Principal Scientist

The R&D Principal Scientist, Analytical Chemistry serves as the organization’s senior technical authority for analytical chemistry supporting beverage, food, ingredient, flavor, packaging, and product development programs. This role combines deep scientific expertise with practical business judgment, translating complex analytical data into clear insights that accelerate innovation, strengthen quality and food safety, support regulatory and compliance needs, and solve critical technical challenges across the enterprise.

The ideal candidate is both a trusted subject matter expert and an inspirational leader—someone who raises the scientific capability of the team, builds confidence in others, creates a culture of curiosity and disciplined experimentation, and models the highest standards for safety, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. This individual will lead analytical strategy, develop and validate fit-for-purpose methods, coach and develop laboratory talent, and help shape the future of analytical capability through new technologies, digital tools, automation, and AI-enabled approaches.

Position Responsibilities

• Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for analytical chemistry across beverage, food, ingredient, flavor, packaging, and product development initiatives.

• Lead analytical strategy for innovation, product development, reformulation, troubleshooting, compliance, quality investigations, ingredient qualification, and business-critical technical decisions.

• Develop, optimize, validate, transfer, and maintain fit-for-purpose analytical methods that enable accurate, repeatable, timely, and actionable results.

• Apply advanced scientific judgment to interpret complex analytical data, identify patterns and technical risks, evaluate root causes, and recommend clear next steps to cross-functional stakeholders.

• Provide technical leadership in the use of analytical platforms and methods such as GC/TOF, HPLC, LC/MS, GCxGC, FTIR, ICP/MS, spectroscopic techniques, wet chemistry, and emerging analytical technologies.

• Partner closely with R&D, Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory, Procurement, Manufacturing, Commercialization, and Supply Chain teams to solve problems, support decision-making, and deliver business-relevant outcomes.

• Lead non-routine analytical investigations, out-of-specification or atypical result evaluations, and technical issue resolution using structured problem solving and sound scientific principles.

• Manage, coach, mentor, and develop laboratory technicians and junior scientists through clear work direction, technical training, performance feedback, and career development support.

• Create an inclusive, high-performance laboratory culture where team members feel empowered to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, learn continuously, and contribute ideas that improve the business.

• Oversee day-to-day laboratory operations, including workflow coordination, prioritization of testing requests, equipment readiness, consumables management, sample handling, documentation, and timely delivery of results.

• Maintain uncompromising standards for laboratory safety, Good Laboratory Practices, SOP compliance, data integrity, documentation quality, and responsible stewardship of analytical results.

• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities that increase laboratory capability, reduce cycle time, improve reliability, strengthen data quality, and support more efficient ways of working.

• Champion the adoption of new methods, instrumentation, digital systems, automation, statistical tools, and AI-enabled approaches that improve analytical performance and accelerate science-based decisions.

• Prepare and communicate technical reports, recommendations, risk assessments, and presentations in a clear, concise, and influential manner for technical and non-technical audiences.

• Represent the analytical chemistry function with credibility, curiosity, and ownership in internal forums, supplier discussions, external laboratory interactions, and cross-functional technical reviews.

Leadership Expectations

• Act as a visible scientific leader who inspires trust through technical depth, balanced judgment, integrity, and calm problem solving.

• Develop others by teaching the “why” behind analytical decisions, building scientific confidence, and creating opportunities for technicians and junior scientists to grow.

• Lead with curiosity, humility, and accountability—encouraging experimentation while maintaining disciplined scientific rigor and compliance.

• Influence across functions without relying solely on authority by translating complex analytical concepts into practical business implications.

• Model a proactive ownership mindset that anticipates risks, removes barriers, and helps the team deliver excellent science in service of consumers, customers, and the business.

• Salary range: USD $96,800 - USD $133,000
• Actual placement within the compensation range may vary depending on experience, skills, and other factors
• Benefits, subject to election and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Paid Time Off (including paid parental leave, vacation, and sick time), 401k with company match, Tuition Reimbursement, and Mileage Reimbursement
• Annual bonus based on performance and eligibility

• M.S. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline required; Ph.D. preferred.

• 7+ years of experience in an analytical laboratory, R&D, product development, quality, food safety, ingredient science, or related scientific environment; food, beverage, flavor, ingredient, or CPG experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated expertise in analytical chemistry, including method development, validation, troubleshooting, data interpretation, and technical problem solving.

• Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation and methods such as GC/TOF, HPLC, LC/MS, GCxGC, FTIR, ICP/MS, spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and classical wet chemistry techniques.

• Experience leading complex technical projects from problem definition through data generation, interpretation, recommendation, and implementation.

• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop laboratory technicians, junior scientists, or cross-functional technical partners.

• Strong working knowledge of laboratory operations, GLP, SOPs, data systems, documentation practices, equipment maintenance, calibration, and data integrity expectations.

• Ability to communicate complex scientific information clearly and persuasively to technical teams, business leaders, suppliers, external laboratories, and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Demonstrated continuous improvement mindset with experience improving methods, workflows, cycle times, lab capability, digital tools, automation, or analytical data systems.

• Strong collaboration, prioritization, decision-making, and influencing skills in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

• Ability to travel domestically as business needs require.

Preferred Candidate Attributes

• Recognized technical credibility as an analytical chemistry expert with the ability to establish standards, mentor others, and influence enterprise practices.

• Passion for beverage science, product quality, consumer experience, and the role analytical chemistry plays in enabling innovation and protecting trust.

• Ability to balance scientific rigor with speed, practicality, and business impact.

• Comfort operating in ambiguity, defining the right analytical question, and building practical pathways from data to decisions.

• Interest in emerging technologies, predictive analytics, automation, digital lab transformation, and AI-enabled tools that can strengthen analytical science.

• Inspirational leadership style grounded in respect, teaching, accountability, curiosity, and a commitment to helping others succeed.

Keurig Dr Pepper (Nasdaq: KDP) is a leading beverage company with more than 150 owned, licensed and partner brands that meet a wide range of needs and occasions. Our North American refreshment beverage business holds leadership positions across carbonated soft drinks, water, juice and mixers with a portfolio of iconic brands such as Dr Pepper®, Canada Dry®, Mott’s®, A&W®, Peñafiel®, GHOST®, 7UP®, Snapple®, Clamato® and Core Hydration®. Our global coffee business spans more than 100 markets and includes the leading Keurig® single‑serve brewing system in the U.S. and Canada, along with powerhouse brands such as Peet’s, L’OR and Jacobs, and other regional coffee leaders. Our more than 50,000 employees aim to enhance the experience of every beverage and coffee occasion while making a positive impact for people, communities and the planet. ​

We strive to be an employer of choice, providing a culture and opportunities that empower our team to grow and develop. We offer robust benefits to support your health and wellness as well as your personal and financial well-being. We also provide employee programs designed to enhance your professional growth and development, while ensuring you feel valued, inspired and appreciated at work.​

Whatever your area of expertise, at KDP you can be a part of a team that’s proud of its brands, partnerships, innovation and growth. Will you join us?​

Keurig Dr Pepper is an equal opportunity employer and recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or association with a person with a disability, medical condition, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law

A.I. Disclosure: 

KDP uses artificial intelligence to assist with initial resume screening and candidate matching. This technology helps us efficiently identify candidates whose qualifications align with our open roles.  AI does not make hiring decisions; all decisions throughout the hiring process are made by talent acquisition team members.  If you prefer not to have your application processed using artificial intelligence, you may opt out by emailing your resume and qualifications directly to kdpjobs@kdrp.com in lieu of clicking Apply. Please include the job title and location or Job ID # in the email subject line in order for your email application to be considered.