Principal Packaging Engineer

At Utz, we’re passionate about creating delicious snack foods that consumers know and love. For more than a century, our strong family heritage has helped shape who we are today, with a diverse portfolio of brands including Utz, Zapp’s, Boulder Canyon, and On The Border.

Our associates are at the heart of our success. That’s why we’re committed to creating a supportive, caring, and inclusive environment where people can grow, make an impact, and build rewarding careers. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) with employer match, profit sharing, an employee stock purchase plan, and much more.

The Principal Packaging Engineer is the senior technical leader of the Packaging Development department, setting technical standards and direction for packaging across all company brands while remaining hands-on in the department’s most complex and highest-impact work. Working in partnership with the Director, Packaging Development, who manages the department, this role shapes packaging strategy and the technology roadmap, leads critical cross-functional initiatives, and serves as the customer-facing and supplier-facing technical authority. The Principal Packaging Engineer mentors and develops the engineering team, establishes best practices, and recommends process improvements and investments to department leadership.

 What You'll Do:

• Serve as the senior technical authority for the packaging engineering team; establish and maintain packaging standards, specification templates, test protocols, and design practices across brands.
• Partner with the Director, Packaging Development to define packaging strategy, the technology roadmap, and departmental priorities; recommend capability, tooling, and resourcing investments.
• Remain hands-on as the technical lead for the department’s most complex, highest-risk, and highest-visibility packaging projects, from ideation through first production.
• Lead new item development to include packaging design, vendor sourcing, and initial pricing; in response to manufacturing/sales/customer requirements, develop physical pack outs, bag/box/barrel sizing, palletization reports, and finalized packaging specs.
• Lead cross-functional teams to commercialize packaging/product innovations, aligning Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Engineering on technical approach, timing, and risk.
• Mentor and coach packaging engineers and perform technical peer review to drive right-first-time performance and ensure accuracy of documentation delivered to customers; contribute to onboarding and development of team members.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex packaging defects and failures; lead root cause analysis and corrective action with manufacturing and supplier teams.
• Act as the customer-facing technical expert for a broad product portfolio, representing the company in customer technical reviews and presentations.
• Investigate, evaluate, and qualify new packaging technologies, formats, materials, and systems; lead pilots and trials and develop the business case for adoption.
• Drive automation, cost reduction, value creation, and sustainability initiatives; partner with Procurement to provide estimated costing for packaging components and to shape supplier strategy.
• Build and maintain strong technical relationships with key packaging suppliers; lead supplier technical qualification and performance improvement.
• Work with Engineering and Procurement on the specification, selection, and trialing of new packaging equipment and packaging specifications.
• Collaborate with manufacturing to discover packaging efficiencies and reduce downtime; become an expert in the manufacturing facilities and capabilities on covered brands (supported by travel and plant visits as business needs arise).
• Interpret test results to verify packaging specifications/compliance, and review current packaging specifications, design, and performance to drive continuous improvement.
• Create and standardize product + package assembly guides for internal/external manufacturing teams.
• Manage packaging projects with timely updates shared with other departments, and communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to the Director and department leadership.

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science or a Materials/Design related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Master’s degree or Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation preferred.

• 15+ years’ experience in packaging engineering within consumer-packaged goods required, food and beverage highly preferred, including at least 3 years in a senior or technical lead role and a demonstrated record of commercializing packaging from concept through production.

• Subject matter expert in a wide range of packaging forms, including corrugated, injection blow-molded PET, paperboard, and flexible films, and of the converting, filling, and packaging line processes that run them.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, including the ability to mentor engineers and influence cross-functional teams and suppliers without direct authority.
• Deep ability to think critically and apply advanced root cause and complex problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, including presenting technical topics to customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Self-directed and forward thinking, with sound judgment in making complex decisions that drive business innovation and performance.
• Comfort developing and supporting recommendations, findings, and business cases to the Director and cross-functional leadership.
• Excellent time and project management skills with proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple, concurrent, complex projects.
• Working knowledge of packaging test methods and standards (e.g., ASTM, ISTA) and food-contact regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in Computer aided packaging development software such as TOPS

• Fast-paced environment that requires organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, with hands-on work in lab, plant, and supplier environments as needed.
• Flexibility to perform at levels to meet peak demands in periods of high volume and activity.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.