Senior Packaging Engineer

Adept Group offers an award-winning workplace for exceptional packaging industry talent. We work on a range of innovative projects for iconic brand owners. Our technically gifted team collaborates to produce unparalleled results.

We offer a great place to showcase your expertise and build upon your skillset. All while having fun with amazing people from a variety of diverse backgrounds. We’re driven, inspirational and most importantly, human.

We offer a flexible, creative culture focusing on 3 pillars - our environment, our communities, and our health and well-being. Join a team committed to building a sustainable future!

The Opportunity

Adept Group is seeking a Packaging Engineer (1099 Contractor) for a 6–9-month engagement in Waukegan, IL! This candidate would have 5 years of packaging experience, within the food industry, who can work independently and make immediate contributions in a fast-paced production environment.

This is a 1099 Contractor (Independent Contractor) opportunity for 40-hours per week.

This position would be onsite 3-4 days per week in Waukegan, IL.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary packaging engineering lead, owning packaging decisions across commercialization and operations.
• Drive end-to-end packaging delivery for new product launches and existing product updates, ensuring solutions move efficiently from concept to production.
• Lead packaging strategy and selection by recommending optimal materials, formats, and configurations aligned with product needs and manufacturing capabilities.
• Ensure packaging solutions are fully compatible with production processes, minimizing risk during scale-up and commercialization.
• Own resolution of packaging-related performance issues, ensuring consistent product quality and operational efficiency.
• Act as the key liaison between R&D, Operations, and Commercial teams, aligning packaging with broader business and product objectives.
• Provide independent technical leadership, requiring minimal oversight while delivering immediate impact.
• Write and maintain packaging-related specifications.

Typical Day to Day:

• Work on-site at the Waukegan facility, partnering closely with production and R&D teams.
• Participate in and support packaging trials, line testing, and commercialization runs.
• Troubleshoot real-time packaging and processing issues on the production floor, identifying root causes and implementing fixes.
• Review and adjust packaging specifications and configurations based on trial outcomes or production feedback.
• Coordinate with internal teams to execute packaging requirements for new and updated products.
• Monitor packaging performance during production and make on-the-spot decisions to keep operations running smoothly.
• Support ongoing updates or changes to packaging tied to product, process, or operational needs.
• Be available for critical production windows, including flexibility for extended hours or alternate shifts when required.

Requirements:

• 5 years of packaging engineering experience with strong foundational knowledge of packaging materials, formats, and processes
• Experience in the food industry, particularly working with food packaging applications
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight, including making packaging decisions without extensive guidance
• Proven ability to “hit the ground running” in a new role with limited training or ramp-up time
• Experience supporting commercialization activities, including new product launches, trials, or packaging changes
• Working knowledge of manufacturing / production environments, including familiarity with packaging equipment and processes
• Ability to troubleshoot packaging and processing issues and support resolution of bottlenecks or performance challenges
• Willingness to work in a hands-on, on-site role within a production environment, including flexibility to support trials or extended hours as needed
• Strong understanding of typical packaging requirements and formats across a range of channels (retail, industrial, food service, Club, etc.)

Nice to Haves:

• Background in highly regulated industries (e.g., pharmaceutical) as an alternative to food experience
• Familiarity with a wide range of packaging formats and materials, including flexible packaging, rigid containers, and bulk packaging formats
• Familiarity with TOPS software

Disclaimer:

This is a 1099 independent contractor position. As such, this role is not eligible for company-sponsored benefits, including health insurance, paid time off, or retirement plans. The contractor is responsible for managing their own tax withholdings, insurance coverage, and other obligations associated with independent contractor status.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.