Senior Papermaking Engineer

About the role

Your Job Join Georgia‑Pacific at the Neenah Technical Center as a Senior Papermaking Engineer focused on advancing papermaking process and technologies for tissue-based consumer products! You will lead early-stage research and pilot trials, design experiments, evaluate results, and translate successful concepts into commercially viable solutions that improve product performance and manufacturing processes. Our Team You’ll be part of a multidisciplinary R&D group within GP Consumer Products that collaborates closely with product development, operations, and engineering teams to identify opportunities and develop long-term solutions. The team also partners with external organizations, universities, suppliers, and OEMs, to scout and adopt breakthrough technologies and drive measurable improvements at scale.

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead research projects involving papermaking technologies for our manufacturing processes of tissue-based consumer products, leading to new or improved products or machine performance.
• Design, develop, prototype, and test cutting-edge papermaking components, equipment, and machinery while working with cross-functional teams to drive innovation.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert in tissuemaking technology. Participate in troubleshooting, training, mentoring, and knowledge transfer to provide direction to team members.
• Effectively work with various internal capabilities, including Operations, Engineering, and Product Development to drive transformation within the company and scale experiments from pilot to commercial feasibility.
• Collaborate with external partners, including academic partnerships, industry consortiums, and supplier/OEMs to identify and screen new technologies as well as stay up-to-date on industry advancements.
• Use economic thinking to determine viability, use the scientific method to test feasibility, use statistical methods to analyze data, and use written and verbal techniques to communicate and document the results and next steps.
• Support the organization through developing Intellectual Property that includes competitive intelligence, invention disclosures, patent applications and maintaining trade secrets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in papermaking, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• Five (5) or more years of relevant experience in the paper industry.
• Demonstrated experience in an R&D environment leading research projects and scaling successful concepts toward commercialization.
• Proficient with experimental design and statistical analysis methods (e.g., DOE, ANOVA, regression) and comfortable documenting and communicating technical results.
• Willing and able to travel up to 25%.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in papermaking, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience in industrial/manufacturing settings with pilot and commercial papermaking equipment.
• Track record of intellectual property contributions (invention disclosures, patent experience) and familiarity with protecting trade secrets.
• Demonstrated success partnering with external research institutions, suppliers, or OEMs to accelerate technology adoption.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of papermaking processes and equipment.
• Experience with statistical analysis and economic thinking.

Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance.