The Packaging Design Engineer is responsible for collaborating with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deliver primary and secondary innovative, sustainable, and cost-saving packaging solutions for Sunrider’s diverse wellness, beauty, and home care products. They will manage multiple development projects and prioritize tasks based on timelines. They will deliver effectively in a cross-functional team environment by working with Marketing, Planning, Formulation, Procurement, Quality, and external suppliers. The position will also interface with Supply Chain for manufacturing scale-up, including line trials, production start-ups, cost savings, and improving line efficiency. 

Job Duties

•Coordinate and lead packaging development projects and manage assigned primary and secondary packaging projects. 

•Work with Marketing and the cross-functional project team to ensure packaging is fit for purpose to meet the packaging brief and delivered on time, in full 

•Identify and work collaboratively with a network of internal & external experts, component suppliers, designers, testing labs, & contract manufacturers to develop activities related to Packaging Design & development 

•Deliver packaging which not only meets the required quality and technical standards but also delights the consumer and builds brand equity 

•Technical analysis of new packaging designs and provision of feedback to project teams concerning design viability; also identify possible solutions to resolve technical problems, minimizing changes to the design intent 

•Manage good technical data records – project data, specifications, test results 

•Identify and implement potential cost-saving activities across the category packaging portfolio 

•Prepare and develop supplier technical briefs where required, working closely with suppliers to develop and test packaging by industry best practices 

•Conduct thorough analysis and testing of packaging materials to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations

•Troubleshoot new and existing packaging problems involving designs, materials, and processes and provide creative, timely, and cost-effective solutions. 

•Establish standards and guidelines for supplier evaluation. Evaluate and select packaging suppliers/vendors; periodically conduct vendor reviews. 

•Implement cost-effective packaging strategies while maintaining product integrity and quality

•Work closely with internal manufacturing to improve packaging processes and efficiency to optimize product distribution and customer experience

•Stay updated with the latest packaging trends and technologies and provide recommendations for enhancing our packaging capabilities

•Work with vendors to retrieve dyelines and coordinate print production schedules

Experience & Skills Required

•B.S. Degree (preferably in Packaging Science or engineering equivalent)

•3-5 years of experience in the packaging field, preferably in the beauty or personal care products industry 

•Broad packaging component knowledge and experience in rigid plastic assemblies, bottles, closures, and flexible packaging a huge plus 

•Understanding of package development process and engineering principles and global packaging experience and how it relates to the manufacturing process

•Ability to design and develop primary and secondary packaging components that meet consumer, brand, customer, and manufacturing objectives 

•Proficient project management skills to understand the order, importance, and impact of appropriate project activities and maintain packaging commitments to project scheduling 

•Understand consumer, business, and category needs and the relationship to packaging decisions & execution

•Proficiency in CAD software and other packaging design tools

•Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail

•Strong verbal and written communication skills

•Strong analytical and problem-solving skills