Innovation Engineer - Sustainable Fiber E-Commerce
Turn ideas into scalable, sustainable packaging solutions.

We9re looking for an Innovation Engineer - Sustainable Fiber E-Commerce to help shape the next generation of sustainable fiber-based packaging solutions. This is a hands-on innovation and R&D role for an engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, experimenting with new technologies, collaborating across disciplines, and taking ideas from early concept through testing, equipment integration, production, and customer adoption.

You9ll work at the intersection of product innovation, materials, equipment, manufacturing, and customer needs, partnering with our materials experts, operations teams, commercial leaders, product management, and customers to develop solutions that support both sustainability and business growth.

Packaging experience is preferred, particularly within fiber, paper, flexible packaging, or related materials. We9re also interested in accomplished product development and innovation engineers from consumer goods and advanced manufacturing environments who bring the right combination of curiosity, technical depth, and commercialization experience.

What You9ll Do
Drive customer-led innovation

• Engage directly with customers and end users to understand current challenges and anticipate future packaging needs.
• Translate voice-of-customer insights into new products, equipment enhancements, and technical solutions.
• Partner with Sales, Customer Experience, Product Management, Operations, and Engineering to develop solutions that strengthen customer satisfaction and create new revenue opportunities.

Develop and optimize products and equipment

• Lead engineering activities across the product lifecycle, from ideation and development through testing, optimization, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Improve existing product designs and recommend modifications to machinery or production processes based on performance data and customer feedback.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend emerging equipment, technologies, materials, and manufacturing methods.
• Work alongside subject matter experts in paper, mills, films, coatings, and other packaging materials.

Turn innovation into production reality

• Organize and lead production trials for new products, materials, equipment modifications, and process improvements.
• Partner closely with manufacturing teams to ensure smooth introduction of new products and changes to existing products.
• Evaluate finished-product performance and coordinate specialized testing when required.
• Investigate product or process failures, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions.
• Support alternate-material and supplier evaluations, including cost-benefit analysis and performance implications.

Own projects from concept through completion

• Develop structured project plans, charters, timelines, milestones, and supporting documentation.
• Manage multiple innovation initiatives while maintaining accountability for timing, performance, outcomes, and business impact.
• Identify risks or project gaps early and communicate clear action plans to stakeholders.
• Follow solutions through implementation and customer use, ensuring issues are addressed quickly and learnings are incorporated into future development.

Help build the future of innovation at ProAmpac

• Stay current on emerging technologies, equipment, manufacturing methods, and packaging trends.
• Bring forward ideas that can improve product performance, production efficiency, sustainability, revenue, or margin.
• Contribute to a collaborative innovation culture that encourages experimentation, learning, and disciplined execution.
• Provide technical guidance and subject matter expertise across supported product lines.

What You Bring

• Bachelor9s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of product engineering, product development, R&D, or innovation experience within consumer goods, packaging, or a related manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of experience leading technical engineering teams, projects, or technical workstreams.
• Strong experience moving products or technologies from development through testing, manufacturing, and commercialization.
• Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to manage timelines, milestones, stakeholders, and competing priorities.
• Experience working directly with customers to understand requirements and solve technical challenges.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with customers, engineers, commercial teams, and manufacturing leaders.
• Creativity, curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to challenge how things have traditionally been done.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 25%.

Especially Valuable

• Experience within packaging, sustainable packaging, fiber-based packaging, paper, flexible packaging, or e-commerce packaging.
• Experience with materials testing, product qualification, and production trials.
• Knowledge of packaging machinery, converting equipment, automation, or equipment modification.
• Experience commercializing new products or technologies in a manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to paper, films, coatings, adhesives, or other packaging substrates and materials.

The Engineer Who Will Thrive Here

You may be a great fit if you9re the engineer who asks "What if we tried this?" and then has the technical discipline to determine whether it will actually work.

You enjoy being close to the product, the equipment, the customer, and the manufacturing floor. You can move comfortably between an early-stage concept discussion and a production trial. And while you love innovation, you understand that a great idea only creates value when it can be manufactured reliably, perform for the customer, and deliver meaningful business results.

If you9re ready to help develop what9s next in sustainable e-commerce packaging, we9d like to hear from you!