Packaging Engineer
bops
Austin, TX, USA
Posted on Oct 11, 2025
Your favorite pastime is strolling through the aisles of grocery stores, not necessarily for the grocery shopping itself, but to examine and admire the various packaging of products throughout the store! (Fellow shoppers see you on your merry stroll and are reminded of the jolly Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio, but the truth is that you’ve also got an incredible “Edna Mode” mode when it comes to evaluating packaging.) You have a deep appreciation for and understanding of what goes into picking, producing, and distributing different types of packaging—from glass jars to plastic squeezy bottles, and all the way to design elements and functionality of materials. Your friends joke that they can’t take you anywhere because you’ll ultimately find yourself in deep conversations about…you guessed it, packaging! Whether it be admiring the hot sauce bottle at the table or the ketchup packet that came with your meal, there’s no denying you’ve got an eye for detail and an expertise in package design and optimization. Sound like you? We’re looking for a Packaging Engineer, and we’d love to hear from you!
About you:
- You’d never call yourself Sherlock Holmes, but your critical thinking skills and ability to creatively solve problems is what most would call “genius”—even when you insist it’s “elementary!”
- Your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical teams about packaging makes you the human “Translator App for All Things Packaging.”
- Passion, process, packaging. Not the same ring to it as “beets, bears, and battle star galactica,” but you get the idea. You’re all about optimizing the packaging process from start to end.
- You’re a quick thinker, great communicator, and you don’t hesitate to make recommendations (in the name of optimization, of course). If there was a Chopped competition for packaging reviews, you’d be dubbed the champion every time!
What you will do:
- Responsible for multiple packaging development and cost reduction projects.
- Collaborate with and provide technical expertise to Marketing, Procurement, Quality, R&D, suppliers, and co-manufacturers to determine optimal packaging specifications that meet aesthetic and functional requirements for new product introductions. Both primary and secondary packaging responsibility which may include, but is not limited to, glass, plastic, caps, flexible film, corrugate, etc.
- Develop a consistent, documented process to test and evaluate new and existing packaging as related to specifications/expectations; lead testing as necessary.
- Develop and execute packaging qualification plans, including plant trials; reporting against predetermined key performance indicators to verify impact/mitigate risk of packaging changes.
- Review existing packaging and make recommendations on functional improvements and cost savings opportunities, such as film barrier properties, fluting recommendations, pallet optimization and cube out.
- Work with Supply Chain and Logistics to ensure package integrity from manufacturing to end consumer.
- Provide technical support to project teams to solve manufacturing problems related to packaging.
- Develop and maintain relationships with vendors to bring innovation, technology, and solutions.
- Work with Procurement on supplier selection and RFP process for new and existing business.
- Lead sustainability projects to reduce waste from packaging materials, working with internal and external resources to set goals and achieve measurable success.
- Monitor and ensure adherence to retailer packaging specifications.
- Responsible for approval of dielines and print specifications within packaging graphics process
- Travel an average of 40% of the time.
Your experience:
- 3-5 yrs. of experience in packaging operations or related field of work is required
- B.S. In Packaging Engineering, Science, Mechanical Engineering or similar degree preferred, 5+ years of experience as a packaging engineer in food CPG may be substituted
- CPG experience (preferably food manufacturing) with a broad range of packaging formats, materials, equipment, & performance tests is a plus
EEO Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity
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