Principal R&D Scientist-Sausage

Pilgrim’s Research & Development is seeking a Principal Scientist to join our team in Greeley, CO at our Corporate Headquarters. This senior technical leader within R&D will drive innovation, product development, commercialization, and process improvements across multiple sausage product platforms. The role emphasizes expertise, innovation, and cross-functional influence, supporting business growth, manufacturing startups, and operational optimization.

About the role

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced, hands-on expert in sausage formulation, processing technologies, and commercialization. They will guide projects from development through manufacturing startup, serving as a trusted technical resource across the business. Through deep technical knowledge and collaborative leadership, this individual will help advance the company’s sausage product and process capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end sausage product development from concept through commercialization, ensuring products meet targets for flavor, texture, yield, shelf life, food safety, and cost.
• Leverage deep expertise in sausage formulation, emulsion systems, ingredient functionality, and processing technologies to optimize products and manufacturing processes.
• Drive innovation and reduce commercialization risk through ingredient research, evaluation of emerging technologies, and data-driven experimentation.
• Lead scale-up, pilot, plant trial, and commercialization activities to successfully transition products from development to full-scale manufacturing.
• Drive manufacturing startups and production ramp-ups, troubleshooting technical and operational challenges to ensure smooth implementation.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to deliver successful product launches.
• Support the commissioning, optimization, and scalability of new equipment, processing systems, and manufacturing capabilities while ensuring technical readiness throughout development.
• Serve as the technical authority for sausage product and process development, establishing best practices in formulation, process optimization, product performance, and manufacturing startup.
• Build organizational capability by mentoring scientists, engineers, and cross-functional teams while strengthening technical rigor and problem-solving expertise.
• Influence technical strategy and drive cross-functional alignment through collaboration, deep expertise, and data-driven decision-making.
• Support development of scalable and differentiated product platforms across multiple business channels.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for revenue growth, margin improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Contribute technical expertise to customer engagements, innovation initiatives, and commercialization planning.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, emerging technologies, competitive activity, and evolving consumer preferences within protein and prepared foods categories.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Meat Science, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, or related discipline required.
• With Bachelors degree: 12-15 years in the industry strongly preferred.
• With Masters degree: 8+ years of industry experience strongly preferred.
• Extensive experience in sausage product development, including formulation, meat systems, ingredient functionality, and processing technologies.
• Strong background in R&D, commercialization, pilot production, manufacturing scale-up, and plant startup activities.
• Expertise in sausage processing methods, including grinding, mixing, stuffing, thermal processing, chilling, packaging, and yield optimization.
• Solid understanding of food safety, HACCP, sanitary equipment design, and commercialization readiness.
• Proven ability to solve complex technical and operational challenges in manufacturing environments while driving process improvements.
• Strong self-directed leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, effectively managing multiple priorities while operating with a high degree of autonomy.
• Excellent collaborator and communicator with an entrepreneurial mindset, skilled at building processes, driving cross-functional partnerships, and creating structure in evolving organizations.
• Ability to travel 50% to our facilities in IA.
• Can perform the functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• May be required to travel to other facilities, attend Company events, or represent the Company as business needs dictate.

Benefits

• Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage begin after 60 days of employment.
• Paid Time Off: sick leave, vacation, and 6 company observed holidays.
• 401(k): company match begins after the first year of service and follows the company vesting schedule.
• Eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan, with bonus amounts varying based on program terms.
• Career Development: continuous learning opportunities and a focus on professional growth through various learning and development programs.

Pay

Base salary range of $125,000-$150,000.

Pilgrim’s is a leading global food company with more than 62,000 team members worldwide, processing, preparing, packaging, and delivering fresh, frozen, and value-added food products for customers in over 100 countries. Headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, our mission is to be the best in all that we do, ensuring the best products and services for our customers, trust with suppliers, profitability for shareholders, and growth opportunities for team members.