Packaging Engineer

Little Caesars Pizza; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company focused on innovation in packaging solutions. As a Packaging Development Lead, you will spearhead the creation and commercialization of new packaging designs while collaborating with cross-functional teams and suppliers. This role requires a blend of technical expertise and creative problem-solving to meet customer needs and drive business initiatives. If you have a strong background in packaging and food science, along with excellent communication skills, this could be your next career opportunity.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of research and development experience in the restaurant industry.
• Advanced knowledge of packaging techniques for corrugate and plastics.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of ideas and prototypes for new packaging solutions.
• Manage validation and commercialization of packaging in support of new product development.
• Create and maintain supplier relationships for effective packaging collaboration.

Skills

Problem Solving

Communication

Creativity

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Packaging

MS degree in Packaging, Food Science or Engineering

Job description

Build a Bigger, Better, Bolder Future:

Imagine working for a company that measures its success based off the growth of its colleagues, a company that invests in its future by investing in you. Little Caesars is a company where our colleagues make an impact.

Your Mission:

Lead development of ideas, concepts, and prototypes to solve problems and meet customer/consumer needs in new and superior ways. Manage validation and commercialization of new packaging solutions in support of the New Product Development Process. Lead existing packaging evolution in support of developing new product specifications. Orchestrate review of food and packaging interactions and optimizations along with operational procedures related to the packaging in the store and across the counter to the customer. This position will provide packaging expertise to cross-functional teams and lead external groups, such as packaging suppliers, industry experts and consultants to create, scale, validate and commercialize new product packaging and materials in support of business initiatives. The position operates with minimal guidance from management. The position will handle confidential and proprietary information.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Lead creative development, experimental designs, packaging procedures, and specifications for new commercial or retail packaging that meet project parameters that include defined ingredient/food attributes, established pricing, marketing goals, packaging regulations, and operational feasibility.
• Create and maintain effective supplier relationships that are conducive to creative development collaboration, quality products, timely delivery, cost effective sustainable packaging that are in alignment with internal and industry targets.
• Manage prototype creation and evaluations of package /food interactions, organize and manage test runs to validate or modify experimental packaging, and/or packaging procedures. Develop final specifications for the production of commercial or retail packaging that ensures reproducibility
• Work with cross functional team members to; manage timelines with key milestones and decision dates, coordinate graphics, and pricing/ production quantity drivers, develop training programs/guidelines for Operations personnel.
• Provide leadership to external groups, such as suppliers, industry experts and consultants to develop, validate and commercialize new product packaging and materials.
• Support business initiatives by providing technical support to marketing, sales, suppliers and external customers on packaging capabilities, specifications and applications. Apply training and business expertise to evaluate customer/competitor packaging.
• Evaluate and recommend commercial or retail packaging or packaging techniques to identify and commercialize product improvement and cost reduction opportunities.
• Execute assigned tasks from management in the evaluation, development, implementation and commercialization of new commercial or retail packaging.
• Monitor emerging packaging technologies at universities, other companies, conferences/trade shows, suppliers, etc.
• Document all work and prepare various project reports to ensure complete communication of project status, progress, issues, solutions, timelines, and accountability.
• Other duties and responsibilities as needed or assigned.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Packaging, Food Science, Engineering or related discipline. Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Minimum of five (5) years of research and development experience in the restaurant industry.
• Advanced knowledge of various packaging techniques for corrugate and paper (die cutting, form folding, gluing, etc.) and plastics (blow molding, extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, etc.).
• Basic knowledge and understanding of food ingredients, food chemistry, food processing, and food functionality.
• Demonstrated ability to create innovative solutions.
• Evidence of highly developed problem-solving and ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and offer solutions.
• Must be able to comprehend technical articles, research papers, or presentations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to present complex and technical information in oral presentations and written formats to a variety of internal and external levels and audiences.
• Evidence of ability to prioritize and effectively handle multiple projects and priorities with a results-oriented approach.
• Previous experience handling and maintaining confidential documents, trade secrets, costs, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to represent Research and Development/ Innovation in a professional manner.
• MS degree in Packaging, Food Science or Engineering preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food science, geometry, physics, chemistry and statistics preferred.

Where You’ll Work:

• Position requires work daily in an environment that is protected from weather conditions.
• This position requires travel, up to 40% of time, dependent on project phases, to vendor locations, stores or other locations. Requires the ability to follow the travel policies.
• Position requires signing and acceptance of non-compete and a confidentiality agreement and must not be restricted by any existing non-compete or confidentiality agreements