Principal Product Development Engineer

Sealed Air; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 81,900 - 141,335; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

Sealed Air seeks a Principal Product Development Engineer in Charlotte to drive new polymer-based product development, align with corporate strategy, and deliver robust, cost-effective solutions.

Reporting to the R&D Director for Industrials Solutions Development, you will lead cross-functional teams, manage trials and budgets, and pursue IP opportunities while collaborating with business units and suppliers.

Qualifications

• BS/MS/PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science & Engineering or Materials Engineering.
• 3–6 years minimum experience in polymer processing or related fields.
• Strong presentation skills; ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Drive and execute new product development projects for Industrials applications with polymer formulations and feature creation.
• Explore unmet market needs and technology opportunities with business and leadership teams.
• Develop partnerships with suppliers, OEMs, and universities to stay at the state-of-the-art.
• Lead formulation/testing trials (lab to production) and present results to teams.

Skills

Polymer processing experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong presentation skills

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science & Engineering, or Materials Engineering

Job description

Principal Product Development Engineer

SEE Headquarters - Charlotte

Requisition ID: 55266

Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance - a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Research and Development (R&D) Director for Industrials Solutions Development the individual is responsible for driving the R&D mission which includes the development and timely delivery of innovative, sustainable, robust,and cost-effective product solutions in alignment with the corporate strategy.

Job Description

• Drive and execute new product development projects for Industrials applications via innovative polymer/material formulations and product feature creation to maximize customer and end-user delight.
• Discover and explore new business, unmet market needs, and technology opportunities in partnership with Business teams, technical experts, and leadership.
• Develop and leverage external partnerships (materials suppliers, OEMs, universities) to monitor the state of the art and use these relationships to drive innovation.
• Design and execute formulation and processing trials (lab, pilot, and production scale), alignment with other functions for testing, communication with the appropriate operational personnel, and presenting results to project teams and management.
• Effectively lead cross-functional teams of technicians and engineers throughout product development lifecycle. Manage trial logistics and budgets.
• Identify and pursue potential IP opportunities.
• Support Business, Supply chain and Quality teams to resolve quality issues, and other business maintenance activities.
• Monitor competitive and regulatory landscape and make proactive recommendations to stay ahead of the curve.
• Identify and pursue potential environmental sustainability opportunities.
• Partner with project management team for monthly reporting, project expense tracking, timeline development and adherence.
• Incorporate principles of Design for Manufacturing into new product development & transition new product and process technology to the Supply Chain organization in a timely and collaborative fashion.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively in a cross functional organization on innovation projects. Use strong presentation skills to present technical information to audiences with diverse backgrounds and connect technical concepts to business outcomes.

Basic Qualificactions

• BS, MS, or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science & Engineering, or Materials Engineering
• Industrial and/or research and development experience in polymer processing, development of polymeric materials or polymer and ink chemistry preferred, 3-6 years minimum

Additional Qualifications

• Solid understanding of structure-process-performance relation of polymeric materials and working understanding of polymer processing (extrusion, flexographic printing process and material...)
• Strong presentation skills, including the ability to break down technical concepts for a non-technical audience
• Evidence of good judgment and decision-making skills, including in complex situations where complete clarity is not available
• Creative and Resourceful, pulls together the necessary tools, equipment and people, to get the job done
• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization
• Flexible to travel domestically and internationally, at least 20%
• Project management experience and ability to lead cross-functional teams
• Track record of product development is a plus

Salary Range: $81,900 - $141,335 The range disclosed complies with applicable state and local pay transparency laws. Offers within this range will be determined by considering relevant factors including education, experience, and internal alignment. This position may also be eligible for annual performance bonuses and other incentive programs. Sealed Air offers a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, and other benefits designed to promote well-being.

Requisition id:55266

Relocation:Yes

Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Information at a Glance

WHY WORK AT SEALED AIR?

It is our responsibility to leverage what we have to affect positive and meaningful change for our communities and planet using Sealed Air's global resources and expertise.

Corporate sustainability - it's about improving the lives of people around the world by addressing pressing needs in the communities where we and our customers operate.

Customer Success - meeting our customers' needs. At Sealed Air it's more than a goal, it's an integral part of our business practices, our innovative solutions, and our values.

Leaving our communities better than we found them through dedication of time, talent and resources.