Engineer - Innovation (Active/Intelligence Packaging)

ProAmpac•Menasha, WI

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

ProAmpac is seeking an Innovation Engineer, Active & Intelligent Packaging, to join its Innovation and Technology team. The role focuses on researching, developing, evaluating, and commercializing active and intelligent packaging solutions, working with technical experts, manufacturing teams, commercial partners, suppliers, customers, and recognized consumer brands. The position spans concept development, laboratory evaluation, plant trials, scale-up, and market launch, with an emphasis on creating value for customers, consumers, and the environment. The engineer will assess emerging technologies and concepts through laboratory testing, product validation, and customer trials; develop and conduct food shelf-life, microbiology, physical-property, and performance testing; support material and process qualification; and help resolve technical and product-quality issues. The role also involves customer collaboration, technical documentation, regulatory compliance, project management, and cost analysis. The position is hybrid and based in Rochester, New York; Menasha, Wisconsin; or Hanover Park, Illinois, with approximately 30% travel. The anticipated annual salary range is $90,000–$105,000. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require current or future employment visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Master's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Packaging Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Experience supporting product development, research, innovation, or commercialization activities in packaging, food, materials, or related industries.
Working knowledge of microbiology, chemistry, packaging science, materials science, and statistical methodologies.
Experience working with FDA regulations and quality standards.
Strong analytical, project-management, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively across technical and commercial teams.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and Word.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and must not require current or future employment visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

PhD in Food Science, Microbiology, Packaging Science, or a related scientific discipline.
Experience with active packaging, intelligent packaging, food-preservation technologies, flexible packaging, materials development, or related innovation initiatives.
Experience supporting manufacturing scale-up, process validation, or customer trials.

Responsibilities

Support the development and commercialization of active and intelligent packaging technologies.
Evaluate new concepts through laboratory testing, product validation, and customer trials.
Design and execute food shelf-life, microbiology, physical-property, and performance testing protocols.
Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, quality, procurement, sales, suppliers, and customers to advance packaging solutions.
Support qualification of substrates, materials, and manufacturing processes.
Lead and support plant trials and scale-up from development through commercialization.
Research emerging technologies, industry trends, scientific literature, and regulatory developments.
Assist in troubleshooting technical and product-quality issues.
Support customer innovation workshops and collaborative product-development initiatives.
Develop technical documentation, specifications, and performance reports.
Ensure compliance with applicable FDA requirements and industry standards.
Apply project-management and cost-analysis techniques to innovation projects.