Packaging Engineer

We're looking for a Packaging Engineer to join our team and help design packaging solutions that protect our products, improve operational performance, and make our supply chain more efficient.

In this role, you'll take packaging concepts from customer requirements through design, testing, implementation, and continuous improvement. You'll work hands-on with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, customers, and suppliers to develop packaging that performs in the real world—from production and palletization to frozen storage, transportation, and the customer's hands.

This is an opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving practical problems, improving processes, and seeing their work directly impact how products are made and delivered!

This role is located onsite in our San Leandro facility.

• Design and develop primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for frozen and fresh bakery products.
• Translate customer requirements into packaging solutions that balance performance, cost, quality, timelines, and operational needs.
• Develop packaging that protects products through production, handling, transportation, storage, and temperature variations.
• Create prototypes and conduct feasibility studies and testing to validate packaging designs before implementation.
• Develop pallet configurations that maximize load stability, space utilization, product protection, and transportation efficiency.
• Ensure packaging and palletization designs work with standard pallet sizes, warehouse systems, and distribution requirements.
• Conduct palletization and transport testing using applicable industry standards such as ISTA and ASTM.
• Identify opportunities to improve packaging and logistics efficiency while reducing product damage and waste.
• Select and optimize packaging materials based on product requirements, performance, cost, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate materials for characteristics such as moisture resistance, breathability, durability, and compatibility with bakery products.
• Develop and execute test plans to evaluate packaging performance under real-world conditions, including frozen storage, palletized transportation, and shelf-life requirements.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation supporting customer and regulatory requirements.

• Partner with Manufacturing and Operations to ensure packaging works effectively on production lines and with existing equipment.
• Troubleshoot packaging-related issues, including equipment compatibility, material defects, palletization failures, and production challenges.
• Use root cause analysis and continuous improvement principles to reduce downtime, improve throughput, and increase packaging reliability.
• Standardize packaging and palletization solutions across manufacturing and supply chain processes.

• Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Product Development to bring packaging solutions from concept to production.
• Work with Marketing to ensure primary packaging supports consumer appeal and brand requirements.
• Partner with Supply Chain to optimize packaging for storage, distribution, palletization, and transportation.
• Work directly with customers to understand and implement their packaging and palletization requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with packaging material and equipment suppliers.
• Evaluate and qualify suppliers based on quality, cost, reliability, and technical capability.
• Partner with suppliers to resolve technical challenges and improve packaging materials, specifications, and performance.
• Support the development of a reliable supplier network for packaging materials and equipment.

• You have a Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field. A Master's degree is a plus.
• You have 2-5 years of experience in packaging development, ideally within food or bakery manufacturing.
• You have experience with packaging design, palletization, logistics, and packaging testing.
• You are proficient with CAD software:
  ArtiosCAD.
• You understand packaging materials and their properties, including plastics, paper, coated materials, and composites.
• You're familiar with packaging and palletization standards such as ISTA and ASTM, as well as food-related regulatory requirements such as FDA requirements.
• You understand how packaging interacts with manufacturing equipment, automation, palletization systems, and production processes.
• You have experience working with suppliers and managing technical vendor relationships.
• You're a strong problem solver who enjoys getting to the root cause of complex operational challenges.
• You communicate clearly and work effectively with cross-functional teams, customers, and suppliers.
• You're detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• You have a continuous-improvement mindset and look for ways to make…