Packaging Engineer

BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.

Whats it like to work at Kinders Well theres a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that theres also plenty of hard work. Because we dont just like flavor were obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide were now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco Walmart Whole Foods and more. Were not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue we need more smart-and-scrappy flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If youre looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it!Every day youll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

How youll have an impact at Kinders

The Packaging Engineer provides technical/engineering support for all packaging development activities for sauces seasoning/rub innovation projects and pallet displays from exploratory concept design through commercialization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design development and qualification of primary secondary and tertiary packaging for new and existing products.
• Gather secondary and display design parameters from internal team/customer specification and communicate to 3rd party corrugate suppliers for design work
• Develop present and optimize structural primary secondary and merchandising packaging designs with our Brand team
• Work closely with packaging suppliers to meet Kinders and our manufacturing partners criteria for success
• Conduct structural integrity packaging studies to ensure package and pallet integrity while optimizing economics
• Communicate case coding requirements to copackers per customer specification review and sign off on copacker case coding first articles/samples
• Evaluate and approve alternate packaging suppliers for both cost savings supply chain redundancy and enhanced consumer experience
• Develop specifications for internal and external partners and develop associated documentation
• Develop and maintain master data related to primary and secondary packaging
• Provide packaging data for Kinders finished goods specifications and EPR reporting
• Review and approve finished goods specifications
• Review artwork proofs for die-line accuracy
• Collaborate with Product Development team to evaluate new primary packaging product package interaction and associated shelf-life
• Execute continuous packaging improvement projects
• Work closely with both packaging suppliers and our contract manufacturing partners to improve package machinability decrease labor reduce cost and maximize throughput
• Independently lead packaging trials and qualifications at manufacturing facilities.

What You Bring to the Table

• BS Degree in Packaging Engineering or related field
• 3-5 years of food packaging or related field
• Strong problem-solving skills related to packaging structural design and machinability
• Demonstrated attention to detail
• Strong Knowledge of food packaging design and machinability fundamentals are required
• Excellent time management skills sense of urgency and desire to complete all assignments on a timely basis.
• Must be able to travel up to 30% of time

Highly Desired:

• Structural package testing experience
• Knowledge of Packaging Dynamic barrier properties and manufacturing
• Understand key food packaging quality attributes and inspection methodologies
• Experience creating effective packaging design solutions
• Strong understanding of range of packaging substrates i.e. flexible packaging corrugate paperboard bottles labels etc.

Personal Characteristics

• Thrive in a dynamic lean and agile environment.
• Comfortable in both the food plant and headquarters environment
• Self-starter who takes initiative and speaks their mind.
• Collaborative technical packaging resource
• Excited to be part of a fast-moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower

The expected starting salary range for this role is $125000- $145000 per year.We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education qualifications performance and business needs.

SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators but we dont live by hierarchy and structure everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We arent trying to be average we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off 401k bonus / incentive eligibility equity grants competitive health benefits and other family-friendly benefits including parental leave. Kinders benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:

We believe great culture starts with people. Were a people-first company built on connection collaboration and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:

Kinders is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ancestry national origin gender citizenship marital status religion age disability gender identity results of genetic testing veteran status as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements please reach out to us at