R&D Engineer (Contractor)

Job details
Job Type
Full-time
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $79 billion in net revenue in 2021, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for the planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

Main Purpose:
As an R&D Asst Scientist / Eng., working within MENA-PAK R&D, this position will support CAST, product development activities, and technical brands stewardship agenda of Non-PC platforms of ME BU. This position report directly to the R&D Sr. Product Development manager based in Riyadh.

Key Accountabilities:
Support Sr. Product Development Manager in developing product prototypes against consumer and business KPIs by leveraging available resources including R&D Laboratory tools, bench top factory equipment, pilot plants, and supplier’s technical assets.
Coordinate sample requirements with manufacturing plants, global R&D function, etc. for NPD, internal screening, bench taste, sensory test, consumer test, shelf life stability, mkt & sales samples, and other needs.
Coordinate product development activities and engage with BU GP and SC /OPS teams to run plant trials.
Use experimental design data interpretation tools to make technically sound recommendations of key quality KPIs,s to business.
Support to deliver Productivity, Sustainability, and Brand Stewardship agendas of Non-PC platforms and engage with BU GP & SC /OPS teams to manage technical aspects.
Support in developing FC, business P&L, and finalizing product and ingredient specifications with SRA, Quality, and Food Safety guardrails.
Understand the PepsiCo Global Ingredient Standard and Supplier Standard, and become proficient in the PepsiCo Quality Program (QPP) and IT Applications associated.
Use PEP Digital platforms / IT tools and lead PV/PQQ and SAP/SQ to create innovation specifications and ensure timely completion of all its deliverables and approvals by R&D functional approvers (Regulatory, Quality, Food Safety & Product Development).
Work with and provide guidance to the supplier in completing the requirements of the specification through the completion of relevant tools i.e. Pre-Qualification Questionnaire(PQQ) in the following key areas:
Ingredient Composition
All Chemical, physical, and other parameter requirements.
Claims/Compliance related to QA/FS
Food safety Requirements
Allergen
Test method and limit for FS and Performance parameters
Ingredient Micro sensitive assessment.
Other Spec General information
Work with Operation QC and Functional approver to review and align the specification changes. Communicate with vendors for acceptance of specification changes as needed.
Lead exploration of new ingredients, formulation, and process technologies and leverage expertise inside and outside the organization to deliver new product and process development.
Represent R&D on multi-functional business teams and Influence others through strong communication & interpersonal skills.
Provide regular progress updates against agreed deliverables & objectives and timely communication of issues to the Sr. Product Development Manager.
Support Sr. Product Development Manager in executing the new product launch flawlessly through the use of sound project management principles and the application of strategic decision-making tools.
Support Sr. Product Development Manager to deliver Reframe & Breakthrough innovations through participation in trials, commissioning, and launch.
#Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Qualifications

Key Skills/Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Food Engineering, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Science, Science, and Microbiology, or adjacent subjects. MS is desired.
2-3 years of experience in Regulatory, QA/QC, Food Analytical experience, product development, and or other Food related FMCG in a technical role.
Well-versed in Microsoft Office and Excel.
Effective communication skills, both verbal (i.e. presentation, conference calls) and written (i.e. reports, e-mails) in English.
Confident and able to speak or present to senior leaders when needed.
Learning agility, self-motivation, and desire for continuous self-improvement.
Team player and works well with cross-functional, cross-regional, and cross-cultural teams.
Can work independently and has initiative for problem-solving.