Principal Engineer, R&D - Packaging Materials & Performance

Location: Hybrid, based at the hirify.global R&D Innovation Center in Glenview, Illinois, United States; work virtually up to two days per week and on-site at least three days per week. Requires physical presence at laboratories and internal or external manufacturing sites. Travel up to 25% of the time.

New hire base salary: $104,200.00–$130,200.00 per year. Eligible for a performance-based bonus.

Company

Consumer goods organization developing and commercializing food and beverage packaging across a North American portfolio.

What you will do

• Define enterprise performance requirements for packaging materials, package systems, and packaging technologies.
• Provide technical leadership on barrier properties, mechanical performance, seal integrity, distribution durability, compatibility, machinability, sustainability, and consumer use.
• Translate product, consumer, manufacturing, supply chain, sustainability, regulatory, and business needs into measurable performance targets and acceptance criteria.
• Establish testing methods and validation strategies covering laboratory testing, pilot plant evaluations, manufacturing trials, distribution testing, and commercial production startup.
• Manage technical risks, investigate performance failures, reduce commercialization risk, and support concept development through launch and ongoing product support.
• Develop tools and training, coach packaging teams, govern requirement documentation, and lead approximately one salaried team member.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PhD in Engineering, Materials, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 6 years of experience in packaging R&D, packaging development, materials engineering, commercialization, or related technical leadership roles.
• Deep understanding of packaging material functionality, package-system interactions, manufacturing and converting processes, and their effects on product quality, consumer experience, operations, sustainability, and commercialization.
• Experience establishing technical requirements, performance targets, validation methods, and acceptance criteria for packaging systems.
• Knowledge of sustainable packaging technologies, circularity initiatives, regulatory requirements, and evolving packaging legislation.
• Strong experience leading packaging development programs from concept through commercialization and translating cross-functional needs into measurable technical requirements.
• Strong understanding of package testing methodologies, Design of Experiments, statistical analysis, data interpretation, and structured technical problem solving.
• Ability to make sound technical decisions in ambiguous, dynamic, and fast-paced environments; influence stakeholders and lead technical decisions in a matrixed organization.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Nice to have

• Experience in consumer goods, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, or similar industries.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work arrangement with virtual work available up to two days per week.
• Healthcare coverage, including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and screenings or assessments.
• Paid time off, company holidays, leave of absence programs, flexible work arrangements, recognition, and training.
• 401(k), life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, and disability benefits.
• Wellbeing, employee assistance, family support, learning, and professional development programs.