Senior Packaging Engineer

The Sterling Choice; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food and beverage sector seeks a Senior Packaging Engineer to own the packaging strategy across multiple sites. This role involves close collaboration with R&D and operations to innovate packaging solutions that enhance brand integrity and consumer experience. Ideal candidates will have extensive packaging experience and a proven track record in driving packaging innovation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of packaging experience in a food or beverage setting.
• Fluency in dielines, specs, and packaging compliance.
• Experience leading innovation from concept to launch.

Responsibilities

• Lead the packaging strategy across multiple facilities and product lines.
• Design, develop, test, and launch packaging solutions.
• Coordinate with suppliers on materials and oversee functionality testing.

Skills

Packaging Innovation

Compliance Knowledge

Vendor Management

Job description

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by The Sterling Choice. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$90,000.00/yr - $110,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from The Sterling Choice

Global FSQA and R&D Executive Search Consultant

Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Ever felt boxed in by packaging roles that don’t go beyond the plant walls? What if you could own the entire packaging strategy - across multiple facilities, product lines, and innovation streams?

This is that kind of role.

One where packaging isn't an afterthought. It's front and center. It’s the thing that connects engineering, design, sustainability, compliance, R&D, and consumer experience - across three major facilities, coast to coast.

And it’s yours to lead.

Here’s the deal:

This Senior Packaging Engineer will report directly into the VP of R&D and take full ownership of packaging strategy across every site and every product line for a growing food and beverage manufacturer.

You won’t just tweak existing specs or fill out forms. You’ll design, develop, test, and launch packaging that works—for the product, for the consumer, and for the bottom line. From sourcing materials and coordinating suppliers to overseeing functionality and durability testing, this is an enterprise-level role where your decisions shape how products show up in the real world.

Why now?

Because they’re scaling, and evolving. From cold-chain optimization to sustainability initiatives and retailer demands, packaging is no longer just about cost. It’s about brand integrity, performance, shelf life, and staying ahead of shifting market and regulatory expectations.

This business gets that. Which is why this role was created as a strategic, enterprise-wide function. You’ll be at the intersection of R&D, production, supplier partnerships, and customer experience. You’ll bring structure to chaos, elevate standards, and deliver packaging that actually performs - without constant firefighting.

You, ideally:

• Have 5+ years of packaging experience in a food or beverage manufacturing setting.
• Speak dielines, specs, and packaging compliance like a second language.
• Have led packaging innovation from concept to launch—across multiple formats or locations.
• Are hands-on, self-directed, and comfortable juggling vendors, timelines, and the occasional curveball from Ops.

If you’ve outgrown being the “packaging person” and want to become the packaging leader—this is it.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering, Product Management, and Manufacturing

• Industries

  Food and Beverage Services and Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at The Sterling Choice by 2x

Sign in to set job alerts for “Packaging Engineer” roles.

Oak Creek, WI $90,000.00-$120,000.00 6 months ago

Mechanical Design Engineer (Automation & Packaging)

Sturtevant, WI $90,000.00-$120,000.00 2 days ago

Senior Associate, Packaging Engineer – R&D Cross Category for North America

Packaging Lead - 2nd Shift - Mon-Fri, 2pm-10:30pm

Production/Packaging Team Member- (Mon-Friday, 2pm-10:30pm)

Milwaukee, WI $87,000.00-$120,000.00 2 weeks ago

Packaging National Accounts Sales Manager

Food and Beverage Engineering Project Manager

Milwaukee, WI $115,000.00-$155,000.00 12 hours ago

Entry Level Water/Wastewater Process Engineer

Software Engineer (Python/Linux/Packaging)

Greater Milwaukee $85,000.00-$115,000.00 2 weeks ago

Process Engineer - Germantown and Waukesha, WI

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.