Senior Technologist, Packaging Research & Development

J.M. Smucker Co•Detroit, OH

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

Your Opportunity as the Senior Technologist, Packaging Research & Development (R&D) for Sweet Baked Snacks Are you ready to shape the future of packaging for some of the most iconic sweet baked snacks in the industry? As a Senior Technologist in Packaging R&D, you’ll be at the forefront of innovation—bringing bold ideas to life through hands-on experimentation, data-driven insights, and cross-functional collaboration. Whether you're in the lab, on the plant floor, at a pilot site, or working with consumers, your impact will be felt across every bite of our beloved Hostess Brands products. Location: Orrville, Ohio Work Arrangements: hybrid, up to 50% in-office presence annually

Requirements

B.S. Degree in Packaging Science/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Material Science
2+ years of experience in packaging development or technical operations within Consumer Packaged Goods (food, beverage, or medical)
Familiarity with package qualification testing procedures
Strong project management skills to lead cross-functional efforts and manage timelines, budgets, and resources
Exceptional organizational, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving abilities
Confident communicator with strong presentation, verbal, and written skills
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and eager to learn continuously
Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
Willingness to travel up to 30% based on project needs and launch schedules

Nice To Haves

Experience in Food Packaging industry

Responsibilities

Collaborate boldly with Product R&D, Creative Services, Brand Management, and Suppliers to bring new packaging concepts to life—starting from the earliest design stages.
Design and develop innovative packaging solutions using materials like film/laminate, thermoforming, injection molding, paperboard, and corrugated formats—driven by consumer needs and business goals.
Lead testing and validation of packaging performance across production, distribution, shelf life, sustainability, and consumer usability—with growing independence.
Execute qualifications and trials with suppliers and production facilities, ensuring seamless integration into our manufacturing processes.
Drive plant trials with precision—planning, executing, analyzing, and summarizing results in partnership with manufacturing and technical teams.
Craft performance-based specifications and manage them within our electronic database system.
Advise and recommend top-tier suppliers and service providers to support successful product launches.
Champion innovation by proposing new packaging technologies, sustainability solutions, cost-saving ideas, and creative problem-solving approaches.
Support technical troubleshooting across the packaging supply chain and production environments.
Build strong relationships with strategic packaging suppliers to stay ahead of trends and capabilities.