Food Systems Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings-which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway-you'll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We're committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone's empowered to be their best.

About The Job

Though you may not know us by name, you've most likely enjoyed meals and refreshments supported by our industry-leading brand portfolio. For decades, we've designed and manufactured foodservice equipment for some of the world's biggest, most recognized consumer brands. We are driven to innovate with a clear purpose in mind: revolutionize the future of foodservice.

The Director, Food Systems & Application Science will build and institutionalize a scientific framework that defines how food interacts with Marmon Foodservice Technologies (MFT) equipment including holding bins, toasters, and heated platforms - so product performance is measurable, repeatable, and faster to validate with customers.

This role transforms subjective food quality feedback (e.g., "too dry," "compressed," "soggy") into objective, quantifiable parameters that directly inform engineering design decisions, de-risk product development, and significantly accelerate QSR approval cycles.

What You'll Do

Define Measurable Food Performance Criteria

Establish clear, science-based definitions of food quality performance across time, temperature, and equipment conditions.

• Define moisture loss thresholds by product type and application

• Establish acceptable compression and deformation tolerance ranges

• Quantify texture degradation curves over hold time

• Map time-temperature interactions and their impact on food quality

• Standardize validation and test protocols for holding, heating, and toasting applications

Integrate with Engineering & Product Development

Serve as the technical bridge between food science and equipment engineering.

• Translate food performance limits into actionable engineering design constraints

• Partner with engineering teams to support design of experiments (DOE)

• Collaborate on heat distribution, airflow, and humidity control modeling

• Provide validation data and food performance evidence to support new product launches

Build & Scale Validation Lab Capability

Develop internal technical capability to objectively measure food-system performance.

• Establish and oversee laboratory methods including:

  • Texture Profile Analysis (TPA)

  • Water activity (aw) measurement

  • Moisture content and loss analysis

  • Internal temperature and thermal mapping

  • Accelerated hold-time and shelf-life studies

• Define best practices for repeatability, data integrity, and scalability across programs

Support Commercial & Customer Engagement

Provide scientific credibility and technical leadership in customer-facing and field applications.

• Act as a technical authority during QSR testing and validation

• Define pre-approval food performance test plans with customers

• Reduce customer approval cycle times through structured, data-backed validation

• Support root cause analysis and troubleshooting for field performance issues

Strong Foundation in:

• Heat and mass transfer

• Rheology and texture analysis

• Water activity and moisture modeling

• Food microbiology fundamentals (applied understanding)

Skills/Experience We're Looking For

• 8-15 years of experience in applied food systems, product applications, or food-focused R&D

• Experience working with commercial food equipment, QSR R&D teams, or foodservice technology environments

• Demonstrated ability to translate sensory or qualitative outcomes into quantitative, repeatable metrics

• Proven experience designing and executing structured experiments, including DOE

• Track record of influencing cross-functional teams (engineering, product, commercial) through data-driven insight

Required Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, Thermal Processing, or a related discipline

Benefits

We support your well-being with comprehensive and easy-to-use benefits that you'll be eligible to enroll in on your first day of employment. Here are some of the highlights:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug insurance plans

• Access to a Health Advocate who is an expert in Marmon's health plan and can help you select the best health benefits for you and your family

• Tax advantaged spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses

• Wellness programs and resources including Telehealth, Mental Health, Fitness, and Family Planning

• Generous paid time off for personal use, holidays, and parental leave

• Company-sponsored life insurance

• 401(k) with fully vested company match; Marmon may also make an additional annual discretionary contribution to your account, whether or not you contribute on your own

• Financial and retirement advising

About Marmon Holdings:

Marmon Holdings, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, comprises 11 groups and more than 100 autonomous businesses with total annual revenue of $10 billion. Marmon's 28,000-plus team members are celebrating the company's 70th anniversary in 2023 and helping write the next chapter of Marmon's story.

Pay Range:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that may include medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, and more!

Following receipt of a conditional offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete additional job-related screening processes as permitted or required by applicable law.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require any reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to careers@marmon.com, and please be sure to include the title and the location of the position for which you are applying.