Junior Packaging Engineer

Kitsch LLC; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

KITSCH in Los Angeles is seeking a Junior Packaging Engineer to own day-to-day project tracking, supplier communications, and sample routing within a fast-moving packaging development team. You will ensure all items have owners, dates, and current statuses for leadership to pull live reports.

You will apply knowledge of packaging components, read technical drawings, coordinate with PD/Creative/Marketing/Quality & Supply Chain, and leverage AI tools to accelerate workflows.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of packaging engineering or related operations experience.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and supplier specs.
• Proficiency with Asana or similar project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day Asana hygiene across all active packaging projects, updating statuses, ETAs, and logs.
• Ensure every open item has an owner, date, and current status for live leadership visibility.
• Draft and send professional supplier communications; proactively follow up on samples and ETAs.
• Request, track, and route samples; coordinate shipments across LA and MX offices and third parties.
• Maintain packaging database, dielines, and supplier files with version control and traceability.

Skills

Project management

Documentation

Communication

Attention to detail

Organization

Tools

Asana

AI drafting tools

Job description

The Role KITSCH is seeking a Junior Packaging Engineer who brings precision, ownership, and follow-through to a fast-moving packaging development team. This role is the operational backbone of the Packaging Development & Engineering team — the person who makes sure every project, supplier communication, sample, and approval document is exactly where it needs to be, exactly when it needs to be there. If you are someone who updates the tracker without being asked, follows up with suppliers before anyone notices the silence, and takes genuine pride in keeping a complex operation running without gaps, we want to hear from you.

Job Responsibilities and Key Result Areas

Asana Project Tracking

• Own day-to-day Asana hygiene across all active packaging projects — updating task status, ETAs, and feedback logs without prompting.
• Ensure every open item has an owner, a date, and a current status at all times so leadership can pull live project status without a separate check-in.
• Zero overdue items or missing ETAs at any weekly review.

Supplier Communication & Follow‑Up

• Draft and send clear, professional, and timely communications to suppliers via email, Asana, and Slack.
• Proactively follow up on sample requests, technical drawings, approvals, and ETAs — do not wait to be asked.
• Track supplier responses and elevate delays immediately with context and a recommended next step.

Sample Management & Routing

• Request, track, and route all sample types — color range boards, drawdowns, dummies, 3D samples, and line trial units.
• Coordinate shipments between suppliers, LA office, MX office, and third parties within agreed timelines.
• Maintain the packaging tracker so sample status, ETAs, and feedback are current at every project checkpoint.

Documentation & Approval Records

• Compile and distribute color evaluation reports, packaging test results, and approval documentation on schedule.
• Maintain organized, version-controlled records of approvals, rejections, and supplier communications.
• Support Technical Drawing preparation, signature routing, and version control — all dielines, approved TDs, and supplier documents filed and retrievable at all times.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with PD, Creative, Marketing, Quality, and Supply Chain to align on packaging needs and timelines.
• Attend supplier calls, internal packaging meetings, and daily standups.
• Surface urgent issues or delays the same day — with context and a recommended next step — do not hold information.

Technical Knowledge Application

• Apply working knowledge of packaging components, materials (PP, PET, HDPE, paperboard, laminates), and manufacturing processes (injection molding, extrusion, offset printing, flexography) to evaluate samples and read technical drawings.
• Understand color management, testing protocols, and approval processes well enough to flag discrepancies and ask the right questions.

Packaging Database & Source of Truth

• Support the creation and ongoing maintenance of the Packaging Database — dielines, approved documents, and supplier files organized by project, version-controlled, and accessible to the full team at all times.
• Ensure no active project is missing a filed dieline or approved Technical Drawing.

AI Fluency & Digital Workflow

• Actively use AI tools to draft supplier communications, compile reports, and accelerate administrative tasks.
• Integrate Asana into every aspect of daily project management — proactively identify where AI adds leverage and build it into repeatable workflow.

Core Competencies and Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience in packaging engineering, packaging development, or a closely related operations role within consumer goods, beauty, or personal care.
• Working knowledge of packaging components (primary, secondary, tubes, bottles, caps, jars, cartons), materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and supplier specs independently.
• Proficiency in Asana or a comparable project management platform — disciplined about daily task hygiene without coaching.
• Strong written communication skills — clear, professional, and direct in supplier and cross-functional correspondence.
• Exceptional documentation discipline: organized, version-controlled, complete, and always findable.
• Proactive escalation instinct — surfaces delays and discrepancies the same day with context, not just a flag.
• Familiarity with color evaluation, testing protocols, and packaging approval workflows.
• Comfort with AI tools for drafting, reporting, and workflow optimization — or demonstrated willingness to adopt them quickly.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple active projects simultaneously without losing accuracy.
• Ownership mindset — follows through without being chased, and holds documentation to the same standard Kitsch holds its products.

WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE…

• Competitive Pay/Benefits
• A dynamic team
• Location: Hybrid
• An open mind for new ideas
• Growth…growth and some more growth!