Role OverviewSealed Air Protective Packaging R&D is seeking a leader to build and lead a global Application Engineering (AE) function that connects customer operations to system-level requirements, validated performance, and differentiated innovation. This role is front-and-center in supporting new product development, mapping customer needs, conducting in-use competitive benchmarking, and leading Level 2 technical escalations. Turning real-world learning into faster launches, higher reliability, and leapfrog opportunities.
What You Will Own- System Performance Specifications: Own fitness-for-use performance specifications across consumables, equipment, and integrated systems; ensure requirements are testable and actionable.
- NPD Qualification & Beta Leadership: Lead consumable qualification on equipment platforms and customer beta qualification plans; validate solutions under real operating conditions.
- Customer Needs Mapping: Lead structured observations and workflow mapping in customer operations (pack-protect-ship), identifying pain points and translating them into clear system requirements.
- Customer Insight Engine: Build a repeatable process to capture learning from beta programs, trials, and field issues; synthesize insights into opportunity statements for targeted future development.
- Competitive Analysis (Technical & In-Use): Plan and execute hands-on benchmarking vs. alternatives in customer environments; quantify gaps, identify differentiation spaces, and recommend performance targets.
- Level 2 Customer Support (Escalations): Serve as the escalation owner for complex system-level issues (especially new/recent launches, integrated solutions, or beta platforms); drive root cause and feed learnings into design/spec updates.
- Cross-Functional Integration: Partner tightly with Materials R&D, Equipment R&D (US & China), Marketing, Sales Applications, and Service to resolve tradeoffs and accelerate decisions.
People Leadership: Recruit, coach, and develop an AE team with strong test rigor, customer presence, and systems thinking; set standards for analytical excellence and technical communication.
Key Interfaces & Boundaries- Marketing: AE provides evidence-based customer and competitive insights; Marketing owns segmentation, positioning, and portfolio commercial decisions.
- Sales / Service: AE owns Level 2 system escalations and pre-/early-commercial technical learning.
- Materials & Equipment R&D: AE does not own formulation chemistry or equipment architecture; AE owns requirements, validation, and system performance across both.
How Success Will Be Measured- Robust product specifications to reduce or eliminate product failures at customer
- Reduced late-stage design changes and rework during beta qualification.
- Faster time from design freeze to customer-ready validation and commercialization.
- Improved root-cause resolution speed for complex escalations; fewer repeat issues.
- Clear competitive differentiation translated into measurable performance targets and prioritized projects.
- Stronger customer adoption of new solutions due to validated fitness-for-use.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in engineering, packaging, materials science, chemistry, or related technical field (Master's preferred).
- Experience leading customer-facing technical work across new product development, application engineering, market development, or similar roles.
- Proven ability to translate customer insights into technical requirements, validation plans, and innovation opportunities.
- Strong systems thinking across materials + equipment + application; comfortable resolving tradeoffs under real-world constraints.
- Demonstrated people leadership: hiring, coaching, and performance management in a cross-functional environment.
- Data-driven communicator: able to create clear reports, test summaries, and recommendations for technical and business audiences.
- Comfortable with significant customer engagement and travel (domestic and international).
Working Style We Value- Customer-obsessed: spends time where work happens and turns observation into insight.
- Execution-focused: sets clear plans, runs rigorous trials, and closes loops.
- Influential collaborator: drives alignment across R&D, Marketing, Sales, and Service.
- High integrity and safety mindset: promotes compliant, safe work in labs and customer sites.
- Channel customer and competitive insights into clear opportunities for product roadmap.
Pay TransparencySalary Range: $128,300-$220,800
The range disclosed complies with applicable state and local pay transparency laws. Offers within this range will be determined by considering relevant factors including education, experience, and internal alignment. This position may also be eligible for annual performance bonuses and other incentive programs. Sealed Air offers a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, and other benefits designed to promote well-being.
Requisition id: 54899
Relocation: Yes
