Principal Scientist Jobs in Illinois

At Tate & Lyle, our purpose is simple: Transforming Lives Through the Science of Food. We partner with leading food and beverage brands around the world to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that consumers love. Backed by more than 165 years of innovation, our people are passionate about making a positive difference for customers, communities and the planet.

If you're looking to be part of a purpose-led organization where your work can have a real impact, read on to learn more about this opportunity and how you can help shape the future of food.

About the Role
We are looking for an Associate Principal Scientist in Analytical Material Science to strengthen our team and expertise in material characterization and ingredient functionality. This role focuses on understanding how microstructure and physical properties drive product texture, sensory perception, stability, and performance. Using rheology, tribology, microscopy, and advanced data science, you will transform complex experimental data into actionable insights that accelerate innovation. This role balances hands-on advanced laboratory analysis with cross-functional project leadership.

Beyond technical excellence, you will bring a strong customer service mindset, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to understand scientific and business needs, provide clear recommendations, and deliver high-quality analytical insights that enable successful product development and customer solutions. Success in this role requires the ability to combine scientific rigor, effective communication, and customer-focused problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead characterization of ingredients and multiphase food systems using advanced material science techniques, including rheology, tribology, microscopy, particle characterization and related material science techniques.
• Utilize and maintain high-end physical and chemical profiling tools such as rheometers, tribometers, particle size analyzers and microscopy (SEM/optical microscopes).
• Design and execute experiments to understand structure-function relationships and the impact of ingredient composition, processing, and formulation on product performance.
• Develop, validate, and optimize analytical methods and characterization workflows.
• Apply DoE, multivariate statistics, and data science tools to analyze complex datasets and identify key drivers of ingredient functionality.
• Build predictive models linking material properties and microstructure to texture, sensory attributes, stability, and processability.
• Partner closely with Product Development, Application Science, Process Engineering, Regulatory, and Sensory teams to solve complex formulation challenges and scale up pilot operations.
• Act as the subject matter expert for technical sales and customer-facing teams, providing scientific guidance, supporting customer engagements, and translating complex material science data into actionable insights and customer-focused solutions.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the growth of analytical and material science capabilities.
• Communicate technical findings effectively through presentations, reports, scientific publications, and stakeholder discussions.

Key Competencies

• Scientific curiosity and problem-solving mindset
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Data science and statistical modeling capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to influence and collaborate across functions
• Technical leadership and mentoring capability
• Project management and prioritization skills
• Ability to translate complex scientific insights into business impact

Qualifications

• PhD in Material Science, Food Science, Polymer Science, Analytical Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years (or 6+ years with a Master’s degree) of experience in industrial or applied research within food ingredients, food technology, biomaterials, or related sectors.
• Proven track record in food physics, soft matter rheology, and the structural properties of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.
• Proficient in Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical software platforms (e.g., Minitab, Python, R, or JMP) for multivariate data analysis.
• Preferably knowledgeable in analytical chemistry, such as mass spectrometry, chromatography and other techniques.

What we can offer you

Tate & Lyle complies with all local/state regulations requiring salary range transparency. When determining final compensation, we take into consideration: skillset, job scope, knowledge, prior experience, cost of living, market data, budget availability, and other factors as permitted by law.

The salary range for this position is: $71,000 - $104,000.

In addition to competitive pay, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes but is not limited to:

• Medical, Dental, Vision coverages

• Paid time off package, including vacation, sick time, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave

• 401K with company match

• Company paid life insurance

• Additional benefits at not cost to employee such as: Lifestyle Spending Account, Identity Theft protection, Employee Assistance Program, telemedicine and more!

In addition to your Total Rewards, culture and ED&I are very important to Tate & Lyle. We offer multiple Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that support various communities.

#LI-RF1

California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA")

The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.

Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.