Senior Packaging Engineering Lead: Strategy & Innovation

Utz Quality Foods, Inc; Hanover (York County); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Profit sharing

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Utz Quality Foods, Inc. is seeking a Principal Packaging Engineer to lead the Packaging Development department. You will set technical standards and drive a technology roadmap across all brands while remaining hands-on on high‑impact projects.

You will mentor the engineering team, partner with leadership, and advance sustainability, cost reduction, and supplier collaboration across multiple facilities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in packaging engineering required; food/bev preferred.
• Senior/technical lead experience and commercializing packaging from concept to production.
• Ability to mentor engineers and influence cross-functional teams and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain packaging standards, templates, test protocols, and design practices across brands.
• Define strategy, roadmap, and priorities with leadership; advise investments in capability and tooling.
• Lead hands-on, high‑risk packaging projects from ideation through first production.
• Develop packaging designs, sourcing, and initial pricing; create pack outs and specs.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to commercialize packaging innovations with Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Engineering.
• Coach engineers and review technical work to ensure accuracy for customers.
• Lead root cause analyses for packaging defects with suppliers and manufacturing.

Skills

Packaging leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's in Packaging Science or related field

Master's degree or CPP preferred

Tools

TOPS

Job description

Utz Quality Foods, Inc. is seeking a Principal Packaging Engineer to lead the Packaging Development department. You will set technical standards and drive a technology roadmap across all brands while remaining hands-on on high‑impact projects.

You will mentor the engineering team, partner with leadership, and advance sustainability, cost reduction, and supplier collaboration across multiple facilities.