Senior Product Development Scientist

About the Role

The Senior Scientist, Product Development (Productivity) is responsible for identifying, developing, and commercializing productivity initiatives that improve profitability, reduce complexity, enhance supply resilience, and accelerate speed to market across the Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) beverage portfolio. This role serves as a strategic technical leader, partnering across R&D, Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, and external suppliers to deliver sustainable enterprise value while maintaining product quality and consumer experience.

Responsibilities

• Leads and develops the productivity strategy to meet consumer need states across KDP brands and products.
• Conducts bench-top work, pilot plant, and manufacturing trials to verify and support formula accuracy and documentation.
• Leads initiatives to reduce product, ingredient, and formulation complexity while protecting consumer experience and brand equity.
• Partners with cross-functional stakeholders to identify standardization opportunities for increased scale, simplified operations, and reduced supply chain complexity.
• Strategically develops new ideas to build the productivity product pipeline, rooted in consumer insights, market research, and technology scouting.
• Leads project management across initiatives to successfully commercialize products.
• Proactively engages with R&D functions (Sensory, Ingredients, Nutrition, Regulatory, Flavor Technology, Packaging, Chemistry, Process Engineering).
• Manages complex initiatives with cross-functional peers across R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Sales.
• Delivers updates on strategic initiatives to key stakeholders and senior leaders.
• Maintains accurate and detailed records of laboratory work.
• Uses formulation software to document lab work and formulas.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, or Chemical Engineering; Master’s degree a plus.
• 7 years of experience in food/beverage (R&D, Quality), CPG, or related field.
• Experience leading the development of ideas and proactively building innovation pipelines.
• Highly independent with strong collaboration skills in a team-based culture.
• Excellent written and presentation skills.
• Skilled in problem-solving with a growth mindset.
• Ability to travel is required.

Skills

• Strong technical expertise in product development and formulation.
• Project management and cross-functional leadership abilities.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to diverse audiences.
• Flexibility and resilience in adapting to changing business needs.
• Passion for problem-solving and delivering value through product development.

Pay

Salary Range: $76,400-$115,000. Actual placement within the range may vary depending on experience, skills, and other factors.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability
• Paid Time Off (including paid parental leave, vacation, and sick time)
• 401k with company match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Annual bonus based on performance and eligibility

Company Overview

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading beverage company with over 150 brands, including Dr Pepper®, Snapple®, and Keurig®. With a global presence, KDP focuses on innovation, growth, and making a positive impact. The company values its employees, offering robust benefits and opportunities for professional development.