Packaging Engineer

Shaw Bakers; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Shaw Bakers seeks a Packaging Engineer to design packaging that protects frozen and fresh bakery products while balancing performance, cost, and quality. You will work with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, customers, and suppliers to translate requirements into robust packaging from concept through testing and implementation.

You will develop pallet configurations, prototype testing, and ensure packaging aligns with distribution needs and brand requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering or related field; Master's preferred.
• 2–5 years packaging development experience in food/bakery.
• Experience in packaging design, palletization, logistics, testing.
• Proficient in ArtiosCAD and related packaging tools.
• Knowledge of ISTA/ASTM standards and FDA packaging regulations.
• Experience with suppliers and vendor relationships.
• Strong problem-solving and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for frozen and fresh bakery products.
• Translate customer requirements into packaging solutions balancing performance, cost, quality, and timelines.
• Develop packaging to protect products through production, transport, and storage.
• Create prototypes and conduct feasibility tests before implementation.
• Develop pallet configurations for load stability and transportation efficiency.
• Ensure packaging fits standard pallet sizes, warehouse systems, and distribution needs.
• Conduct testing per ISTA/ASTM standards; identify opportunities to improve packaging and logistics.

Skills

Packaging design

Palletization

Packaging testing

ArtiosCAD

ISTA/ASTM standards

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor's in Packaging Engineering

Tools

ArtiosCAD

Job description

We're looking for a Packaging Engineer to join our team and help design packaging solutions that protect our products, improve operational performance, and make our supply chain more efficient.

In this role, you'll take packaging concepts from customer requirements through design, testing, implementation, and continuous improvement. You'll work hands-on with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, customers, and suppliers to develop packaging that performs in the real world—from production and palletization to frozen storage, transportation, and the customer's hands.

This is an opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving practical problems, improving processes, and seeing their work directly impact how products are made and delivered!

This role is located onsite in our San Leandro facility.

What You'll Do

Packaging Design & Development

• Design and develop primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for frozen and fresh bakery products.
• Translate customer requirements into packaging solutions that balance performance, cost, quality, timelines, and operational needs.
• Develop packaging that protects products through production, handling, transportation, storage, and temperature variations.
• Create prototypes and conduct feasibility studies and testing to validate packaging designs before implementation.
• Develop pallet configurations that maximize load stability, space utilization, product protection, and transportation efficiency.
• Ensure packaging and palletization designs work with standard pallet sizes, warehouse systems, and distribution requirements.
• Conduct palletization and transport testing using applicable industry standards such as ISTA and ASTM.
• Identify opportunities to improve packaging and logistics efficiency while reducing product damage and waste.
• Select and optimize packaging materials based on product requirements, performance, cost, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate materials for characteristics such as moisture resistance, breathability, durability, and compatibility with bakery products.
• Develop and execute test plans to evaluate packaging performance under real-world conditions, including frozen storage, palletized transportation, and shelf-life requirements.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation supporting customer and regulatory requirements.

Operational Excellence

• Partner with Manufacturing and Operations to ensure packaging works effectively on production lines and with existing equipment.
• Troubleshoot packaging-related issues, including equipment compatibility, material defects, palletization failures, and production challenges.
• Use root cause analysis and continuous improvement principles to reduce downtime, improve throughput, and increase packaging reliability.
• Standardize packaging and palletization solutions across manufacturing and supply chain processes.

Cross-Functional & Customer Partnership

• Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Product Development to bring packaging solutions from concept to production.
• Work with Marketing to ensure primary packaging supports consumer appeal and brand requirements.
• Partner with Supply Chain to optimize packaging for storage, distribution, palletization, and transportation.
• Work directly with customers to understand and implement their packaging and palletization requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with packaging material and equipment suppliers.
• Evaluate and qualify suppliers based on quality, cost, reliability, and technical capability.
• Partner with suppliers to resolve technical challenges and improve packaging materials, specifications, and performance.
• Support the development of a reliable supplier network for packaging materials and equipment.

Who You Are

• You have a Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. A Master's degree is a plus.
• You have 2-5 years of experience in packaging development, ideally within food or bakery manufacturing.
• You have experience with packaging design, palletization, logistics, and packaging testing.
• You are proficient with CAD software: ArtiosCAD.
• You understand packaging materials and their properties, including plastics, paper, coated materials, and composites.
• You're familiar with packaging and palletization standards such as ISTA and ASTM, as well as food-related regulatory requirements such as FDA requirements.
• You understand how packaging interacts with manufacturing equipment, automation, palletization systems, and production processes.
• You have experience working with suppliers and managing technical vendor relationships.
• You're a strong problem solver who enjoys getting to the root cause of complex operational challenges.
• You communicate clearly and work effectively with cross-functional teams, customers, and suppliers.
• You're detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• You have a continuous-improvement mindset and look for ways to make processes simpler, more efficient, and more reliable.

Who We Are

We are the proud artisans behind San Francisco's beloved bakery brand, La Boulangerie, charting a path towards a nationwide presence in the world of CPG. Established in 1996 by French baker Pascal Rigo, La Boulangerie swiftly earned its place as a household name across California. Our unwavering mission from day one has been to bring a little taste of France, with delicious and nutritious food, to as many people as possible.

Fueled by our Bay Area roots, thriving neighborhood cafes, and historical successes we embark on an exciting journey into larger-scale CPG and wholesale opportunities. Through our past endeavors with industry giants like Starbucks, to today's strategic partnership with Cerelia, we're forging ahead with creativity and innovation, ensuring that our artisanal baked goods can be accessible to all.

We manage branded product under La Boulangerie and private label product under Shaw Bakers, powered by one united and mighty team. We are bakers and innovators. We are food lovers dedicated to bringing delicious & nutritious food to as many people as possible, making a range of products from breads, pastries, sandwiches, and snacks. Our goal is to balance continual innovation while maintaining French standards for quality and technique.

Today, our customers can sample decadent viennoiserie, mouthwatering sandwiches, and artisanal breads from one of our San Francisco cafes or pick up their favorite loaf of Croissant Toast and Ham & Swiss Croissants from several fine retailers across the Bay Area and beyond...and we are just getting started!