Senior Packaging Development Engineer (all genders)

Zalando GmbH; Berlin; Vor Ort; EUR 90.000 - 120.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

27 days holiday

Employee shares programme

Relocation assistance

Health and wellbeing options

Mentoring and development

Zusammenfassung

Zalando is seeking a Senior Packaging Development Engineer in Berlin to lead the transition toward automated packaging within the Fulfillment network. You will design and test packaging solutions for luxury items, ensure performance and sustainability, and act as the technical liaison between suppliers, automation partners, and logistics teams.

You will own engineering projects from scoping to execution, develop proofs of concept, and prepare documentation and business cases to support new

Qualifikationen

• :

Aufgaben

• Act as technical custodian for outbound/inbound packaging systems.
• Translate logistics strategy into scalable packaging solutions.
• Lead projects from scope to execution with agile pilots.
• Evaluate material and machine compatibility for new packaging.
• Maintain technical relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
• Develop CAPEX analyses and business cases for new packaging tech.

Kenntnisse

Packaging development

Packaging automation

Project management

Supplier collaboration

Materials testing

Ausbildung

B.Sc./M.Sc./Dipl.-Ing. in Packaging/Mechanical/Automation

Tools

Packaging machinery

Jobbeschreibung

THE ROLE & THE TEAM

As a Senior Packaging Development Engineer in our Packaging Team, you will drive the pivotal transition of our fulfillment network from traditional manual packing processes to a scalable, automated standard. Your core mission is to jointly design, test, and implement packaging solutions from luxury item packaging to packaging automation together with colleagues across logistics. You will ensure that both our manual and future packaging automation processes reconcile excellent operational throughput, optimal sustainability, and a delightful unboxing experience. You’ll act as a bridge between packaging suppliers, automation partners and our logistics and warehouse teams, helping establish the technical blueprint for our future fulfillment standards.

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity, and we actively seek out talent from all backgrounds. We actively seek to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills, and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age, or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential.

If you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every single requirement. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)

• Act as the technical custodian for our existing outbound and intralogistics packaging—ensuring our paper shipping bags and corrugated boxes maintain exceptional performance, quality, and sustainability standards.

• Support projects in manual packaging and packaging automation, translating logistics strategy into scalable solutions. Evaluate material, process and machine compatibility and act as the key technical counterpart for system integration technicalities.

• Take ownership of engineering projects from initial scoping through to execution. You will design and run agile pilot programs to establish clear proof-of-concepts. You will ensure that our new projects are designed to easily accommodate upcoming AI applications and smart technologies.

• Use your expertise to evaluate how our current paper and corrugated materials behave under mechanical stress, ensuring seamless runnability both in manual pack and automated processes.

• Maintain strong technical relationships with both our current packaging suppliers, managing technical requirements and evaluating product, production and machinery capabilities.

• Partner closely with Logistics Operations, Warehouse Teams, and Procurement to ensure any new technology, processes packaging integrate seamlessly into our warehouse setups.

• Develop technical documentation, CAPEX calculations, and business cases that evaluate the trade-offs, efficiencies, and cost-benefits of shifting to new solutions.

WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF

• You bring a background in structural packaging development (specifically with fiber-based materials) alongside a deep interest or proven experience in packaging machinery and automation.

• You have a track record of leading technical projects from ideation through testing, piloting, and ultimate operational handover—ideally involving hardware, conveyor systems, or automated packaging components.

• You understand the physical interplay between materials and machinery.

• You understand how AI applications integrate into automated machinery and know how to future-proof technical concepts for advanced technologies.

• You apply structured analytical thinking to resolve complex trade-offs between mechanical machine constraints, material cost, sustainability targets, and transit durability.

• You hold a degree (B.Sc., M.Sc., or Dipl.-Ing.) in Packaging Technology/Engineering (Verpackungstechnik), Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a highly related technical discipline.

• You feature fluent English communication skills (German is a strong plus) with a demonstrated capability to align engineering suppliers, logistics operators, and senior leadership on technical project goals.

OUR OFFER

• 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days)

• 2 paid volunteering days a year

• Employee shares programme

• 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners

• Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)

• Family services, including counselling and support

• Health and wellbeing options (including Wellhub, formerly Gympass)

• Mental health support and coaching available

• Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review