Packaging Engineer - Double Seam/Retort and Flexible Packaging

Key Responsibilities

• Support the packaging needs of assigned business and product categories.
• Lead packaging development activities from concept through commercialization for new products, line extensions, packaging enhancements, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage multiple packaging innovation, optimization, and cost-reduction projects simultaneously.
• Evaluate packaging performance through package testing, seal integrity, container integrity, barrier performance, and shelf-life validation.
• Troubleshoot packaging-related manufacturing issues involving filling, sealing, retorting, conveying, and secondary packaging equipment.
• Partner with Operations and Quality to investigate packaging failures, conduct root cause analyses, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute plant trials, packaging validations, and commercialization activities while documenting results through technical reports and presentations.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and external packaging suppliers to qualify new materials, support vendor development, and execute packaging-related capital projects.
• Recommend and implement packaging improvements based on manufacturing performance, consumer insights, quality metrics, and cost analyses.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Food Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline. 3-5 years of packaging engineering experience within food manufacturing.
• Experience developing and commercializing food packaging across one or more packaging platforms, including metal cans, trays, bowls, cups, pouches, cartons, or other rigid and flexible packaging systems.
• Strong understanding of packaging materials, product/package interactions, package testing methodologies, and shelf-life considerations.
• Experience supporting packaging equipment and manufacturing processes, including filling, sealing, conveying, retorting, or related operations.
• Ability to manage multiple technical projects simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical, organizational, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.