Packaging Development Engineer

Wellness Pet, LLC; Burlington (MA); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Bonus program

Job summary

The Wellness Pet Company in Burlington, MA is seeking a Packaging Engineer to lead packaging projects from concept to launch. You will develop standards, support trials with manufacturing plants, and collaborate with 3rd party copackers to ensure sustainable, cost-effective packaging solutions.

This full-time role requires a degree in Packaging Engineering or Packaging Science and 2–3 years of FMCG packaging experience, with travel up to 25%. Salary ranges from $86,800 to $124,900 per year.

Qualifications

• Degree in Package Engineering, Packaging Science or related field.
• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in a packaging role.
• Packaging experience in FMCG preferred; pet food packaging a plus.
• Experience in packaging development from concept to launch; sustainability-minded.
• Ability to travel up to 25% and manage multiple projects to deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple packaging projects and manage deadlines.
• Support new product launches and sustainability initiatives.
• Develop and standardize specifications and manage packaging data.
• Coordinate trials with manufacturing plants and 3rd party copackers.
• Plan, document, and report each trial with technical support as needed.

Skills

Project management

Packaging development

Sustainability mindset

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Manufacturing and transportation know‑

ISTA/ASTM familiarity

Database specification management

Education

Degree in Package Engineering or Packaging Science

Tools

Cape software

TOPS software

Job description

About the Wellness Pet Company

The Wellness Pet Company is on a mission. Every day, we strive to make the best pet food scientifically proven to deliver a difference pets will feel and pet parents will see. We are a team united by a shared passion for pets and the people who love them. As a community of people working together, Wellies start and end with the consumer – always. At Wellness, we bring our best, stay on the scent of what matters most, get hungry and dig deep to uncover new possibilities, and move with agility when opportunity arises. Above all, we believe the strongest results come from working together and winning as a pack. Sound good to you? Come for a walk with us today!

Our Team is based out of our office in Burlington, Massachusetts, where we work in-office Monday through Thursday each week, and remotely on Fridays. Team members must reside within or be willing to relocate to a commutable distance from our Burlington office.

The Packaging Engineer will allow growth and development within the packaging team by working with a breadth of packaging materials from concept to launch while investigating sustainable solutions within the portfolio and supporting trials/qualifications.

What You’ll Accomplish

• Take the lead in managing multiple projects while maintaining deadlines
• Support new product launches, updates to existing portfolio, and sustainability initiatives
• Develop and set standards around specifications and specification management, introducing innovation and design to value solutions, and sharing these solutions with our customers and business partners.
• Ensure on-time execution of packaging activities for projects
• Solid knowledge of different packaging structures and applications
• Support supplier transitions for new packaging and/or materials
• Manage packaging information inputs for finished goods
• Support trials and first production runs with manufacturing plants
• Work with and support 3rd party manufacturers and copackers
• Create protocols/success criteria for trials and first production runs
• Properly plan, coordinate, and report each trial, while providing technical support & expertise as needed to execute trial objectives and ensure proper documentation of each activity

Who We’re Looking For

• Brings their best
• Stays on the scent
• Gets hungry and digs deep
• Is quick on their paws
• Wins as a pack

• Degree in Package Engineering, Packaging Science or related
• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in a packaging role required
• Packaging experience in FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) preferred
• Experience with pet food packaging is a plus
• Experience in packaging development from concept to launch
• Experience leading the design of packaging solutions, while keeping in mind sustainability, shelf presence, machine-ability, and shelf life/product protection
• Established expertise in food packaging materials, technologies, and pricing models
• Business-minded, rigorous problem-solving mindset that considers manufacturing and transportation, sustainability, cost, design, shelf life, and sales in our packaging solutions
• Working knowledge of Cape and TOPS software
• General knowledge and understanding of package testing methodology (ISTA/ASTM)
• Building out, organizing, and managing specifications within a database
• Experience with commercialization and managing multiple projects while maintaining deadlines
• The ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Why Wellness Pet?

We care about the wellbeing of our people, their families, and their pets. We treat every Wellie to a best-in-class benefits package, a warm and welcoming environment, and a place where you can learn and grow professionally. More information about what makes us special can be found on our website. The Wellness Pet Company is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We foster an inclusive work environment and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or veteran status.

The annual salary range for this position is $86,800 to $124,900, based on a full-time work schedule, anticipated responsibilities, market benchmarks, and organizational equity. Compensation may vary within that pay range depending on the selected candidate’s professional background, experience, operational needs, and other considerations permitted by law. The full compensation details will be communicated upon finalization of the employment offer and may include eligibility for participation in a bonus program.