Associate Packaging Engineer II

Location: Ada, MI (on-site)

Salary Range: $73,508/yr - $98,000 per year, plus bonus

About the Role

We are seeking an Associate Packaging Engineer II to support the development, commercialization, and global expansion of packaging solutions for our Nutrition portfolio. This entry-level role offers the opportunity to learn different parts of the packaging process, eventually becoming a packaging subject-matter expert. You’ll take packaging designs from early concept through first production, distribution, and end of life, partnering with teams across product development, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, marketing, regulatory, and external suppliers.

The role supports packaging formats ranging from bottles, cartons, stick packs, sachets, and canisters to gummies, bars, and ready-to-drink products. If you enjoy solving technical challenges, improving sustainability, and creating packaging that protects product integrity while delivering an excellent consumer experience, this is an opportunity to grow your career on a global scale.

Responsibilities

• Participate in ITM (Idea to Market) meetings to support active developments and market expansions
• Support pilot plant trials, first productions, and troubleshooting activities in manufacturing environments
• Evaluate packaging performance related to product protection and distribution durability
• Maintain accurate and complete packaging specifications and documentation in PLM / Teamcenter
• Support sustainable package design efforts that reduce material usage, enable recyclability, and/or incorporate PCR
• Work closely with internal and external manufacturing partners to deliver products that meet quality standards
• Balance multiple global projects with different timelines and requirements
• Develop packaging specifications and maintain documentation within PLM/Teamcenter systems
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify packaging solutions
• Support plant trials, production startup activities, and troubleshooting efforts
• Evaluate package performance related to product protection, shelf life, and distribution conditions
• Execute package testing and validation activities
• Support sustainability initiatives focused on material reduction, recyclability, and PCR content
• Manage multiple projects across global markets and timelines

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering
• 1-3 years’ experience in consumable goods (food, pharma, beauty products, homecare products) Packaging Engineering role
• Experience supporting packaging in a manufacturing, product development, or commercialization environment
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with product development, marketing, quality, manufacturing, and/or suppliers
• Exposure to sustainable packaging, specifically material reduction, recycling, and PCR

Skills

• Strong attention to detail and comfort working within structured development systems
• Problem-solving skills related to packaging performance and manufacturability
• Clear, effective, and timely communication across technical and non-technical partners
• Highly engaged, collaborative team member
• Self-starter, comfortable managing multiple projects with varying complexity and timelines
• Proven ability to execute with excellence
• Technical problem solving
• Packaging performance and manufacturability knowledge
• Strong communication skills
• Collaboration and relationship building
• Organization and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Curiosity and learning agility
• Project ownership and execution focus

What’s Special About This Team

A collaborative team committed to shared success, ownership, and strong execution. The team operates within a strong cross-functional partnership model in the Ideas to Market (ITM) process, delivering successful new products globally.

This team serves as the packaging innovation and commercialization function for Nutrition Research & Development, working across market expansions, packaging improvements, and new product development projects. Team members collaborate extensively with formulation scientists, process engineers, quality professionals, manufacturing partners, procurement teams, and marketers throughout the Idea to Market process.

The team places a strong emphasis on learning, mentorship, and technical development, regularly sharing knowledge across packaging disciplines. Engineers gain exposure to global product launches, diverse packaging formats, supplier partnerships, and manufacturing operations. The broader packaging organization includes experts from Nutrition, Beauty, Home Care, Personal Care, and Air & Water Treatment, creating substantial opportunities for collaboration and growth.