingredient and in-process material to finished product and critical for the day-to-day operation of a line
• Demonstrated success in leading multiple and simultaneous projects
• Possess good computer skills (basic knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, MS Teams). Prior experience with SAP is preferred
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment
• Up to 35% travel required. Minimum Education and Experience
Requirements:
Education and Experience: BS degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related field with 6-8 years’ experience, MS or PhD in Food Science or related field with 2-4 years’ experience. Intern and prior research project work will be considered; Salty Snacks product development experience is preferred
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The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company with a purpose to make more moments of goodness through its iconic brands. Hershey has approximately 20,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products.
The company has more than 70 brands around the world that drive more than $11 billion in annual revenues, including such beloved brands like HERSHEY'S, REESE'S, KIT KAT®, JOLLY RANCHER, ICE BREAKERS, SHAQ-A-LICIOUS, SKINNYPOP and DOT'S HOMESTYLE PRETZEL'S.
For more than 130 years, Hershey has been committed to operating responsibly and supporting its people and communities. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created Milton Hershey School in 1909, and since then, the company has focused on helping children succeed through access to education.
