The Senior Packaging Engineer contractor will provide technical packaging expertise to support the client Foods business. This role will develop, qualify, and commercialize packaging solutions that enable productivity, protect product quality, and improve total system performance. The contractor will partner closely with Packaging R&D, Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Procurement, Finance, manufacturing sites, co-packers, and suppliers to advance both new and established business initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
• Packaging development and commercialization: Lead the design, testing, qualification, and commercialization of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging solutions from concept through launch.
• Corrugate technical leadership: Apply strong knowledge of corrugated packaging, including board grades and combinations, flute profiles, box styles, converting processes, print options, compression performance, unit-load interactions, and distribution hazards. Translate business and product needs into fit-for-purpose corrugate specifications.
• Technical validation: Build package development plans and test strategies; evaluate functionality, product protection, shelf life, machinability, palletization, warehousing, transportation, and customer requirements.
• Specifications and documentation: Develop, approve, and maintain clear packaging specifications, drawings, test requirements, and technical records.
• Cross-functional execution: Coordinate project timelines, risks, decisions, budgets, and deliverables across multiple internal and external partners. Communicate technical recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Manufacturing and supplier support: Partner with plants, co-packers, equipment teams, converters, and material suppliers to troubleshoot issues, complete trials, and ensure reliable implementation.
• Productivity and system optimization: Identify packaging opportunities that reduce material or system cost while maintaining product protection, operational performance, quality, and consumer experience.
• Technology scouting: Maintain awareness of packaging technologies and supplier capabilities, and apply relevant developments to business needs.
• Stage-gate discipline: Follow the applicable technical stage-gate process and provide timely documentation, recommendations, and escalation of risks.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 4-10 years of relevant packaging experience in food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, or a closely related industry.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging materials, with an understanding of package-equipment interactions.
• Strong working knowledge of corrugated shipping cases and corrugate performance, including material selection, structural design, specifications, supplier/converter capabilities, manufacturing constraints, and distribution testing.
• Experience planning and executing plant, co-packer, laboratory, or supplier trials and translating results into clear technical decisions.
• Strong project management skills, including management of timelines, budgets, technical risks, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with internal teams, suppliers, converters, and other external partners.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver in a fast-paced, consumer-driven environment.
• Ability to travel domestically approximately 15-25%.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with packaging innovation, including new materials, formats, technologies, or design concepts from early feasibility through commercialization.
• Experience with corrugate optimization, case-right-sizing, pallet pattern or unit-load optimization, e-commerce or alternative distribution channels, and total delivered-cost analysis.
• Familiarity with corrugate and distribution test methods such as compression, vibration, impact/drop, and environmental conditioning.
• Experience supporting packaging productivity, sustainability, quality improvement, or supplier qualification programs.
• Working knowledge of packaging specifications, technical drawings, data analysis, and project tracking tools.
Success Profile
The successful contractor combines hands-on packaging execution with sound technical judgment. They can move confidently between corrugate design details, manufacturing realities, distribution performance, and business priorities while keeping stakeholders aligned and projects moving forward.
