Staff Engineer - Polymers

About the role

Join our Materials Innovation team as a Staff Engineer, where you’ll play a critical technical leadership role advancing polypropylene (PP) and related polymers that redefine performance, sustainability, and manufacturability in food and beverage packaging.

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert leadership in polypropylene and polymer materials science and manufacturing, driving processing optimization (property structure function) and superior packaging performance.
• Lead optimization efforts of materials for in-line thermoforming and injection molding while supporting other key manufacturing technologies for cups, lids, and containers across PP and adjacent polymers.
• Analyze complex multi-plant production data, translate insights into decisive recommendations, and own implementation from concept to verified commercial outcomes.
• Mentor and elevate colleagues in other functions in polymer characterization (rheology, mechanical testing, thermal analysis, and related methods).
• Develop and maintain strong cross-functional partnerships with innovation, operations, manufacturing, and specialists in paper substrates and molded fiber to accelerate integrated solutions.
• Track competitive landscapes, industry trends, and emerging material innovations; convert foresight into strategic opportunities that position the company for future success.
• Apply disciplined organizational and project management expertise to shepherd high-priority initiatives from ideation through commercialization quickly.

Requirements

• Requires one of the following:
• Master’s degree with an emphasis in Engineering in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field
• Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Engineering in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field
• 10+ years of industrial experience with polypropylene in food and beverage packaging applications or related engineering experience
• Hands-on expertise and demonstrated success in in-line thermoforming (post-trim and trim-in-place) and injection molding for PP + other polymeric materials, plus working knowledge of other cup, lid, and container processes.
• Proven track record in polymer characterization, property structure function driven outcomes, multi-site data analysis, and mentoring technical professionals.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional collaboration, project leadership, and end-to-end ownership of impactful results.
• Solid understanding of competitive dynamics and emerging trends in polymers, paper substrates, and molded fiber packaging.
• Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications
• Advanced knowledge of materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of products
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
• Ability to successfully prioritize, and organize long-term, complex research and development projects, deadlines, and tasks in both team and independent environments
• Excellent verbal and written skills necessary to communicate intricate job-related information and clearly explain options and solutions to internal and external customers
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, additional travel may be required during critical projects or business demands
• Experience using Microsoft Office, including the ability to create reports, documents, presentations and spreadsheets in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of new sustainable chemistries and processes, including recyclability, EPR regulations and bio-based materials.
• Demonstrated innovation through patents, publications, or commercialized products.

Benefits

Dart Container full-time employees enjoy great benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company matching contributions, paid vacation, paid holidays, short-term disability, tuition assistance, product discounts and more.

Pay

TBD

Schedule

TBD