Principal Scientist, R&D – Consumer Experience, Product Insights

The Kraft Heinz Company

Principal Scientist leading consumer experience research efforts for product innovation at Kraft Heinz. Collaborating with cross-functional teams to influence product and packaging decisions while ensuring methodological rigor.

Posted 5/12/2026full-timeGlenview • Illinois, Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $104,200 - $130,200 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide CX technical leadership for the assigned portfolio/platforms, defining key information needs tied to business and technical decisions at each development milestone.
Architect end-to-end CX learning plans (qualitative + quantitative) from upstream exploration to downstream validation, with clear decision framing, success criteria, and evidence standards.
Serve as portfolio CX methodologist/SME—selecting, applying, and advising on appropriate methods across learning phases, aligning rigor to risk and timeline.
Translate consumer learning into clear experience requirements that guide product and packaging development, including managing design tradeoffs and aligning on what success looks like.
Lead high-stakes stakeholder readouts, synthesizing findings, tailoring storyline and technical depth for executive vs. technical audiences; ensure implications are clear, succinct, and actionable.
Serve as technical consultant to the CX team on study designs, analysis plans, and interpretation for high-stakes readouts and gate/milestone decisions.
Evaluate, pilot, and standardize emerging CX methods and analytics (including vendor capabilities), documenting best practices, limitations, and evidence thresholds before scaling.
Coach and upskill scientists and partners through training, playbooks/toolkits, best practices, and consultative support, including shaping ways of working that embed CX rigor across the function.
Audit vendor strategy and performance for the portfolio— capability matching, scoping, quality expectations, data integrity checks, performance management, and deliverable acceptance criteria.
Lead multiple simultaneous workstreams with strong prioritization, operating discipline, documentation, and stakeholder communication in a fast-paced environment.
Provide continuity/backup coverage for the senior team as needed.
Ensure compliance with data integrity, privacy, and internal research governance requirements.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree minimum (Consumer Behavior/Psychology, Marketing Research, Engineering, Food Science, Human Factors, Industrial Design, or related STEM field).
Minimum of 6+ years (BS), 5 + years (MS) or 4 + years (PhD) in consumer/product research, consumer experience, or applied insights supporting product development and commercialization—CPG or food & beverage strongly preferred
Recognized expertise across CX research methods (qualitative and quantitative), including end-to-end study design, instrument development, analysis planning, synthesis, and storytelling; ability to select methods based on decision risk and learning objectives.
Proven ability to influence product and packaging innovation/renovation decisions by translating consumer needs into clear experience requirements and decision criteria.
Strong technical oversight: expert scoping, critical review of study quality, and ability to QA vendor work (methods, analysis, and interpretation).
Clear, succinct communication across audiences, including leadership-level implications, tradeoffs, and uncertainty/limitations.
Demonstrated capability building: coaching, technical training, and establishing best practices/standards in a matrixed organization.
Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management; sound escalation judgment and ability to correct misinterpretations of evidence.
Strong prioritization and independent execution across a complex portfolio with multiple concurrent projects.
Working proficiency with quantitative/statistical interpretation used in CX and product testing; comfort using and overseeing common research platforms and analysis tools (survey/testing platforms, analysis packages, dashboards/BI), consistent with internal standards.
Ability to travel up to 20 % of the time.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare
protection, and saving for the future
plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs
Wellbeing- We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors
Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

CX research methodsend-to-end study designinstrument developmentanalysis planningsynthesisstorytellingquantitative/statistical interpretationconsumer needs translationdecision criteria developmentquality assurance

Soft Skills

technical leadershipstakeholder managementcommunicationcoachingprioritizationindependent executioninfluencecritical reviewcapability buildingescalation judgment