Packaging Engineer

Wildflower Recruitment Consulting; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wildflower Recruitment Consulting is seeking a Packaging Engineer to lead packaging innovation, development, and cost-reduction initiatives for a well known brand. This role focuses on identifying materials, processes, packaging formats, and equipment to ensure successful commercialization of assigned projects, with emphasis on canning operations and double-seam integrity.

You will collaborate with Supply Chain and Operations to procure packaging that meets functional, cost, quality, and

Qualifications

• 3-5 years packaging experience; canning/UHT/aseptic highly desired.
• Understanding of product-packaging interactions and packaging tests.
• Understanding of double seam evaluation and corrective adjustments.
• Able to work with Supply Chain on capital packaging projects.

Responsibilities

• Support the packaging needs of assigned business/product lines.
• Lead packaging development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Manage multiple packaging development and cost reduction projects.
• Identify and resolve packaging process improvements and cost savings.
• Monitor double-seam performance and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate experiments and plant trials with technical reporting.
• Serve as cross-functional resource for new packing platforms and innovations.
• Provide technical support to Operations and QA for seam/package defects.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Operations for commercial execution.
• Stay current with industry trends and regulatory changes.
• Travel as requested, up to 20%.

Skills

Packaging experience

Canning & aseptic processing

Regulatory understanding

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Packaging Engineering, Food Science or Engineering

Job description

The Packaging Engineer will lead packaging innovation, development, and cost-reduction initiatives for well known brand. This role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and implementing new materials, processes, packaging formats, and equipment to ensure the successful commercialization of assigned projects. The position requires strong technical expertise in canning operations, double-seam integrity, and packaging equipment performance. In addition, the Packaging Engineer will partner with Supply Chain and Operations to procure and produce packaging that meets functional, cost, quality, and shelf-life requirements, while aligning with consumer expectations.

Responsibilities:

• Support the packaging needs of assigned business/product lines.
• Provide technical input throughout all phases of New Product Development and lead packaging development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Manage multiple packaging development and cost reduction projects.
• Lead in the identification and resolution of problems and facilitate new or improved packaging, new or improved processes and cost savings.
• Monitor double-seam performance through regular measurement, teardown, and analysis, ensuring compliance with regulations and company standards.
• Coordinate and execute experiments and plant trials, prepare results in technical reports (written and/or oral) with minimal supervision.
• Work as a cross functional resource to provide new packing platforms and support innovation.
• Provide technical support to Operations for solving manufacturing issues. Partner with Quality Assurance to conduct root cause analysis of seam or package defects and implement corrective actions.
• Work with Marketing and partner with Operations for commercial execution against all new products.
• Seek, evaluate, and utilize technical information to achieve objectives.
• Recommend and implement product quality improvements based on quantitative insights.
• Leverage external vendors and work directly with Supply Chain.
• Stay current with industry trends, packaging innovations, and regulatory changes impacting canned food production.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.
• Will need to travel as requested, less than 20%.

Qualifications:

• 3-5 years packaging experience. Canning, UHT, and aseptic processing - highly desired!
• Understanding of product and packaging interactions, food protection and packaging tests
• Understanding of packaging equipment, packaging processes
• Understanding of double seam evaluation, specifications, and corrective adjustments.
• Familiarity with canning equipment such as seamers, fillers, retorts, and ancillary systems.
• Understanding of FDA/USDA regulations for LACF products and container integrity requirements
• Ability to work with Supply Chain on capital projects involving packaging solutions
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Bachelor’s Degree in Packaging Engineering, Food Science or Engineering.