Sr. Product Engineer- Paper products

Target • Minneapolis, MN

20h • $95,000 - $171,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Product Engineer - Paper Products role is responsible for independently developing and executing the technical development process for paper products, ensuring adherence to Target-owned brand quality standards. This involves creating and interpreting concepts, managing the product development lifecycle, and providing technical guidance to design, sourcing, quality, and merchant teams. The role requires owning and leading the technical design and development process through diligent workload management, timely communication, and clear articulation of business initiatives, quality requirements, and performance expectations. The Sr. Product Engineer will also lead Technical Design/Engineering within a cross-functional team to achieve desired styles, quality, and value for owned brand products. In partnership with internal and external stakeholders, they will execute brand vision, resolve manufacturing issues, and develop products while meeting all deadlines. Additionally, they will collaborate with the director on strategic research and development projects, including benchmarking against competitors, developing innovative solutions, and leading guest research initiatives to shape product direction. Candidates may have direct paper experience or relevant expertise from adjacent industries such as nonwovens, absorbent products, fiber-based materials, packaging, or converting.

Requirements

• Four-year degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Product Development, or related field, or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of relevant experience
• Advanced expertise in a specific category or business
• Knowledge of testing, safety and legal requirements for consumer products
• Knowledge of raw materials and manufacturing process
• Strong knowledge of various 2-D and/or 3-D CAD software packages
• Advanced knowledge of product manufacturing process
• Ability to build relationships to successfully work in a team environment
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Nice To Haves

• Strong experience in paper products, tissue, towels, nonwovens, absorbent products, converting, packaging, fiber-based materials, or a related manufacturing field.
• Strong business judgment and ability to connect technical decisions to consumer and financial outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive decisions without formal authority.
• Strong prioritization, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working directly with suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Clear, concise communication and a collaborative, low-ego leadership style.
• Ability to operate independently and create clarity in ambiguous situations.
• Tissue, towel, paper converting, embossing, fiber, or related manufacturing experience.
• Consumer products, retailer-owned brands, or private-label product development.
• Experience using consumer research, benchmarking, or product testing to guide product decisions.
• Quality investigations, supplier qualification, value engineering, or cost optimization.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in paper science, engineering, materials science, packaging, or a related technical field.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development, innovation, quality improvement, cost optimization, and supplier initiatives.
• Apply strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing, product performance, specifications, testing, and supplier capabilities.
• Translate consumer insights, product performance, and business needs into clear product and technical requirements.
• Identify technical risks, challenge assumptions, and use data and judgment to solve complex product and manufacturing problems.
• Bring forward new product, technology, supplier, and performance opportunities.
• Lead work across Product Development, Sourcing, Merchandising, Quality, Packaging, Supply Chain, Finance, Insights, and suppliers.
• Drive ideas from concept through decision and execution, not simply complete assigned technical work.
• Build alignment and influence decisions without direct authority.
• Navigate competing perspectives and organizational complexity while keeping work moving.
• Communicate complex technical topics clearly to both technical and business audiences.
• Understand the business behind product decisions, including consumer needs, competitive positioning, cost, margin, and supplier economics.
• Use consumer feedback, research, competitive benchmarking, and product data to inform product decisions and identify opportunities.
• Balance performance, cost, speed, sustainability, manufacturability, and supply risk.
• Partner with business teams to help shape category, innovation, and supplier strategies.
• Independently manage a high-volume portfolio of projects, quality issues, and supplier initiatives.
• Determine what requires immediate attention, what creates the greatest value or risk, and what can wait.
• Maintain clear visibility to priorities, milestones, risks, and decisions.
• Proactively surface resource constraints, escalate risks, and ask for support when priorities cannot reasonably be met.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits and programs (medical, vision, dental, life insurance)
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short term disability
• Long term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree