Process & Product Development Engineer

Process & Product Development Engineer

Georgia-Pacific is currently looking for a Process & Product Development Engineer to join the Packaging Research & Development Team. The selected candidate will support innovation initiatives focused on corrugated products and will work with a cross‑functional team to develop and commercialize new processes, products, and product improvements.

The engineer will primarily work from Georgia-Pacific Packaging’s Innovation Institute® in Norcross, GA, but should expect to travel up to 30% of the time.

• Act as the technical lead for the development and commercialization of corrugated processes, products, and product improvements.
• Serve as technical SME and project manager for cross‑functional projects that include commercial teams, suppliers, operations, and customers.
• Define project scope, schedules, budgets and deliverables; track milestones and drive project closure.
• Conduct literature and vendor research, design experiments, develop hypotheses, and propose high‑impact corrugated research and improvement projects.
• Plan, execute, and coordinate corrugated plant and lab trials to validate hypotheses and generate sample products for downstream testing.
• Analyze experimental data using appropriate statistical methods and software to produce statistically sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Expand and maintain internal testing capabilities as new needs arise; document methods and transfer learnings to operations.
• Follow plant safety procedures and support safe execution of trials.
• Perform hands‑on work in lab and manufacturing environments during trials; lift up to 50 lbs with or without assistance.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Packaging, or a related field.
• 3+ years of professional experience applying analytical thinking and problem solving in R&D, product development, or manufacturing settings.
• 3+ years of experience working in a production environment (e.g., converting, paper/packaging plant, or R&D role).
• Demonstrated project management experience leading cross‑functional projects (planning, resourcing, scheduling, and risk management).
• Experience with experimental design, hypothesis testing, and literature/vendor research.
• Proficiency in analyzing test data and deriving statistically sound conclusions.
• Able to travel up to 30%.

• 3+ years of experience in corrugated R&D and/or plant role.
• Experience in the paper, packaging, or converting industries.
• Experience working in innovation, product development, applied research, process improvement, and/or a manufacturing environment.
• Competency in a statistical software such as JMP, SAS, or Minitab.
• Experience leading end‑to‑end commercialization projects and transferring technology to operations.
• Formal project management training or certification (e.g., PMP, CAPM, or equivalent).

Georgia-Pacific provides comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, disability and retirement plans, paid vacation and time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave, and adoption assistance. Eligibility and benefit details vary by employee classification and geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E‑Verify.