Apprentice Principal Packaging Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Perdue’s Emerging Brands & Specialty Meats division leverages our core strengths in poultry while specializing in premium pork, beef, lamb, and pet nutrition segments while emphasizing health, sustainability, and convenience. Perdue's Emerging Brands & Specialty Meats is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue. 

Summary

Bring innovation to the products our customer’s trust. As a Packaging Engineer, you will support the development and improvement of food products by designing and optimizing packaging solutions that meet business, quality, and performance goals. Working with minimal guidance, you will lead and support multiple projects ranging from launching new products and enhancing packaging quality to driving cost optimization and maintaining brand standards. This role is ideal for a creative problem solver who enjoys blending technical expertise with innovation to deliver packaging solutions that support product success and business growth.

This position is based onsite and can be at one of the following locations: Westminster, CO; Salisbury, MD; or Sioux City, IA. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

The salary range for this position is $78,000.00 - $116,000.00 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).  

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off. 

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Promotes applicable safety, regulatory, GMP requirements in lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing facilities.
• Assists in writing of new policy and procedures as needed.
• Executes with minimal guidance multiple Packaging Development projects to grow top line volume in support of New Product Development as a % of Revenue goals.
• Conducts and leads required lab, pilot plant, and plant experimentation.
• Proficient knowledge of Packaging Development including Materials, Equipment, consumer testing, NPD stage gate process, costing, plant trials commercialization, and related processes.
• Documents all development work accurately.
• This includes written documentation on packaging development, product showing, and plant trials with minimal guidance.
• Prepares accurate and timely specifications for all packaging developed.
• This includes materials, equipment, processes and finished packaging with minimal guidance.
• Proficient in the knowledge of customer/consumer needs for assigned products and channels.
• Understand who the consumer is, why and how they use our products.
• Interacts cross-functionally with Marketing, Purchasing, QA and Operations to successfully implement new product developments.
• Product showings to lead and evaluate packaging developed and a competitive set.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience in Food/Meat Science or Food Engineering.
• 3 – 5 years related work experience.
• Knowledge of the packaging development process from idea generation, bench top, scale up and commercialization.
• Ability to influence necessary cross functional partners for successful implementation of projects.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent analytical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of ingredients including functionality, allergen considerations and cost.
• Understanding of food manufacturing processes and the sequence of events necessary to convert raw materials to finished products.

Preferred Education and Experience

• BS/MS Degree preferred.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies and equipment.
• Work activity is in an office, open-partitioned, cubicle environment.

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Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.