Package Engineer

Target•Minneapolis, MN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

A role with Target Packaging is an opportunity to lead the development of packaging for Target’s beloved owned brands, exclusive partnerships and select transit packaging. Your influence will drive sales and grow brand love through packaging that’s consumer-centric, on-brand, competitive “at shelf” and category relevant. In this role, you'll collaborate across internal teams and external partners to deliver packaging solutions that not only meet but exceed consumer expectations, align with brand vision, navigate supply chain complexities and advance sustainability goals. Your work will include prioritizing and managing numerous packaging projects, focused on meeting business needs while layering in sustainability and cost savings, all while delivering on time and on budget. As part of a global team, you’ll work directly with domestic and international vendors and suppliers. You’ll lead the structural design and development of new, improved, more sustainable and cost-effective owned brand packaging within our Frequency businesses at Target. As a Packaging Engineer, you will: Leverage your structural packaging expertise for assigned categories working under the coaching of the Packaging Design & Development Director for the business lines you support. Ensure the primary package will protect, contain and display the product from the initial idea through final use for assigned categories and businesses. Work across the enterprise with key internal partners to define packaging requirements and identify optimal packaging solutions. Collaborate directly with product vendors and packaging suppliers to bring packaging solutions that meet business and consumer needs. It is critical that we deliver solutions on time, at the lowest cost while ensuring corporate sustainability commitments and legislative requirements are met. Drive packaging sustainability initiatives by reducing material use, phasing out problematic plastics and supporting compliance with emerging EPR and State regulations. Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities through material optimization, format changes, Unit of Measure changes and supplier collaboration without compromising product integrity, packaging performance or brand standards. Contribute to category and item level market research, including testing and consumer feedback. Draw conclusions from relevant data and make appropriate recommendations. Lead prototyping and development of Target packaging structural concepts for our Owned Brand products. Ensure item level packaging specifications are accurate; deadlines are met, and products set on time and as designed.

Requirements

Four-year packaging engineering degree
CPG experience, including flexible and rigid plastics, strongly preferred
5+ years of experience preferred
Ability to manage a high-volume workload involving multiple projects across various departments.
Strong prioritization and time management skills are essential to consistently meet deadlines
Strong passion for engineering and design, a proactive drive to learn new skills, and a high level of attention to detail
Ability to work independently and strategically in a fast-paced environment
Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication, and organizational skills
Expertise with Artios CAD and SOLIDWORKS, CSWA (Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate) preferred

Nice To Haves

CPG experience, including flexible and rigid plastics
CSWA (Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate)

Responsibilities

Leverage structural packaging expertise for assigned categories working under the coaching of the Packaging Design & Development Director for the business lines you support.
Ensure the primary package will protect, contain and display the product from the initial idea through final use for assigned categories and businesses.
Work across the enterprise with key internal partners to define packaging requirements and identify optimal packaging solutions.
Collaborate directly with product vendors and packaging suppliers to bring packaging solutions that meet business and consumer needs.
Drive packaging sustainability initiatives by reducing material use, phasing out problematic plastics and supporting compliance with emerging EPR and State regulations.
Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities through material optimization, format changes, Unit of Measure changes and supplier collaboration without compromising product integrity, packaging performance or brand standards.
Contribute to category and item level market research, including testing and consumer feedback.
Lead prototyping and development of Target packaging structural concepts for our Owned Brand products.
Ensure item level packaging specifications are accurate; deadlines are met, and products set on time and as designed.