Process Engineer - Materials Development

Location: Mason

Help Shape the Future of Sustainable Food Packaging

Location:

Mason, Michigan Corporate Office (Relocation Assistance Available)
Travel:
Up to 50% initially, with regular travel to manufacturing facilities

At Dart, we're expanding our innovation and development capabilities and looking for a Process Engineer or Senior Process Engineer to help drive the future of paper-based packaging, converting technologies, and sustainable materials.

This role offers a unique combination of manufacturing support, product development, process optimization, material qualification, and innovation. You'll work directly with manufacturing plants, suppliers, procurement, quality, and product development teams to support paper materials, converting processes, and the development of next-generation products across cups, lids, dinnerware, molded fiber, and other paper-based packaging platforms.

We're looking for engineers who are analytical, coachable, naturally curious, and confident challenging assumptions to solve complex technical problems. Direct paper industry experience is valuable but not required for the Engineer level. We are open to candidates from chemical engineering, materials science, packaging, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and other manufacturing environments who are eager to learn the paper converting business.

What You'll Do...Process Engineer Support manufacturing plants through process qualifications, troubleshooting efforts, second-source validations, and continuous improvement projects.

Participate in production trials, new product development, and process optimization initiatives.

Analyze process and material performance using statistical tools, Minitab, Design of Experiments (DOE), and root-cause analysis techniques. Assist with supplier qualifications and material evaluations for paperboard, coated paper, cup stock, plate stock, lid materials, and fiber-based packaging materials.

Work directly with operators, technicians, and plant teams to understand manufacturing challenges and implement solutions.

Develop technical documentation, qualification reports, SOPs, trial summaries, and engineering recommendations. Support the transition of new technologies and equipment into Dart's expanding innovation center in Mason.

Bring new perspectives and ideas from outside the traditional paper industry.

Senior Process Engineer Lead large-scale process improvement, troubleshooting, qualification, and product development projects. Serve as a technical leader for paper materials, supplier qualification, manufacturing readiness, and converting performance. Lead material evaluations, supplier reviews, production trials, and second-source qualification efforts. Drive cross-functional collaboration among Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Sustainability, Product Development, and supplier partners. Support complex troubleshooting involving runnability, converting performance, coating behavior, sealing, printability, material variation, and product quality.

Mentor engineers and influence technical direction across multiple facilities. Lead qualification planning, documentation, risk assessments, and implementation activities for new products and material changes.

Help establish engineering best practices while accelerating innovation and commercialization efforts.

What We're Looking For...For Both Levels We're seeking engineers who are:

Curious, coachable, and eager to learn.

Confident asking questions and challenging assumptions when appropriate.

Comfortable working directly with operators, technicians, and plant leadership.

Strong analytical thinkers who enjoy solving complex technical problems.

Willing to travel to manufacturing facilities and relocate to Michigan.

Effective communicators who can explain technical concepts clearly.

Motivated to become experts in Dart's converting and manufacturing processes.

Process Engineer Requires one of the following:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Paper Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials science, or a related technical field and three (3) years of related engineering experienc.

Associate’s degree and nine (9) years of related engineering experience

Engineering experience in manufacturing, process engineering, packaging, materials, product development, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, consumer goods, or similar industries.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for…