Principal Product Development Engineer - Mooresville - BestCo

Description

We believe being healthy should not require tradeoffs. SCN BestCo is a leading innovator, developer and manufacturer of Vitamin, Mineral & Supplement (VMS), Over-the-Counter (OTC) and prebiotics/probiotics in enjoyable forms such as gummies, lozenges and chews. With over 50 years of excellence, our team leads the way in changing how consumers make healthier choices. With unique food science expertise and proprietary processes, we've pioneered many firsts. Our passion to create new to the world products has guided and continues to be core to our mission of making health and wellness more enjoyable. Come join us and become a part of our winning formula
The Principal Product Development Engineer is a leader in designing novel confectionary based over the counter (OTC) drug and/or supplement products. This position requires an inquisitive nature paired with scientific methodology, enabling the development of robust line-ready formulations. The Principal Product Development Engineer must utilize strong communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of the organization and work in a fast-paced environment. Additionally, a key responsibility in this role is mentoring junior scientists on confectionary product formulation and manufacturing.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Seek new ingredients and technologies in pursuit of developing unique product offerings in confectionary OTC and/or supplement markets.
• Translate consumer needs into delightful, finished products that use the most appropriate technologies, chemicals, and materials.
• Prepare product samples, test, and analyze physical and sensory attributes to include texture, moisture, pH, and color analysis to develop a comprehensive data package.
• Execute Design of Experiments (DOEs) to assess critical attributes of ingredients, products and processes and capture, analyze, and report data with sound technical recommendations on product and/or processes.
• Develop strategic partnerships with external industry leaders and internal stakeholders to generate new and innovative opportunities.
• Engage with cross functional teams including quality, procurement, supply chain, and manufacturing to resolve issues that may arise in the course of new product development or existing product improvement.
• Ensure the development laboratory is operational; equipment is in working order, place work orders as required, maintain and order supplies, keep basic bulk ingredients on hand and order as required, work with developers to keep the lab area clean, confirm that samples and ingredients are properly stored, coordinate large laboratory projects with the development team.
• Participate in continuing education as required to expand technical knowledge base. Learn methods to improve formulation quality such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, convenience, or physical, chemical, and microbiological composition of foods.
• Engage with suppliers to stay current on market trends and ingredient solutions.
• Support knowledge capture and organizational knowledge growth via effective data summaries, reports, and presentations.
• Mentor peers and junior scientists on best practices and product knowledge.
• Determine best practices and recommend a path forward. Adapt processes, recognize issues to be resolved, build multiple solution paths, and proactively ensure alignment across multiple teams.

People Leader Responsibilities
This position may be required to carry out People Leader Responsibilities in accordance with the Company's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include:

• Actively supervise, hire, train, schedule, coach, and develop assigned employees.
• Provide task direction to team members and On the Job Training (OJT) for new hires (Onboarding).
• Listen to team members' feedback and resolve/report any issues or conflicts.
• Conduct performance reviews and manage individual performance.
• Recommend personnel actions (pay adjustments, promotions, transfers, terminations).
• Communicate personnel actions following Human Resources and Department Head approval.
• Ensure safety and quality standards are enforced and met.

Required Qualifications
Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a pharmaceutical science, chemical engineering, food science, chemistry, or related scientific discipline.
• 10 years' experience in product development engineering, science, or similar function.
• Experience applying statistical analysis, mathematical modeling, machine learning, data mining, and related techniques to drive solutions.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs):

• Proficient with Microsoft Office and database, project management and ERP software.
• Thorough knowledge of confectionary manufacturing and ingredients.
• Working knowledge of cGMP and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
• Strong business acumen: ability to leverage scientific trends to identify future business opportunities.
• Strong leadership, technical excellence, innovation, analytical, organization, detail orientation, and collaboration abilities.
• Ability to determine best practices, consolidate product knowledge, ensure it is applied across the organization through mentoring peers and junior scientists.
• Demonstrated original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work, develops innovative approaches and ideas, and presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Working knowledge of project management processes and procedures.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, utilize time efficiently, and multi-task in an ever changing, fast-paced environment.
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with internal staff and management. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Must be able to demonstrate practical problem solving and trouble shooting skills. Ability to demonstrate practical problem solving and trouble shooting skills. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in food science, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, or related field
• Experience in formulation or product development of OTC or Dietary Supplement or food products.
• Experience developing and commercializing oral drug products under US monograph or NDA regulations.
• Experience with regulatory bodies including FDA and NSF
• Proven formulation and product scale-up experience in a cGMP environment
• Statistical software experience (Minitab, Statgraphics, etc.) with the ability to interpret data and drive action

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities