Structural Packaging Designer

SinaLite; Markham; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

On-site parking

Growth opportunities

Training & development

Job summary

SinaLite is seeking a Structural Packaging Designer in Markham, Ontario to create dielines, validate designs, and guide artwork setup for folding cartons, corrugated boxes, and flexible packaging. You will work directly with clients and internal teams to translate requirements into production-ready plans.

The role emphasizes packaging engineering, prototyping, and sign-offs, with a focus on accuracy, testing, and adherence to industry standards.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in dieline creation and prototyping for folding cartons, corrugated boxes, and flexible packaging.
• Proficiency in packaging design software such as AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, ArtiosCAD, or similar tools.
• Strong understanding of packaging engineering and prototyping.
• Strong technical understanding of packaging materials and structural engineering.
• Ability to create dielines for multiple materials and adjust dielines across materials.
• Experience designing dielines with eye marks and registration marks.
• Knowledge of Kongsberg / Zünd applications.
• Knowledge of artwork setup requirements and printing standards.
• Experience creating detailed setup guides for customers.
• Familiarity with packaging materials, manufacturing processes and machinery, and industry standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for client interaction and collaboration with internal teams.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects and tight deadlines.
• High level of precision and attention to detail in design, testing, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Dieline creation and validation for folding cartons, corrugated boxes, and flexible packaging.
• Provide dieline and board sign-off on quotes and ensure test loads before Pre-press.
• Build and maintain a shared spec library per product family.
• Obtain customer structural sign-off ahead of artwork.
• Create detailed setup guides for artwork and guidelines for clients to produce print-ready files.
• Consult with clients to assess packaging needs and recommend dieline solutions.
• Translate technical requirements into actionable plans for production and cross-functional teams.
• Ensure dielines meet engineering, aesthetic, and functional requirements before production.

Skills

Project management

Attention to detail

Excellent communication

Problem solving

Multitasking

Tools

AutoCAD

Adobe Illustrator

ArtiosCAD

Kongsberg

Zünd

Job description

SinaLite is a leading wholesale trade printer and custom packaging provider, serving 20,000+ print businesses, resellers, and entrepreneurs across Canada and the US. With 26 years of printing experience and over $45 million invested in cutting-edge print technology, we help our clients maximize their print profits — and we're just as invested in helping our own team grow. We were named a 2025 Regional Finalist in Canada's Best Managed Companies Program, and we're looking for our next Structural Packaging Designer to help us keep raising the bar.

Compensation: $70,000 - $90,000

Location: 335 Steelcase Rd East, Markham, Ontario

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Health & Wellness — Comprehensive health insurance and paramedical coverage foryou and your loved ones, because your wellbeing comes first.
• Comfort + Convenience — Casual dress code and on-site parking, so you can focus ondoing great work.
• The Sky's the Limit — Clear pathways for growth and advancement. We celebrate ambition and back it with real opportunities to move up.
• Supercharge Your Development — Access to company-sponsored learningopportunities to expand your skills and broaden your professional horizons.

We are seeking a Structural Packaging Designer with strong technical expertise in packaging engineering and prototyping. In this role, you will create dielines, validate designs, and guide artwork setup across a range of packaging types, including folding cartons, corrugated boxes, and flexible packaging. You will work directly with clients and our internal teams, turning technical requirements into clear plans for production.

Responsibilities and Duties

Dieline Creation & Validation

• Design and prototype dielines for folding cartons, corrugated boxes, and flexible packaging (stand-up pouches and flat lay pouches).
• Test and validate dielines to ensure compatibility with manufacturing and customer requirements.
• Work with CSRs, Sales, Production Coordinators, Pre-press, and the production team to coordinate the engineering of packaging.
• Create standardized dielines that can be re-used for multiple projects in the industries of Food, Beverage, Cannabis, Health and Wellness, and Pet Food.
• Evaluate existing customer or prospective customer packaging for possible improvement in style, function, appearance, cost, and/or ease of packaging.

Structural Sign-Off

• Provide dieline and board sign-off on every folding carton quote before it goes out.
• Make sure no job goes to Pre-press without a passed load test on a real sample.
• Hold written authority to block a quote or a Pre-press release.
• Provide dieline and board sign-off with a 24-hour turnaround from a complete brief.
• Build and maintain a spec library per product family (structure, board, test result, sign-off).
• Obtain customer structural sign-off, separate from and ahead of artwork.

Artwork Setup & Guidelines

• Create detailed setup guides for artwork, including layout recommendations and compliance standards.
• Offer clear guidelines for clients to prepare print-ready files.

Customer Consultation

• Work directly with clients to assess packaging needs and recommend suitable dieline solutions.
• Collaborate with client departments to refine dielines and ensure feasibility.

Technical Communication

• Act as a liaison between clients and internal production teams, translating technical requirements into actionable plans.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure all dielines meet engineering, aesthetic, and functional requirements before production.
• Maintain consistency with industry standards and company quality expectations.
• Assist Pre-press with adjustments needed to customer-provided dielines to ensure good reproduction.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in dieline creation and prototyping for folding cartons, corrugated boxes, and flexible packaging (e.g., stress testing, weight testing).
• Proficiency in packaging design software such as AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, ArtiosCAD, or similar tools.
• Strong understanding of packaging engineering and prototyping.
• Strong technical understanding of packaging materials and structural engineering.
• Ability to create dielines for multiple materials (SBS stock, corrugated, etc.) and to adjust dielines from one material to another.
• Experience designing dielines, adding eye marks and registration marks.
• Knowledge of Kongsberg / Zünd applications.
• Knowledge of artwork setup requirements and printing standards.
• Experience creating detailed setup guides for customers.
• Familiarity with packaging materials, manufacturing processes and machinery, and industry standards.
• Problem-solving skills to troubleshoot design and production challenges.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for client interaction and collaboration with internal teams.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects and tight deadlines.
• High level of precision and attention to detail in design, testing, and validation.

Accessibility:

Sinalite is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. If you require accommodation, please notify us at [e-mail] and we will work with you to meet your needs in a timely and respectful manner.

Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.