Product Development Engineer

Flint Hills Resources; Paragould (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Georgia-Pacific is seeking a Product Development Engineer to join the Anchor Packaging R&D team, advancing packaging products from customer need to production launch. The role is based at the Paragould, AR facility with regular travel across NE Arkansas.

This hands-on position involves testing, measuring and analyzing data, translating results into quality standards, and collaborating across functions to ensure commercially viable products meet specifications.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in science or engineering or related technical field.
• Experience in product development and commercialization activities.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 25%

Responsibilities

• Support new product development from prototype to product qualification.
• Plan and execute raw material qualifications from pilot trial to production qualification.
• Plan and execute packaging trials from mini trial to scale-up qualification.
• Support internal and external customer concerns through final resolution.
• Collect, analyze, document test and measurement data, and recommend measurable quality control parameters for finished products meeting new and existing product/customer requirements.
• Coordinate equipment, people, samples, production time, and other resources as needed for effective trial execution.
• Provide support during plant trials and product launches, including occasional after-hours support when needed.
• Guide and train team members on product requirements, test methods, measurements and troubleshooting.

Skills

Product development

Data analysis

Excel proficiency

SPC software

Education

Science or engineering degree

Tools

Zontec

Job description

Georgia-Pacific is looking to hire a Product Development Engineer to join our Anchor Packaging Research & Development (R&D) team and help move rigid and flexible packaging products from customer need through testing, qualification, and successful production launch. This is a hands‑on role where you will test, measure, analyze, translate product data into quality standards and specifications and provide clear recommendations that support commercially viable products.

This position will be based at the Anchor Packaging facility in Paragould, Arkansas, with regular travel to project sites across NE Arkansas.

Our Team

Anchor Packaging R&D team collaborates across Product Development, Quality, Production, Product Design, Specification Administration, Materials, Warehouse, Customer Service, Purchasing & Supply Chain, and external manufacturing partners. The team supports new product development & commercialization, material qualification, packaging and customer service (internal and external) with a strong focus on safety, organized work practices, customer requirements, and effective cross‑functional execution. Our team strongly encourages us to practice Koch’s Principle-based Management Philosophy (PBM) to guide our everyday work culture.

This role works in office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments and may involve exposure to moving equipment, pinch points, heat, cold, plastic particulate, and elevated noise. The position may require occasional after‑hours support during trials or product launches and the ability to safely perform hands‑on testing, sampling, and measurement activities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What You Will Do

• Support new product development from prototype to product qualification.
• Plan and execute raw material qualifications from pilot trial to production qualification.
• Plan and execute packaging trials from mini trial to scale-up qualification.
• Support internal and external customer concerns through final resolution.
• Collect, analyze, document test and measurement data, and recommend measurable quality control parameters for finished products meeting new and existing product/customer requirements.
• Coordinate equipment, people, samples, production time, and other resources as needed required for effective trial execution.
• Provide support during plant trials and product launches, including occasional after‑hours support when needed.
• Guide and train team members on product requirements, test methods, measurements and troubleshooting.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in science or engineering or related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and technical experience in rigid and flexible plastics packaging products.
• Experience in product development and commercialization activities.
• Ability to travel domestically up to 25% as needed.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Experience and knowledge of extrusion and thermoforming in rigid or flexible packaging mainly with Polypropylene, PET and PVC products.
• Experience with product development and commercialization activities.
• Experience organizing, analyzing, and presenting data using Microsoft Excel or comparable tools. Advanced Excel skills, including formulas, charts, tables, and technical data visualization is a plus.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC) software like Zontec.
• A critical‑thinking and data‑driven decision‑making mindset.
• Experience involving plant trials and presenting technical recommendations to decision‑makers.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .

Who We Are

As a Koch company and a leading manufacturer of bath tissue, paper towels, paper‑based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, building products and much more, Georgia‑Pacific works to meet evolving needs of customers worldwide with quality products. In addition to the products we make, we operate one of the largest recycling businesses. Our more than 30,000 employees in over 150 locations are empowered to innovate every day –to make everyday products even better.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).