Sr. Engineer, R&D Packaging Materials – Flexible Film and Paper

Job Purpose

As thePackaging MaterialsEngineer you will support the development and advancement offlexiblefilmand paperpackaging material solutions for the North American portfolio. Theobjectiveof the role is toidentifydevelop evaluate andvalidatematerialtechnologiesthat meet functional performance manufacturability cost and sustainability requirements while supporting innovation compliance and value engineering initiatives. You will partner with Innovation Process and Platform packaging teams and cross-functional stakeholders to translate technical and sustainability requirements into commercially manufacturable solutions supporting proof of concept scale-up activities and transition to business units.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Support and executeflexiblefilm and paperpackaging material development work balancing technology exploration withproof-of-conceptactivities and documenting learnings to support business cases and application decisions.

• Support coordination of external partnerships across the value chain (e.g. resin coating material suppliers; universities; institutes; start-ups; open innovation networks; scouting partners) by managing technical communication sample/testing plans and data exchange under guidance.

• Ensure packaging material/design decisions align with enterprise standards manufacturability needs sustainability requirements and platform direction by applying standard methods and escalating risks/constraints.

• Contribute to technical problem solving forflexible film and paperpackaging projects by running testing troubleshooting and root-cause investigations as needed.

• Apply Design of Experiments (DoE) statistics and structured technical problem-solving practices to research development and validation work.

• Support prototyping development for consumer testing pilot line setup and scale-up to industrial production asto enable commercialization.

• Contribute to technical documentation and knowledge sharing (e.g. summaries test reports learnings) to support team capability-building and consistency.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (e.g. Innovation Process Platform Packaging) to translate requirements into testable material/package options and to support handover to business units.

Key Outputs & Deliverables

• Support execution offlexible film and paperpackaging technology/material workstreams aligned withsustainability innovation and value engineeringinitiatives.

• Deliver technical work products (e.g. test plans prototypes validation results recommendations) that supportflexible film and paperpackaging projects fromconcept through proof of concept and handover meeting agreed timelines and technical performance targets.

• Support compliance with evolvingsustainability and regulatory requirements including:

• MinimizingExtended Producer Responsibility (EPR)fees (by providing material/package inputs and evaluations that inform design choices)

• Supporting designs that avoidmaterial bans and regulatory risks

• Advancingrecyclable reusable andcompostablepackaging formats aligned with enterprise sustainability goals and legislative requirements

• Contribute to packaging designs delivered toPerformance-Based Specifications (PBS)to meet defined functional quality shelf-life consumer experience and manufacturing performance outcomes.

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• BS/MS/PhD degree in Engineering Materials Chemical or Packaging Engineering preferred or related discipline.

• 4years of R&D technology development and commercialization experience in packaging and project leadership experience (consumer goods food & beverage pharma or similar preferred).

• Demonstrated experience supportingR&D technology development and commercializationwork with exposure toflexible film and/orpaperpackaging.

• Demonstrated ability to support end-to-end development activities (planning tests executing experiments analyzing results documenting recommendations)andcoordinatingwith cross-functional stakeholders.

• Technical knowledge ofmaterials(films paper barriers coatingssealantsand additives etc.) andmanufacturing constraints including converting processes (e.g.extrusion lamination adhesive lamination sealing pouch forming form-fill-sealetc).

• Experience evaluating flexible film and/or paper packaging on fillingequipment;solutiondevelopment;and recommended next steps preferred.

• Working knowledge ofproject execution practices(e.g. timelines risk identification stakeholder updates) and ability to manage assigned deliverables.

• Knowledge and practical application ofDesign of Experiments (DoE) statistics and technical problem solving.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work with cross-functional partners and external suppliers.

• Knowledge ofsustainable packaging solutions material/package industry standards and regulations (as applicable toflexiblepackaging development work).

• Experience supportingpilot line setups and scale-upto industrial production (as required by project needs).

• Willingness and ability totravel up to 25%of the time.

Work Environment & Schedule

This positionoperatesprimarily in a hybrid work environment and is based at the Kraft Heinz R&D Innovation Center in Glenview IL. Our hybrid model provides flexibility based on business needs allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week with an expectation to work on-site at least three days per week at the Glenview Innovation Center (Chicago IL).

Physical Requirements

Physical demandsinclude but not limited to

• Regular office work

• Physical presence at labs and manufacturing sites (internal and external) to perform experimental and validation testing

This job description is not designed to cover orcontainall duties or responsibilities that are requiredofthe role. Duties or responsibilities may change or be added with or without notice.