Description
At PURIS, we're dedicated to cultivating a better food system and making a positive impact. How do we do it? By transforming high-quality, USA-made ingredients into essential components for a wide range of everyday products. From cereals and snacks to protein beverages and beyond, our ingredients are powering a healthier future. This is more than just a job; it's an opportunity to be part of a growing food industry. You'll work with state-of-the-art engineering and work together with your peers to build a better food future.
The Minneapolis office is where PURIS comes together as one. As our corporate headquarters, this team partners across commercial, finance, supply chain, people, and operations. We are working closely not only to support and scale our manufacturing network, but also to collaborate with our trusted grower partners across peas and soy. Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, the office blends forward-thinking work with strong relationships across the food system, from farm to finished ingredient. For those who value partnership, cross-functional problem solving, and collective impact, Minneapolis is where individual contributions help move the entire PURIS ecosystem forward.
The purpose of this position is to unlock and expand the value of PURIS pea protein side streams by developing differentiated, high-value starch-, fiber-, and pea solubles–based ingredients. As a core R&D innovator, the Technical Ingredient Specialist will design, develop, and scale novel technologies, processes, and applications that transform starch, fiber, and pea solubles streams from pea protein manufacturing into commercial ingredients with clear functional, nutritional, and economic advantages. The role also partners with customers and commercial teams to translate unmet needs into technical targets, assess ingredient fit and access, and inform development priorities.
Pay Rate/Range: $70,000-$95,000 Annually
Pay Frequency: Biweekly
Bonus Eligible: Yes
Work Location: Minneapolis HQ & Innovation Lab
Travel: Minimal (<10%)
The compensation for this role will be based on qualifications, experience, market data, and internal equity. Actual pay may vary due to factors such as location, skills, education, and performance. Pay is determined transparently, using market benchmarks and ensuring internal equity.
Key Responsibilities
- Technology & Process Innovation: Conceive, design, and develop new technologies and unit operations to upgrade pea starch, pea fiber, and pea solubles side streams into high-value food and ingredient solutions. Lead laboratory, pilot-scale, and early commercial trials for new processes, including separation, modification, and functional enhancement technologies.
- Ingredient Development & Characterization: Develop deep scientific understanding of pea starches, fibers, and solubles, including structure–function relationships, physicochemical properties, and performance in food systems. Design and execute DOE-driven experiments to characterize functionality, stability, nutrition, and processing behavior.
- Scale-Up & Manufacturing Integration: Partner closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Operations to ensure new technologies are scalable, economically viable, and compatible with PURIS assets. Support pilot and plant trials, troubleshoot process challenges, and define process control parameters.
- IP, Technology Pipeline & Differentiation: Generate defensible intellectual property through invention disclosures, patents, and trade secrets. Contribute to PURIS’ longer-term ingredient technology roadmap by identifying platform opportunities within starch, fiber, and pea solubles streams.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with Product Management, Applications R&D, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to define target applications, validate market relevance, and translate technical innovation into ingredient platforms.
- Customer Interaction Summary: Engage customers (in partnership with Commercial) to clarify unmet needs, translate requirements into technical targets, and evaluate ingredient fit, access, and performance. Capture and communicate gaps and feedback to guide R&D priorities, application validation, and documentation needed to enable adoption.
- Customer Needs & Ingredient Access Enablement: Work directly with customers and commercial partners to understand unmet needs, translate customer requirements into technical targets, and identify where PURIS ingredients can deliver value. Assess current ingredient capabilities and access pathways, define technical and commercial gaps, and partner cross-functionally to close gaps through new ingredient development, application work, documentation, and scalable processes.
- Scientific Leadership & Knowledge Building: Serve as an internal subject matter expert in starch, fiber, and pea solubles science. Develop internal technical documentation, white papers, and SOPs. Mentor junior scientists and contribute to building technical capability across the R&D organization.
- Continuous Improvement & External Awareness: Stay at the forefront of academic and industrial research in starch chemistry, fiber functionality, pea solubles composition and functionality, plant-based ingredient processing, and sustainable valorization of side streams. Leverage external collaborations, literature, and conferences to inform innovation.
Requirements
- PhD in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Polymer Science, or related discipline required.
- Strong background in starch chemistry, dietary fiber, polysaccharides, or biopolymer processing.
- Demonstrated experience in process development, scale-up, and technology transfer.
- Proven track record of applied research, innovation, and preferably IP generation.
- Hands-on experience with DOE, statistical analysis, and process optimization tools (e.g., Minitab).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate science into business value.
- Leverages AI tools to streamline work while upholding data privacy and quality standards.
Benefits:
At PURIS, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both personally and professionally. Benefits are effective the first of the month following your hire date. You’ll have access to medical plan options with competitive premiums, along with dental and vision coverage. All Team Members also receive free virtual health care and virtual counseling services. PURIS provides life insurance and short-term disability coverage at no cost to you. To support your long-term financial well-being, PURIS offers a 401(k) plan with a company contribution of 3.5% when you contribute up to 6%. You’ll also enjoy a healthy work-life balance with 80 hours of PTO accrued annually, eight paid holidays, and access to a variety of additional free resources. Join PURIS and experience benefits designed to support your well-being—today and into the future.
Why Work with Us??
Career Growth: PURIS offers a dynamic work environment where you can develop your skills and advance your career. We are committed to nurturing talent and providing ample opportunities for professional development and growth within the company.?
Innovative Environment: You'll have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art engineering and cutting-edge technology. Our dedication to innovation means you'll be part of a forward-thinking team constantly pushing the boundaries of the plant-based food industry.?
Strong Values: We uphold integrity and a global vision for the future. Our company culture is built on collaboration, excellence, and a shared commitment to our mission of creating a better food system. This commitment extends to fostering a workplace where safety is paramount in every operation.?
Commitment to Sustainability: At PURIS, we are deeply dedicated to creating a sustainable future. Our manufacturing processes are designed to minimize environmental impact and promote regenerative agriculture. By joining our team, you'll contribute to a company that values sustainability and is committed to making a positive impact on the planet.?
Join Our Team:
To apply for the role, visit www.puris.com/careers. PURIS is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are welcome, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The hiring process includes successfully completing a background check, and drug screen. We E-verify all new hires.
INTEGRITY | LEADERSHIP | OPENNESS | GLOBAL VISION | ADAPTABILITY | PARTNERSHIP No unsolicited agency submittals please. Agency partners must be invited to participate in a search by our Talent Acquisition Team and have signed terms in place prior to any submittal. Resumes submitted directly to any PURIS employee or affiliate will not qualify for fee payment and therefore become the property of PURIS.
