Senior Research Engineer, Process Technology Development R&D

Job Location: Hershey, PA
 

Summary:

It’s an exciting time to join The Hershey Company. We’re at the forefront of implementing transformative technologies across our entire supply chain to deliver our vision of being a Leading Snacking Powerhouse. To do this we’re investing tremendously into our technical talent and looking for the very best and brightest engineers to deliver on our goals.

Currently our Research & Development (R&D) team is growing to support our strategic business initiatives including the development of new products in the fast-growing non-chocolate confectionery category. In this role you’d initially be leading technology development projects for brands such as Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Honest, Lily’s, and others while partnering with Product Development teams to support their innovation pipeline.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Process Technology Development R&D and working at The Hershey Company’s Technical Center located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the Research Engineer, Process Technology Development R&D position provides project leadership to high complexity projects, leading workstreams within larger projects, and/or leading low complexity projects with support. A medium to high level of autonomy is required depending on the workstream. A successful candidate is expected to combine STEM fundamentals and especially engineering fundamentals for solving technical project objectives. This candidate is expected to communicate project updates to cross-functional team members and management. Work assignments could extend across Hershey’s entire product portfolio including core Sweet megabrands such as Hershey’s, Reese’s and Kit Kat as well as fast growing Salty brands such as Dot’s, Skinny Pop, and strategic growth platforms in spaces such as the Better-For-You positioned Zero Sugar products.

Summary of major duties:

Project Leadership for Technology Development
• Actively seek new technologies and innovation opportunities
• Assist with the planning and execution of large-scope projects
• Champion assigned projects through Hershey’s processes
• Test ideas through experimentation using analytical process tools
• Determine the next steps for projects through problem-solving
• Collaborate with cross-functional groups on the ideation, identification, development, and commercialization of new technologies
• Troubleshoot technical questions
• Provide leadership and instruction to technicians

Process Development; lab & pilot-plant equipment operation
• Operate or direct the operation of lab or pilot-plant equipment in the performance of tests or experiments
• Lead the development of new processes through research and experimentation to deliver project results
• Hands-on work involving running lab, pilot plant, and factory equipment
• Development and validation of new process technologies to enable innovation within the Innovation and Research and Development
• Test ideas through experimental design, collect and analyze data using analytical process tools to provide recommendations 
• Leverage hands-on skills involving running laboratory and pilot plant equipment including equipment assembly, preparation, and operation
• Progress technical research by disciplined application of scientific method through project management 
• Transfer knowledge to Product Development, Commercialization and/or Operations teams 
• Partner with Continuous Improvement, Engineering, Supply Chain and Procurement to provide technical support to drive quality and value improvement

This role will interact and partner with: 
• Technical and professional employees within Global R&D including Product Development
• Manufacturing, Operations, and Plant Quality Assurance 
• Quality and Regulatory Compliance 
• Sensory
• Legal
• Procurement
• Marketing 
• Commercialization Engineering 
• External business partners, suppliers, research institutes, and universities

Research design/data analysis/report writing/presenting results 
• Design and execute experiments, analyze data, and provide conclusions using appropriate statistical tools
• Prepare all project reports and documentation as required
• Create and deliver presentations of significant results to drive business decisions

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:  

• Ability to recognize and prioritize key business needs with some guidance from manager and team 
• Strong demonstration of collaboration skills
• Ability to lead lower complexity technical workstreams independently
• Ability to make decisions based on consumer and/or customer needs
• Ability to work independently in a flexible work environment with dynamic priorities
• Attention to scientific important details 
• Strong listening skills
• Sound technical knowledge and capability of applying knowledge to research projects
• Comfortable working with and operating pilot plant and/or lab equipment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good mathematical skills
• Strong computer skills with working knowledge of MS Teams and Office applications including Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to work both on teams and independently in an evolving, fast-changing business environment where changing priorities is common
• Understanding of principles of food chemistry and ingredient functionality
• Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time, averaging 20-30% travel
 

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:  
Candidates must have at minimum a BS degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field with 4-6 years of related experience or a MS degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field with 2-4 years of related experience.
Technical/professional certification(s) preferred. 
Experience working in food processing and non-chocolate sweet confectionery products is preferred. 
Experience in chocolate, gum, and mints is a plus.

Specific Role Focus Areas: 
• This role will initially have a focus on non-chocolate sweets but breadth of product exposure could eventually include the entire company’s portfolio of products
• An ideal candidate for this role will have non-chocolate sugar confectionery (gummies, chews, hard candy, chewing gum, mints, licorice, panning, etc.) experience in process development engineering, process engineering, or plant engineering
• Bring technical rigor to troubleshoot food product and production technical issues and determine the next steps through structured problem solving
• Champion assigned projects through innovation processes by owning process specifications that deliver quality products
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to assist in the product development process including performing prototyping and development from bench top to pilot to commercial scale.
• Lead in-plant initiatives such as processing trials, sample production runs, and new product start-ups
• Experiment and present results in both written and oral forms to share what you learned
• Identify opportunities and drive solutions to the end

Summary of major duties:

• Project Leadership for Technology Development
• Lead 20%, Assist 45%, Supervise 5%
• Actively seek new technologies and innovation opportunities
• Assist with the planning and execution of large-scope projects
• Champion assigned projects through Hershey’s processes
• Test ideas through experimentation using analytical process tools
• Determine the next steps for projects through problem-solving
• Collaborate with cross-functional groups on the ideation, identification, development, and commercialization of new technologies
• Troubleshoot technical questions
• Provide leadership and instruction to technicians
• Process development; lab & pilot-plant equipment operation
• Operate or direct the operation of lab or pilot-plant equipment in the
• performance of tests or experiments
• Lead the development of new processes through research and experimentation to deliver project results
• Hands-on work involving running lab, pilot plant, and factory equipment
• Research design/data analysis/report writing/presenting results   
• Design and execute experiments, analyze data, and provide conclusions using appropriate statistical tools
• Prepare all project reports as required
• Create and deliver presentations of significant results to drive business decisions

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:  

• Ability to recognize and prioritize key business needs with some guidance from manager and team 
• Strong demonstration of collaboration skills
• Ability to lead lower complexity technical workstreams independently
• Ability to make decisions based on consumer and/or customer needs
• Ability to work independently in a flexible work environment with dynamic priorities
• Attention to scientific important details 
• Strong listening skills
• Sound technical knowledge and capability of applying knowledge to research projects
• Comfortable working with and operating pilot plant and/or lab equipment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good mathematical skills
• Strong computer skills with working knowledge of MS Teams and Office applications including Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to work both on teams and independently in an evolving, fast-changing business environment where changing priorities is common
• Understanding of principles of food chemistry and ingredient functionality
• Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time, averaging 20-30% travel
 

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:  

Education and Experience: BS in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field with 4-6 years of related experience or MS in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering field with 2-4 years of related experience.
Technical/professional certification(s) preferred. 
Experience working in food processing and non-chocolate sweet confectionery products is preferred. 
Experience in chocolate, gum, and mints is a plus.

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