Engineer, Packaging Development

Mars (New); Franklin (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars Petcare North America is seeking a Packaging Engineer to lead innovation, sustainability, and productivity across the packaging portfolio. You will provide technical leadership to support existing products, drive new package development, and standardize processes across pilot and full-scale sites.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and 3–5 years’ experience, with willingness to travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in packaging or related technical field required.
• 3–5 years’ experience on packaging projects and technology development.
• Experience with retort, cans, and corrugated shipping containers.
• Strong understanding of machinery and scale-up risks.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: lead and manage high-impact packaging development projects across portfolios.
• Advanced Specifications: develop robust specs for multi-site, cross-functional projects.
• Innovation & Scale-Up: transition technology to full-scale manufacturing with external partners.
• Risk & Opportunity Management: identify and mitigate regional or site-level risks.
• Associate Development: mentor packaging engineers and technologists.

Skills

Packaging development

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science

Master’s degree in Packaging, Engineering, Chemistry, or related field

Job description

Job Description

The Packaging Engineer leads the development and deployment of innovation, sustainability, and productivity initiatives across Mars Petcare North America’s packaging portfolio. Operating in a pet-friendly, collaborative environment, this role provides cross-functional leadership to support existing products, drive new package development, and standardize processes across pilot and full-scale manufacturing sites. Success in this role requires connecting innovative workstreams with high-quality, consistent manufacturing outcomes to deliver packaging solutions that meet evolving pet parent needs. The Packaging Engineer is responsible for leading large, business-critical projects with regional or brand-wide impact, ensuring alignment from concept through commercialization. This role provides strong technical expertise and strategic insight, while owning the management and implementation of key packaging processes, standards, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Packaging Engineer plays a critical role in driving operational excellence, influencing stakeholders, and advancing scalable, sustainable packaging solutions across the portfolio.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, a related technical field or equivalent.
• 3-5 years’ experience working on packaging projects and technology development.
• Demonstrated experience with retort, cans, and corrugated shipping containers.
• Strong understanding of machinery and scale-up risks.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in in Packaging, Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, or a related technical field.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Technical Leadership: Lead and manage high-impact, complex packaging development projects (e.g., retort packaging, cans, pouches, bags, etc.) spanning across major portfolios.
• Advanced Specifications: Develop complex specifications for multi-site and cross-functional projects, ensuring packaging robustness across the entire value chain.
• Innovation & Scale-Up: Translate technology from virtual/working proof-of-principle models to full-scale working machinery in partnership with third‑party builders and global teams.
• Risk & Opportunity Management: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks of regional or site-level impact. Cascade coaching on risk management tools to junior associates.
• Associate Development: Mentor, coach, and support the technical development of junior Packaging Engineers and Technologists within the team.

What can you expect from Mars?

Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.

This position is not eligible for relocation benefits.

Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL®, and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 140,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.