Principal Packaging Engineer

Utz Brands•HANOVER, PA

About The Position

The Principal Packaging Engineer is the senior technical leader of the Packaging Development department, setting technical standards and direction for packaging across all company brands while remaining hands-on with the department’s most complex and highest-impact work. In partnership with the Director, Packaging Development, who manages the department, this role shapes packaging strategy and the technology roadmap, leads critical cross-functional initiatives, and serves as the customer- and supplier-facing technical authority. The role also mentors and develops the engineering team, establishes best practices, and recommends process improvements and investments to department leadership. The position leads packaging development and commercialization from ideation through first production, including packaging design, vendor sourcing, pricing, pack-outs, sizing, palletization reports, specifications, testing, and production support. It evaluates and qualifies packaging technologies, materials, formats, systems, and equipment; leads pilots and trials; and supports automation, cost reduction, value creation, and sustainability initiatives. The engineer works across Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Engineering, collaborates with suppliers and customers, and travels to manufacturing facilities as business needs arise. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science or a related Materials/Design field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, and 15+ years of consumer-packaged-goods packaging engineering experience. Food and beverage experience is highly preferred. The work environment is fast-paced and may involve hands-on work in lab, plant, and supplier environments, with flexibility to meet peak demands.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science or a Materials/Design-related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
15+ years of packaging engineering experience in consumer-packaged goods.
At least 3 years in a senior or technical lead role.
Demonstrated record of commercializing packaging from concept through production.
Subject matter expertise in packaging forms including corrugated, injection blow-molded PET, paperboard, and flexible films, and in the converting, filling, and packaging-line processes that run them.
Technical leadership ability, including mentoring engineers and influencing cross-functional teams and suppliers without direct authority.
Advanced critical thinking, root cause analysis, and complex problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, including presenting technical topics to customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
Self-directed, forward-thinking judgment in complex decisions that drive business innovation and performance.
Ability to develop and support recommendations, findings, and business cases for the Director and cross-functional leadership.
Excellent time and project management skills, including the ability to manage and prioritize multiple concurrent complex projects.
Working knowledge of packaging test methods and standards such as ASTM and ISTA, and food-contact regulatory requirements.
Proficiency in computer-aided packaging development software such as TOPS.
Ability to work hands-on in lab, plant, and supplier environments as needed and flex to meet peak demands.

Nice To Haves

Food and beverage packaging engineering experience.
Master’s degree.
Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior technical authority for the packaging engineering team and establish and maintain packaging standards, specification templates, test protocols, and design practices across brands.
Partner with the Director, Packaging Development to define packaging strategy, the technology roadmap, and departmental priorities, and recommend capability, tooling, and resourcing investments.
Lead the department’s most complex, highest-risk, and highest-visibility packaging projects from ideation through first production.
Lead new item development, including packaging design, vendor sourcing, and initial pricing; develop physical pack-outs, bag, box, and barrel sizing, palletization reports, and finalized packaging specifications in response to manufacturing, sales, and customer requirements.
Lead cross-functional teams to commercialize packaging and product innovations, aligning Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Engineering on technical approach, timing, and risk.
Mentor and coach packaging engineers, perform technical peer reviews, support right-first-time performance, ensure customer documentation accuracy, and contribute to team onboarding and development.
Serve as the escalation point for complex packaging defects and failures, leading root cause analysis and corrective action with manufacturing and supplier teams.
Represent the company as a customer-facing technical expert in technical reviews and presentations across a broad product portfolio.
Investigate, evaluate, and qualify packaging technologies, formats, materials, and systems; lead pilots and trials and develop adoption business cases.
Drive automation, cost reduction, value creation, and sustainability initiatives; partner with Procurement on estimated packaging-component costs and supplier strategy.
Build technical relationships with key packaging suppliers and lead supplier technical qualification and performance improvement.
Work with Engineering and Procurement on specification, selection, and trials of packaging equipment and packaging specifications.
Collaborate with manufacturing to identify packaging efficiencies and reduce downtime; develop expertise in manufacturing facilities and capabilities for covered brands, including through travel and plant visits as business needs arise.
Interpret test results to verify packaging specifications and compliance, and review specifications, design, and performance for continuous improvement.
Create and standardize product and package assembly guides for internal and external manufacturing teams.
Manage packaging projects, share timely updates with other departments, and communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to the Director and department leadership.