Lead, AI & Automation

Berlinpackaging; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO (vacation)

401(k) with company match

Health insurance

Health Savings Account

Flexible spending accounts

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

529 college savings plan

Employee Assistance Program

Disability insurance

Job summary

Berlin Packaging is seeking an AI & Automation Lead to architect and deliver AI-powered solutions across the enterprise. You’ll guide a small team, set technical direction, and partner with product leaders to prioritize automation with clear ROI.

The role requires hands-on coding, enterprise integration, and production-grade delivery in a complex environment. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in AI/automation, strong Python/JS/TS skills, experience with LLMs, and cloud platforms.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on software development with AI/automation.
• Proven production AI/automation in enterprise environments.
• Strong Python/JS/TS and REST APIs/microservices skills.
• Experience with LLM integration and prompt engineering.
• Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) experience.
• Experience leading small distributed engineering teams.
• Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design and build AI-powered solutions across the enterprise.
• Own full delivery lifecycle: requirements, development, testing, deployment.
• Set architectural standards and engineering practices.
• Provide technical direction to onshore and offshore engineers.
• Collaborate with product leaders to identify automation opportunities.
• Maintain a forward-looking roadmap balancing near-term wins and longer-term capability.

Skills

AI/ML development

Python

JavaScript/TypeScript

REST APIs

Cloud platforms

LLM integration

RPA platforms

Team leadership

Stakeholder comms

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Equivalent experience

Job description

Berlin Packagingis the premier supplier of rigid packaging.With over $3 billion in revenue, we have grown 5x faster than the overall packaging industry since 1898.

Chances are you enjoy products supplied by us every day! We serve virtually every end market: automotive, beverage, food, home care, industrial chemical, pet care and veterinary, personal health and beauty, wine and spirits, and cannabis.

Our engagement scores are 2x the national average, and every employee shares in Berlin’s profitable growth.Combined with our “Anything is Possible” mindset and our winning culture, our 2,000+ employees agree, we love it here!

Berlin Packaging has been investing in technology across the enterprise, and this roleleadsthe charge on AI and automation. As our AI & Automation Lead, you will have direct empowerment toidentify, design, and build solutions that drive real operational impact — spanning intelligent workflows, process automation, and AI-powered applications across the enterprise.

This is a hands‑on technical lead role. You will be the primary architect and practitioner, working alongside a small team of onshore and offshore engineers to deliver end‑to‑end applications toourinternal and external audiences. You set the technical direction, you stay close to the code, and you're accountable for what ships.

The ideal candidate has done this before. You know how to navigate a complex enterprise environment, earn trust quickly, and deliver working solutions that create real business value — without waiting to be told exactly how.

What You’ll Do

Design & Build AI-Powered Solutions

• Architect and develop AI and automation solutions across the enterprise — from intelligent workflows and LLM-powered applications to system integrations and data pipelines
• Evaluate and implement the right tools and platforms for each use case, drawing on a broad command of the AI and automation landscape
• Prototype rapidly, validate with stakeholders, and ship — iterating quickly based on real-world feedback
• Own the full delivery lifecycle: requirements, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing improvement
• Set the architectural standards and engineering practices that ensure solutions are scalable, maintainable, and production-grade

Drive Business Impact

• Partner withproductleaders toidentifyand prioritize automation opportunities with clear ROI
• Translate business problems into well‑scoped technical solutions — and deliver them without heavy oversight
• Maintain a forward‑looking roadmap that balances near‑term wins with longer‑term capability building
• Communicate outcomes in business terms, keeping stakeholders informed and confident in the work

Lead the Team

• Provide technical direction and hands‑on guidance to a small team of onshore and offshore engineers
• Set clear expectations, review work, and maintain quality and velocity across the team
• Foster a collaborative, high‑accountability environment where engineers grow and delivery stays on track
• Build the documentation, standards, and practices that keep the team aligned and the codebase healthy

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands‑on software development experience, with significant depth in AI/ML, intelligent automation, or related disciplines
• A proven practitioner — you have a track record of delivering production AI and automation solutions in complex enterprise environments, not just proofs of concept
• Strong proficiency in Python and/or JavaScript/TypeScript; fluency with REST APIs, microservices, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Deep hands‑on experience with LLM integration (OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure OpenAI, or similar), including prompt engineering and agentic workflow design
• Working knowledge of RPA platforms (UiPath, Power Automate, or similar) and workflow orchestration tools
• Strong grasp of enterprise system integration patterns, data pipelines, and API-driven connectivity
• Experience leading or technically directing a small team of engineers, including offshore or distributed team members
• Credible with business stakeholders; able to earn trust quickly and communicate the value of technical work in plain language

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, or packaging industries
• Hands‑on experiencewith Power Automate, Azure OpenAI, SalesforceAgentForce, or other enterprise platforms in an automation/AI context
• Familiarity with Agile or lightweight delivery frameworks suited to small, fast‑moving teams
• Exposure to MLOps practices: model deployment, versioning, monitoring, and lifecycle management
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)

IL Base Pay Range

$110,000 — $130,000 USD

Berlin Packaging offers an outstanding compensation and benefits package including:

• Competitive PTO including vacation, personal days, holidays, and sick time
• 1Berlin Shared Ownership Plan
• Profit sharing
• 401(k) with company match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for transportation, medical, and dependent care expenses
• Paid parental leave for up to 12weeks
• Health club reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement
• 529 college savings plan
• Employee Assistance Program for mental health and well‑being
• Calm app to improve mental wellbeing
• Employee referral program
• Company sponsored short- and long-term disability and life insurance with optional voluntary life insurance

At Berlin Packaging, we look at candidates’ skills but hire based on traits. We believe in hiring smart, passionate people who are enthusiastic to learn and develop their skills. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Berlin Packaging provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

Visit our Careers page for more information on our Anything is Possible culture and Total Rewards.

*Note: any salary information shared is a general guideline only. Pay is based on candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

*This position is not eligible for sponsorship.