Packaging Engineer

Packaging Engineer

Requirements

• Have a Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• Have at least 3+ years of experience in packaging engineering, preferably in the food industry.
• Have strong technical and analytical skills.
• Are proficient in CAD software and packaging design tools.
• Are an excellent problem-solver with a desire to solve big problems.
• Bring with you strong project management and organizational skills.
• Have strong and continuously developing knowledge of packaging materials, manufacturing processes, and sustainability practices, particularly in food packaging.
• Have experience working in the grey space for new development, identifying risk areas and new procedures to reduce risk.
• Have experience developing, running, and supporting manufacturing projects and trials to build upon.
• You’re a skilled communicator and have the ability to absorb and distill complexity into simple terms to drive decision making.
• You are able to thrive in a fast-paced and ambiguous environment, naturally curious and proactive self-starter, constantly on the lookout for new opportunities and solutions.
• Lead by example and have a “no task is ever too big or too small for us to all work together and contribute for the collective good” mentality.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Growth, Product Development, Design, Quality Assurance, Operations, and external vendors to support the development of innovative packaging for both new and existing products.
• Support and contribute to packaging direction by preparing and presenting clear design recommendations, while aligning with key stakeholders on project goals and timelines.
• Participate in cross-functional commercialization efforts from concept through launch by researching and assisting in the development of packaging solutions that meet product and consumer needs.
• Assist in designing packaging that ensures freshness, food safety, regulatory compliance, and convenience, particularly for fresh pet food applications.
• Help develop test protocols and conduct packaging trials to validate performance, durability, and compliance with internal and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate with internal partners and external suppliers to help keep packaging projects on track and aligned with key milestones.
• Seek opportunities to enhance packaging materials and processes for improved sustainability, performance, and production efficiency.
• Contribute to cost optimization efforts by identifying opportunities for savings at the component level and in packaging-related processes.
• Build relationships within internal and external packaging networks to support the delivery of solutions that align with brand, product, and consumer needs.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma principles and other continuous improvement tools to streamline packaging operations and increase overall efficiency.
• Foster open communication and collaboration across teams to help solve packaging challenges and encourage innovation.
• Assist in implementing sustainable packaging solutions that reduce environmental impact and support company-wide sustainability targets.
• Maintain thorough records of packaging designs, test outcomes, and project updates to support traceability and knowledge sharing.
• Support the preparation and delivery of technical documentation, findings, and packaging recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
• Up to 30-50% domestic travel, or on an as needed basis will be required for this role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the grey space for new development, identifying risk areas and new procedures to reduce risk.