Job Purpose
As thePackaging MaterialsEngineer, you will support the development and advancement offlexiblefilmand paperpackaging material solutions for the North American portfolio. Theobjectiveof the role is toidentify,develop, evaluate, andvalidatematerialtechnologiesthat meet functional performance, manufacturability, cost, and sustainability requirements while supporting innovation, compliance, and value engineering initiatives. You will partner with Innovation, Process, and Platform packaging teams and cross-functional stakeholders to translate technical and sustainability requirements into commercially manufacturable solutions, supporting proof of concept, scale-up activities, and transition to business units.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
Support and executeflexiblefilm and paperpackaging material development work, balancing technology exploration withproof-of-conceptactivities and documenting learnings to support business cases and application decisions.
Support coordination of external partnerships across the value chain (e.g., resin, coating, material suppliers; universities; institutes; start-ups; open innovation networks; scouting partners) by managing technical communication, sample/testing plans, and data exchange under guidance.
Ensure packaging material/design decisions align with enterprise standards, manufacturability needs, sustainability requirements, and platform direction by applying standard methods and escalating risks/constraints.
Contribute to technical problem solving forflexible film and paperpackaging projects by running testing, troubleshooting, and root-cause investigations as needed.
Apply Design of Experiments (DoE), statistics, and structured technical problem-solving practices to research, development, and validation work.
Support prototyping development for consumer testing, pilot line setup, and scale-up to industrial production asrequiredto enable commercialization.
Contribute to technical documentation and knowledge sharing (e.g., summaries, test reports, learnings) to support team capability-building and consistency.
Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Innovation, Process, Platform Packaging) to translate requirements into testable material/package options and to support handover to business units.
Key Outputs & Deliverables
Support execution offlexible film and paperpackaging technology/material workstreams aligned with sustainability, innovation, and value engineering initiatives.
Deliver technical work products (e.g., test plans, prototypes, validation results, recommendations) that supportflexible film and paperpackaging projects from concept through proof of concept and handover, meeting agreed timelines and technical performance targets.
Support compliance with evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements, including:
Minimizing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees (by providing material/package inputs and evaluations that inform design choices)
Supporting designs that avoid material bans and regulatory risks
Advancing recyclable, reusable, andcompostablepackaging formats aligned with enterprise sustainability goals and legislative requirements
Contribute to packaging designs delivered to Performance-Based Specifications (PBS) to meet defined functional, quality, shelf-life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance outcomes.
Expected Experience & Required Skills
BS/MS/PhD degree in Engineering, Materials, Chemical or Packaging Engineering preferred or related discipline.
4+years of R&D technology development and commercialization experience in packaging and project leadership experience (consumer goods, food & beverage, pharma or similar preferred).
Demonstrated experience supporting R&D technology development and commercialization work with exposure to flexible film and/orpaperpackaging.
Demonstrated ability to support end-to-end development activities (planning tests, executing experiments, analyzing results, documenting recommendations)andcoordinatingwith cross-functional stakeholders.
Technical knowledge of materials (films, paper, barriers, coatings,sealantsand additives, etc.) and manufacturing constraints, including converting processes (e.g.,extrusion lamination, adhesive lamination, sealing, pouch forming, form-fill-seal,etc).
Experience evaluating flexible film and/or paper packaging on fillingequipment;solutiondevelopment;and recommended next steps preferred.
Working knowledge of project execution practices (e.g., timelines, risk identification, stakeholder updates) and ability to manage assigned deliverables.
Knowledge and practical application of Design of Experiments (DoE), statistics, and technical problem solving.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work with cross-functional partners and external suppliers.
Knowledge of sustainable packaging solutions, material/package industry standards, and regulations (as applicable toflexiblepackaging development work).
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