Associate Manager, Packaging Engineer

SC Johnson has been leading with purpose for 140 years, building high‑quality products and iconic brands found in homes, schools and businesses worldwide. The company’s 13,000 employees are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations.

About the Role

As the Associate Manager, Packaging Engineer, you will support packaging development across the North America Home Fragrance portfolio. The role focuses on leading and advancing sustainability and regulatory priorities while also supporting growth, innovation, business continuity, and cost‑savings initiatives. You will provide technical leadership across a variety of packaging formats and technologies, shape the sustainability strategy, and translate evolving requirements into packaging solutions that meet long‑term business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end packaging development for North America Home Fragrance projects, covering primary, secondary, and e‑commerce packaging.
• Drive packaging sustainability priorities and support the longer‑term sustainability strategy.
• Serve as a technical partner on packaging sustainability and regulatory topics, assessing implications and guiding teams toward appropriate solutions.
• Explore and assess emerging packaging technologies, materials, and capabilities to support future innovation, sustainability, and business needs.
• Ensure timely delivery of technical deliverables and proactively address technical risks.
• Develop packaging solutions that meet internal and external customer needs.
• Coach and mentor other packaging engineers in North America.
• Lead or participate in packaging and process improvement workstreams.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to build timelines, achieve milestones, address risks, and drive effective project execution.
• Develop and execute test plans, perform lab tests, present data in technical reviews, and document results.
• Generate robust specifications for packaging components, finished goods, bills of materials, and pallet factors.
• Provide technical expertise and critical thinking to resolve issues and support decision‑making in complex situations.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging or a related engineering discipline (mechanical, materials, etc.) with a minimum of 6 years of product/packaging development experience, or a master’s degree with at least 4 years of relevant experience.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Experiences and Skills

• Proven ability to collaborate across teams, take initiative, and drive measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and ability to independently drive complex work.
• Strong foundation in packaging development across diverse materials, formats, manufacturing processes, or dispensing systems.
• Experience leveraging artificial‑intelligence tools for data analysis, insight generation, automation, and decision‑making.
• Excellent oral and written communication, including storytelling and translating technical information for non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to learn and develop expertise in new packaging technologies as business needs evolve.
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills, with a track record of risk identification, mitigation planning, and solution recommendation.
• Strategic thinking and comfort navigating complex or ambiguous situations.
• Experience with packaging sustainability and/or regulatory requirements and understanding of their impact on development and business decisions.
• Effective cross‑functional collaboration and influencing skills.
• Knowledge of e‑commerce packaging design and qualification.
• Familiarity with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for dangerous goods.
• Understanding of Special Packs and Warehouse Club Class of Trade.
• Experience with PLM software, Microsoft Office Suite, and CAPE.

Job Requirements

• Monday‑through‑Friday schedule; location: Sam’s Campus in Mt. Pleasant.
• Domestic travel: approximately 0–15%.
• Physical ability to lift 10–40 pounds.
• Remote work available one day per week for eligible employees.
• Eligibility for domestic relocation.

Benefits and Perks

SC Johnson offers total compensation packages at or above industry levels, including salary, bonuses, long‑term incentives, matching 401(k) contributions, and profit sharing based on company profitability, job level, and years of service. Benefits include subsidized health‑care plans, maternity/paternity/adoption leave, flexible work arrangements, vacation purchase options, recreation and fitness centers, childcare, counseling services, and more.

Inclusion & Diversity

SC Johnson is a global business that embraces people of every culture, ethnicity, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and ability. The company is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and supportive work environment where all people can thrive, and it actively works to attract, hire, and retain diverse talent.