Job description
Join a premium, fast-growing consumer brands team as a Senior Packaging Engineer. You’ll lead end-to-end packaging development from concept to production, partnering across R&D, design, and manufacturing to deliver innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective packaging solutions for a diverse portfolio of products.
Based in Chicago, you will own the packaging strategy for new launches and line extensions, while accelerating sustainability and packaging performance improvements across the business.
Responsibility
- Lead the development of innovative packaging concepts for new and existing products from concept through commercialization.
- Collaborate with R&D, product design, supply chain, and manufacturing to define packaging specs, materials, and processes.
- Evaluate and select packaging materials for performance, cost, manufacturability, and sustainability.
- Create and manage packaging BOMs, dielines, and CAD drawings; ensure designs are production-ready.
- Validate packaging through formal testing (ISTA, drop, vibration, climate, shelf life) and maintain QMS/compliance records.
- Partner with suppliers and contract manufacturers to scale packaging across lines and products.
- Own cost-reduction initiatives and packaging efficiency improvements to meet business targets.
- Define and drive the sustainability strategy for packaging, focusing on recyclability, material reduction, and supply chain impact.
Qualification
- BS or MS in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
- 5+ years of packaging engineering experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG) or related industries.
- Strong knowledge of packaging materials (rigid, flexible, inks/print processes), adhesives, and container design.
- Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and packaging dieline tools; experience with 3D modeling.
- Experience with packaging testing standards (ISTA, drop tests, vibration, climate) and regulatory/compliance requirements.
- Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration skills; proven ability to lead complex programs.
- Strong communication, presentation, and vendor management capabilities.
- Willingness to travel 10–15% as needed for supplier visits and on-site testing.