Lead Application Engineer, Packaging

At Henkel, you’ll be part of an organization that’s shaping the future through innovation, sustainability and collaboration. With our trusted brands like Persil®, ‘all®, Loctite®, Snuggle®, and Schwarzkopf® and our cutting‑edge technologies, you’ll have countless opportunities to explore new paths and grow.

This position is with our Adhesive Technologies business unit – where we empower our people to transform industries and provide our customers with a competitive advantage through adhesives, sealants and functional coatings.

• Responsible for product recommendations, customized products applications, new product demonstrations and troubleshooting for customers.
• Consult customers on solutions generating value for their use cases.
• Perform technical visits (meetings, audits, demonstrations, troubleshooting, etc.) for customers with documentation in the CRM tool and the LIM system.
• Work with application equipment to provide solutions to enhance customer adhesive related processes.
• Leverage customer feedback to drive optimization in customer service and identify new business opportunities for sales colleagues.
• Reports quality issues / customers' claims to relevant parts of the organization (incl. CCMS/CAPRIS).
• May supervise the laboratory work (incl. prioritization) for samples coming from customers, and report technical results to customers.
• Responsible for products application / technical training and coaching of field sales forces and customers.
• Responsible for directly communicating with sales, marketing, PD, Innovation, members of TCS field team or project team members.
• Promote internally SBU innovations and best learnings cross accounts.
• Acts as a trusted technical partner for customers by leading product / technology demos, troubleshooting, and training at customer sites utilizing pre- and post-demo documentation and visit reports to help customers succeed.
• Collaborates as technical liaison between our customers and our internal team including product development, manufacturing, supply chain, sales, and marketing.
• Provides timely technical support for assigned regional customers including product recommendations, complaint investigations, and analytical problem solving.
• Demonstrates appropriate project management skills by justifying and scoping customer projects, as well as supporting our market areas by driving our innovation and technology pipeline.
• Plans, executes and communicates laboratory requests to support customer / market projects.
• Prepares reports to summarize findings & conclusions and effectively communicates technical information directly to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contributes to the development and successful adoption of new technology platforms for laminating adhesives and coatings by applying deep technical knowledge, industry expertise and customer insights.
• Provides market‑specific expertise through internal and external approaches including involvement in professional societies and industry associations.
• Leads by example in Safety, completing all necessary site and field safety requirements.
• Develops technical and professional skills through ongoing learning, mentoring, and participation in internal and external technical communities.

• BS ChE, ME, MatE, Chemistry or similar degree / experience required.
• Typically, 5-10+ years of technical service, engineering, or industry experience; relevant experience in the Flexible Packaging industry is a plus.
• Hands‑on coating and/or converting expertise (mechanical / application equipment aptitude) in laminating adhesives and/or coatings technology area is highly valued.
• Experience in troubleshooting complex / difficult problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent people skills; able to work effectively with a range of individuals from manufacturing operators and laboratory technicians through senior management both at customers and within Henkel.
• Excellent project management and organization skills.
• Willing to travel up to ~60%, primarily in the USA and occasionally MX/CAN; with advance planning and support to enable sustainable work‑life balance.

• Hea…