Packaging Engineer

Kinder's; Walnut Creek (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Bonus eligibility

Equity grants

Health benefits

Parental leave

Flexible work options

Job summary

Kinder’s in Walnut Creek, CA, is seeking a Packaging Engineer to lead packaging design, qualification, and supplier collaboration across primary, secondary and merchandising formats. You’ll drive pack integrity, cost optimization, and manufacturability with cross-functional teams.

The role requires a BS in Packaging Engineering, 3–5 years in food packaging, and up to 30% travel. We offer a hybrid office setup, competitive salary, 401k, bonus eligibility, and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• BS Degree in Packaging Engineering or related field.
• 3–5 years of food packaging or related field.
• Strong problem-solving skills related to packaging design and machinability.
• Must be able to travel up to 30% of time.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and qualification of packaging for new and existing products.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to optimize primary/secondary/merchandising packaging.
• Develop specifications and maintain master data for packaging.
• Lead packaging trials and change management at manufacturing facilities.
• Ensure package integrity, cost savings, and manufacturability.

Skills

Packaging design

Machinability

Travel up to 30%

Education

BS in Packaging Engineering

Job description

What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder‑led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships . Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart‑and‑scrappy, flavor‑obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it!Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

About The Role

We are a fast-growing company working hard to bring amazing flavor solutions that are as exciting and delicious as they are simple to use to our consumers whether they are experienced cooks or first timers in the kitchen. We are obsessed with quality and are 100% committed to being the most innovative company in any market we serve. Our mission is to bring awesome flavor to consumers whenever and wherever they are looking for it and whatever for they are looking for it in (seasonings, sauces, gravy, marinades, or anything else we can come up with). We have experienced tremendous growth over the last 5 years, but we think we are just getting started. We love our consumers and are fired up to be part of their flavor journey. And we need more great folks to help us continue to raise the bar for what they think is even possible in their own kitchens.

Today, we have over 100 products sold nationwide at retailers including Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Kroger, Safeway and many more. While we have been around for over 75 years, we have experienced explosive growth in the last 5 years and are now a top 5 brand in the U.S. in multiple flavor categories including seasoning blends, BBQ sauce, and wing sauce. To keep our momentum rolling, we need more passionate flavor advocates and builders to come and join our team and help us reach every kitchen across the U.S. and maybe even the world.

How you’ll have an impact at Kinder’s

The Packaging Engineer provides technical/engineering support for all packaging development activities for sauces, seasoning/rub, innovation projects, and pallet displays from exploratory concept design through commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and qualification of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for new and existing products.
• Gather secondary and display design parameters from internal team/customer specification and communicate to 3rd party corrugate suppliers for design work
• Develop, present and optimize structural primary, secondary and merchandising packaging designs with our Brand team
• Work closely with packaging suppliers to meet Kinder’s and our manufacturing partners criteria for success
• Conduct structural integrity packaging studies to ensure package and pallet integrity while optimizing economics
• Communicate case coding requirements to copackers per customer specification, review and sign off on copacker case coding first articles/samples
• Evaluate and approve alternate packaging suppliers for both cost savings, supply chain redundancy and enhanced consumer experience
• Develop specifications for internal and external partners and develop associated documentation
• Develop and maintain master data related to primary and secondary packaging
• Provide packaging data for Kinders finished goods specifications and EPR reporting
• Review and approve finished goods specifications
• Collaborate with Product Development team to evaluate new primary packaging product, package interaction and associated shelf-life
• Work closely with both packaging suppliers and our contract manufacturing partners to improve package machinability, decrease labor, reduce cost and maximize throughput
• Independently lead packaging trials and qualifications at manufacturing facilities.

What You Bring to the Table

• BS Degree in Packaging Engineering or related field
• 3-5 years of food packaging or related field
• Strong problem-solving skills related to packaging structural design and machinability
• Demonstrated attention to detail
• Strong Knowledge of food packaging design and machinability fundamentals are required
• Excellent time management skills, sense of urgency, and desire to complete all assignments on a timely basis.
• Must be able to travel up to 30% of time

Highly Desired:

• Structural package testing experience
• Knowledge of Packaging Dynamic, barrier properties and manufacturing
• Understand key food packaging quality attributes and inspection methodologies
• Strong understanding of range of packaging substrates i.e. flexible packaging, corrugate, paperboard, bottles, labels etc.

Personal Characteristics

• Thrive in a dynamic, lean, and agile environment.
• Comfortable in both the food plant and headquarters environment
• Self-starter who takes initiative and speaks their mind.
• Collaborative, technical packaging resource
• Excited to be part of a fast-moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower

Location and Travel

We would consider remote work for this position based on the value add of the candidate and location, otherwise you would be based out of our office in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun. Fridays are flex days with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them.

Typical travel includes industry conferences, trade shows and supplier operations visits.

Pay Transparency

The expected starting salary range for this role is $ 130 , 000- $ 1 50 , 0 00 per year. The salary range posted for this role reflects the good‑faith base pay range Kinder’s reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will be determined based on factors such as relevant education, experience, qualifications, skills, and business needs.

SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family‑friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder’s benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:

We believe great culture starts with people. We’re a people‑first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work‑life balance and personal commitments.

WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:

Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally‑protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, please reach out to us at [e-mail]