Sr. Packaging Engineer

Cutfootsiouxinn; Hanover (York County); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Vision and dental plans

401(k) with match

Wellness programs

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Utz in Hanover, PA is seeking a Sr. Packaging Engineer to lead packaging development and set performance standards across our brands.

You will act as the technical authority for the packaging engineering team, collaborating with manufacturing, procurement, and product teams to commercialize innovations and optimize costs.

Expect hands-on involvement from ideation through first production, with travel to facilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science or related field is required.
• 5–7 years in consumer-packaged goods, food/bev preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging development and specifications across brands.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to commercialize packaging innovations.
• Manage new item development including sourcing and initial pricing.
• Support packaging lifecycle from ideation to production.
• Provide costing estimates with Procurement and partner with manufacturing for efficiencies.

Skills

Packaging leadership

Packaging design

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Project management

Critical thinking

Technical rigor

Education

Bachelor’s degree, Packaging Science or Materials/Design

Tools

Packaging testing equipment

Job description

At Utz, we're driven by a passion for creating great-tasting snacks that consumers love. With more than 100 years of heritage and a growing portfolio of beloved brands including Utz®, Zapp's®, Boulder Canyon®, and On The Border®, we're redefining what it means to be a leading snacking company.

As one of the fastest-growing pure-play snack food companies in the U.S., we're looking for bold thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators who are ready to make an impact. If you're passionate about packaging innovation, sustainability, operational excellence, and bringing new ideas to life, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of our brands.

The Opportunity: Sr. Packaging Engineer

We are seeking a highly motivated Sr. Packaging Engineer to serve as a technical leader and strategic partner across our organization. In this role, you'll lead packaging development, sample requests, specifications, design, and performance across multiple company brands. Serving as the customer-facing technical expert for a broad product portfolio, this role shapes packaging strategy, identifies productivity opportunities, and recommends process improvements to department leadership. The position is also the technical authority for the packaging engineering team.

What You'll Do:

• Perform peer review and coaching to drive right-first-time performance of department and to ensure accuracy of documentation that is delivered to customers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to commercialize packaging/product innovations.
• Manages new item development to include packaging, vendor sourcing, and initial pricing.
• In response to manufacturing/sales/customer requirements, development includes physical pack outs, bag/box/barrel sizing, palletization reports, and finalized packaging specs.
• Packaging lifecycle support – from ideation to first production.
• Creation of product + package assembly guides for internal/external manufacturing teams.
• Management of packaging projects with timely updates shared with other departments.
• Support automation, purchasing, value creation, and sustainability initiatives.
• Troubleshoot and test for packaging defects – work with manufacturing + supplier teams.
• Become an expert in the manufacturing facilities and capabilities on covered brands (supported by travel and plant visits as business need arise).
• Partner with Procurement to provide estimated costing for packaging components.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to discover packaging efficiencies and reduce downtime.
• Ability to interpret test results as needed to verify packaging specifications/compliance.
• Investigate new packaging technologies, formats, materials, systems, etc.
• Review current packaging specifications, design and performance.
• Work with engineering and Procurement on new packaging equipment and packaging specifications.

What You'll Bring:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree, Packaging Science or Materials/Design related degree or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Experience

• 5 - 7 years’ experience in consumer-packaged goods required, food and beverage highly preferred.

Skills

• Knowledgeable in a wide range of packaging forms, including corrugated, injection blow-molded PET, paperboard, flexible films.
• Demonstrated leadership and team building competencies.
• Deep ability to think critically and exercise complex problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal skills.
• Able to be self-directed, forward thinking and make complex decisions that drive business innovation and performance.
• Comfort supporting recommendations and findings to manager and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent time and project management skills with proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple, concurrent projects.
• Technical rigor.

Why Utz?

We believe in taking care of our people. Our benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Employer-matched 401(k) and profit sharing
• Wellness resources, support programs, onsite gym and healthcare center
• Career growth opportunities in a supportive, inclusive environment
• A culture built on innovation, teamwork, and recognition

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Location(s)

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