R&D Engineer

Sonoco • Hartsville, SC

22h

About The Position

Sonoco is seeking a high-caliber R&D Engineer to bridge the gap between applied mechanics and real-world performance. In this role, you will serve as a technical lead in characterizing material behavior and product performance—specifically paper and paper products—using a sophisticated blend of experimentation and advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Applied mechanics is a strategic technology platform at Sonoco. This platform has generated significant profit over the past 70 years. Many proprietary mechanics R&D findings have been incorporated into business IT systems that are routinely used globally.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in solid and experimental mechanics; a background in composite materials is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in commercial finite element environments (preferably Abaqus) and associated numerical analysis toolsets.
• Strong background in statistical data analysis with a detail-oriented approach to interpreting complex datasets.
• Strong command of Fortran for legacy code maintenance and Python for modern application development.
• Skilled in applying engineering intuition to solve complex problems where standard academic theory may fall short.
• Working with a high level of autonomy while maintaining a collaborative spirit, a proven ability to take full project ownership, including planning, budgeting, and execution.
• Skillful at articulating technical findings to both specialized and non-technical stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, Sonoco operations and marketing.
• MS in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Materials Science, related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of proven expertise in mechanical and structural analysis, spanning both computational simulation and experimental validation.

Nice To Haves

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Materials Science, or related field.
• 3+ years of proven industry track record in structural analysis and experimental validation.
• Experience in linear and nonlinear Finite Element analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute complex linear and non-linear FEA models to predict structural behavior and optimize product performance.
• Lead paper mechanics analysis, utilizing first-principles and simulation tools to evaluate both legacy products and next-generation prototypes.
• Design experiments and perform rigorous statistical analysis on empirical data to validate and refine computational models.
• Proactively challenge legacy methodologies and workflows to drive efficiency, accuracy, and technical excellence.
• Partner with multi-disciplinary technical teams to translate simulation insights into actionable design improvements.
• Understand business needs and priorities. Using a fundamental knowledge of applied mechanics, collaborate with colleagues to propose, plan, develop and execute R&D projects to significantly improve profitability.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
• Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
• Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees