Packaging Engineer Manager

Diageo•Plainfield, IL

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Diageo is a global leader in the drinks industry, home to iconic brands like Johnnie Walker and Guinness. The Supply Chain & Manufacturing function is responsible for bringing these brands to life, involving production, logistics, engineering, and supplier partnerships. This role is central to delivering on Diageo's ambition by managing packaging technical development and commercialization for innovation, renovation, and supply optimization projects. The position involves partnering with Global Category Teams, acting as the voice of Supply, and evaluating programs. Diageo invests in employee growth with structured coaching and a clear career path.

Requirements

BS in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
5+ years of packaging development, packaging engineering, or technical commercialization experience in CPG, beverage, food, pharmaceutical, or a related manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience leading complex packaging development and commercialization projects from concept through production.
Strong technical understanding of packaging materials, component development, manufacturing processes, testing methodologies, and qualification requirements.
Experience translating consumer, brand, and business requirements into technically feasible and scalable packaging solutions.
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot packaging and manufacturing challenges, identify root causes, and develop technically sound solutions.
Experience partnering with manufacturing sites and external packaging suppliers to execute trials, qualifications, and commercial launches.
Strong cross-functional leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex technical topics for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Experience coaching, mentoring, or managing technical talent; direct people-management experience preferred.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound technical decisions in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment.
Working knowledge of packaging specifications, technical documentation, and stage-gate commercialization processes.
Periodic travel required, up to 20%.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP and portfolio/reporting tools such as PowerBI is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead packaging technical development and commercialization for strategic, complex, and high-priority innovation, renovation, and supply optimization projects, ensuring packaging solutions are robust, manufacturable, scalable, and delivered right first time.
Serve as a senior technical leader within Packaging, translating project and brand requirements into packaging solutions and providing technical direction throughout the commercialization lifecycle.
Coach and develop early-career Packaging Engineers, building their technical capability, commercialization expertise, and confidence to independently lead packaging workstreams.
Partner cross-functionally with Commercialization, Innovation/R&D, Procurement, Quality, Manufacturing, Brand, and external suppliers to identify technical requirements, resolve packaging challenges, and enable successful commercialization.
Ensure appropriate technical rigor and documentation throughout commercialization governance, including specifications, testing, trials, risk assessments, and technical approvals.
Drive continuous improvement across Packaging Commercialization, strengthening technical standards, ways of working, and organizational capability while improving speed to market and first-time-right execution.
Own packaging technical delivery for assigned strategic and complex projects from concept through commercialization and post-launch, ensuring solutions meet quality, performance, cost, manufacturing, and consumer requirements.
Provide technical leadership in the development, qualification, and commercialization of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging components, partnering with Packaging subject matter experts where deeper category expertise is required.
Lead packaging risk identification and technical problem-solving, proactively developing mitigation plans and escalating risks that could impact project timing, quality, cost, or supply continuity.
Plan and execute packaging development activities including component qualification, testing, line trials, and manufacturing validation to demonstrate readiness for commercialization.
Ensure packaging technical due diligence is completed at each commercialization lifecycle step and that technical decisions are supported by appropriate data, documentation, and risk assessment.
Partner closely with manufacturing sites and suppliers to ensure packaging solutions are manufacturable at scale and technical requirements are understood before launch.
Build a high-performing Packaging Engineering team through coaching, development, technical mentorship, effective resource allocation, and career growth support.
Provide technical guidance and escalation support to Packaging Engineers, helping the team solve complex issues while building capability and increasing independent technical ownership.
Manage engineering resources across the packaging project portfolio, balancing business priorities, project complexity, technical risk, and individual development opportunities.
Champion continuous improvement across Packaging Commercialization by developing and implementing improved technical standards, tools, processes, and best practices that increase speed, quality, and first-time-right execution.