Principal Product Development Scientist - Innovation

Principal Product Development Scientist - Innovation

Apex Systems is a world-class technology services business incorporating industry insights and experience to deliver solutions that fulfill our clients' digital visions. Apex has an opportunity to be a Principal Product Development Scientist - Innovation in the Boston area. This is a Permanent/Direct Hire position, and the salary is flexible depending on experience.

The Principal Product Development Scientist, Breakthrough Innovation, will develop transformative food and beverage products to satisfy unmet consumer demands and support long-term business objectives. The primary aim of this role is to expand our product portfolio outside of our current core categories into new verticals and product forms. This role resides within R&D but will require close collaboration with internal cross-functional teams as well as external resources to conceptualize, formulate, and create new products. The role requires broad product development expertise, a keen understanding of consumers, and the ability to ideate and develop innovative ideas. The ideal candidate will have a passion for new product development and possess a combination of creativity, deep technical knowledge, curiosity, and an ability to execute.

Job Duties:

• Ideate, design/develop, and commercialize innovative new products that expand the company's portfolio beyond our core categories, or deliver significant competitive advantage within core categories with barriers to entry. Apply leading edge science to unlock Food/Bev innovation.
• Collaborate closely with our Emerging Science group to bring leading-edge technologies and ingredients to life in commercial products.
• Benchtop prototyping and pilot scale tests.
• Consumer-led product design. Design formulas to ensure commercialized products are reproducible and robust enough to meet consumer expectations, quality and cost requirements, and supply of raw materials, with consideration to the impact on plant operations.
• Effectively manage technical timelines and multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Follow our Technical Stage Gate process, from Ideation through Launch, ensuring sufficient technical and project management rigor is incorporated into project plans.
• Guide development of robust learning plans for all commercialization projects
• Conduct competitive and feasibility assessments.
• Perform costing exercises at multiple stages throughout the product development cycle.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Food Science Foundation/Strong Technical Acumen
• Ability to apply scientific principles to research and creative problem solving
• Creative and strategic mindset
• Courage to communicate directly and assume leadership role
• Willingness to influence broadly and defend ideas
• Highly motivated self-starter
• Must be fearless in pursuit of big ideas
• Adaptability
• Expert understanding of food science, packaging, and manufacturing processes.

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Food Science or Chemical Engineering, PhD is a plus.
• 7+ years in product development, within a CPG environment.
• Familiarity with FDA, USDA, or other relevant regulatory bodies and standards.
• Experience with PLM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and data analysis tools.
• Note that this role is onsite due to significant laboratory and pilot-plant work

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