Packaging Engineer

John Paul Mitchell Systems • Santa Clarita, CA

13d • $115,000 - $125,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

John Paul Mitchell Systems (“JPMS”) is seeking a skilled and enthusiastic Packaging Engineer to serve as the technical owner of packaging performance, validation, release readiness, and innovation across JPMS products. This role emphasizes packaging testing, supplier and tooling qualification, operational scale-up, new-material and dispensing innovation, and value engineering. The position supports Regulatory on the technical validation behind sustainability and global compliance. Key focus areas include end-to-end packaging validation, testing, and release readiness governance; early-stage packaging risk assessment; supplier, component, and tooling qualification; packaging non-conformance investigation and resolution; packaging innovation and new-material engineering; and operational packaging optimization and light value engineering. The role provides technical validation and data to support the Regulatory Manager, Packaging, who is responsible for sustainability strategy, EPR, PLM, and multi-market regulatory compliance. This role works 3-4 days a week from our Santa Clarita, CA office.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required
• 5+ years of experience in packaging engineering within CPG, beauty, personal care, or similar regulated environments
• Demonstrated experience leading packaging testing, validation, scale-up, tooling and mold qualification, supplier qualification and audits, and contract manufacturer technical support through commercialization
• Hands-on expertise in packaging testing, validation, and scale-up
• Tooling and mold qualification
• Supplier qualification and audits
• Contract manufacturer technical support and commercialization
• Working knowledge of GMP, quality systems, and global packaging compliance
• Technical judgment and risk-based decision making
• Strong root-cause problem solving
• Value engineering and cost-optimization mindset
• Project and documentation discipline
• Clear cross-functional communication, with the ability to operate independently while partnering effectively

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Science, Engineering preferred
• Experience driving packaging innovation and new-material development (e.g., PCR / biobased, dispensing systems), and with value engineering, strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Own the packaging testing framework from development through commercialization (compatibility, stability, leak, drop, vibration, torque, transit, weight-claim, headspace, stress-cracking, deco, and dispensing testing)
• Lead early-stage risk assessments for feasibility, compatibility, filling, and scale-up, and serve as primary technical contact for external testing labs
• Maintain testing documentation, approvals, and release-readiness criteria in partnership with Quality
• Drive packaging innovation including new materials, formats, and dispensing solutions that improve performance, consumer experience, and cost
• Engineer and qualify new and alternative materials (including PCR / biobased) and lightweighting changes, ensuring each is technically validated and production-ready
• Provide the technical validation, specifications, and test data needed to support Regulatory’s sustainability, EPR, and multi-market compliance obligations
• Qualify packaging vendors, components, molds, and tooling prior to scale-up, including GMP, EPR, and technical audits; approve drawings, specifications, and tolerances
• Serve as primary investigator for packaging non-conformances, partnering with Quality, the packaging vendor, and Operations on root cause, corrective action, and disposition; participate in recall committees when packaging is implicated
• Support secondary supplier/tooling approvals, change control, SOPs, and continuous improvement
• Support CM readiness (tooling, line capability, packaging execution) and define optimal pallet patterns, shipper strength, dimensions, and logistics performance with Operations
• Maintain CAPE data, BOM accuracy, and Fill & Assembly documentation, and provide packaging guidance to Shipping and Warehousing
• Partner with R&D and Marketing to validate dispensing, dosing, and ease of use, ensuring packaging supports claims and intended consumer outcomes

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, life, accident, critical illness, and disability insurance
• retirement savings plans and company match
• paid family leave
• education-related programs
• paid holidays
• discretionary vacation time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED