Development Engineer

Imagine: A Career with Purpose and Possibility

Picture this:
You are part of a global team of problem-solvers whose innovations in materials science can make life better. Every day, you help turn ideas into impact using science, technology, and creativity to tackle real-world challenges. You are part of a company whose work helps improve patient outcomes in healthcare and protects essential consumer goods that people around the world rely on every day.

At Tekni Plex, you’ll join more than 9,000 colleagues across 12 countries, all united by one purpose: creating safer, smarter solutions that touch daily life. Through our two divisions, Tekni Plex Healthcare and Tekni Plex Consumer Products, you’ll help shape industries that matter: healthcare, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, beauty, and personal care.

Here, your ideas count and your work matters. You’ll be encouraged to think boldly, collaborate across cultures, and keep growing every step of the way. You will help protect the integrity of essential products, support patient safety and comfort, and contribute to innovations that make everyday life better, all while building a career that makes an impact.

Because at Tekni Plex, you don’t just deliver products – you help shape what’s next.

What is the role where you will make an impact?

Tekni Plex is seeking a highly motivated Development Engineer I to join our Flexible Packaging Product Development team in Winston-Salem, NC. This entry-level engineering position offers an exciting opportunity to develop innovative flexible packaging solutions and support their commercialization from concept through full-scale production.

In this collaborative role you will be working closely with experienced Product Development Engineers, Manufacturing, Sales, Quality, Procurement, Operations, Regulatory, and customers, the successful candidate will participate in the design, development, testing, validation, scale‑up, and commercialization of flexible packaging structures – lidding substrates, pouching substrate, closure liner - for variety of applications consumer products, food & beverage, healthcare, and industrial application.

What will you do?

• Lead the development of new flexible packaging structures from concept through commercialization.
• Design materials configuration in order to develop flexible packaging structures to meet performance, manufacturing, regulatory, sustainability, and cost objectives.
• Supervise pilot and production line trials; generate technical recommendations based on laboratory, pilot, and production trial results.
• Document trial results accurately and in a timely manner in Lotus Notes Trial Request Database.
• Maintain contact with raw material suppliers and identify, evaluate, and recommend new materials for improved performance or reduced cost.
• Use ERP system to create raw materials part code, finished goods recipes.
• Conduct engineering cost calculations (costing) and provide to the pricing analyst.
• Coordinate production trials and assist in scale‑up activities to commercial production.
• Prepare technical reports summarizing development work, trial results, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Work with Operations to optimize manufacturability and process capability.
• As required, provide assistance in the field to customers and other company representatives in the successful conversion of customers to new products.

• Conduct laboratory testing of flexible packaging materials including Seal strength and peel force, Lamination bond strength, Coefficient of friction (COF), Mechanical properties such as Burst strength, Barrier properties, Microscopy, and Product compatibility testing
• Analyze test data and communicate findings clearly.
• Conduct statistical analysis using Excel. Use of Minitab a plus.
• Maintain laboratory data files and technical documentation.

• Write and execute Trial and Test plan involving flexible packaging converting operations including Flexographic printing, Gravure printing, Adhesive lamination, Extrusion lamination, Extrusion coating, Slitting, Gravure coating, Wax bonding, Coextrusion processes, and Paper, polymer film,…