Senior Packaging Technologist: Material Dev & Validation

AG Barr Group; Cumbernauld; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days holiday

Bonus

Flexible holiday trading

Living Wage Employer

Healthcare Cash Plan

Peppy Health

Flexible benefits

Life assurance

Save as you earn scheme

Staff sales discount

Free AG Barr products throughout your

Pension

Annual salary review

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

AG Barr is seeking a Senior Packaging Technologist to join our R&D function, specialising in delivering Material Development & Validation activity. Reporting to the R&D Packaging Manager, you will lead material profiling, industrialisation of new components and rigorous validation across our supply chain.

You will manage technical trials, qualify resins and packaging formats (PET/rPET, cans, glass, cartons) and ensure packaging meets quality standards while supporting high-speed manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Degree level in Packaging, Science or Engineering with significant post-graduate experience in a technical packaging role within FMCG.
• Proven expertise in validation and material profiling across formats, including PET/rPET, aluminum, glass and cartons.
• Experience leading complex factory trials and bridging R&D specs to high-speed operations.
• Knowledge of packaging material manufacture, filling, labeling, multipacking and palletisation in drinks.
• Familiarity with quality systems (GFSI, BRC, HACCP) and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Act as the lead technical authority for material integrity and functional performance of packaging components.
• Design and run validation programmes and factory trials for new formats and materials.
• Lead material science workstreams including resins and recycled blends for carbonation retention and performance.
• Collaborate with Procurement and Production to identify supply chain optimisations and lightweighting initiatives.
• Own technical specs for packaging materials ensuring compliance with AG Barr standards and environmental legislation.
• Provide governance within Stage & Gate from material/manufacturing perspectives.

Skills

Technical validation

Material profiling

Factory trials leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Packaging, Science or Engineering

Tools

GFSI / BRC / HACCP

Job description

AG Barr is seeking a Senior Packaging Technologist to join our R&D function, specialising in delivering Material Development & Validation activity. Reporting to the R&D Packaging Manager, you will lead material profiling, industrialisation of new components and rigorous validation across our supply chain.

You will manage technical trials, qualify resins and packaging formats (PET/rPET, cans, glass, cartons) and ensure packaging meets quality standards while supporting high-speed manufacturing.