Associate Engineer Jobs in Kennewick, WA (NOW HIRING)

Title: Sr Packaging Engineer
Location: Richland, WA
Job Requisition ID: Req-260017
Time Type: Full time
About Lamb Weston
You've probably enjoyed our fries without even knowing it! As a leading manufacturer in our industry, we inspire and bring people together with foods they love and trust. Our customer base includes international food service providers, restaurants, and households in over 100 countries around the world.
A highly innovative global corporation with a start-up mindset, we empower every individual to make a genuine difference. You'll gain access to hands-on training to fuel your growth and success, explore opportunities for new solutions, and you'll join a winning team of 10,000+ people all dedicated to raising the bar - together.
If you have a strong drive for results, a desire to help us bring the world together through our fries, and are ready for a fresh challenge, we want to hear from you.
Job Description Summary
The Sr. Packaging Engineer focuses on long term Innovation and leads the identification, development and commercialization of multiple complex projects to successfully launch new product and packaging solutions. The Sr. Packaging Engineer leads identification, development and commercialization of new, improved, and innovative packaging solutions while supporting cross-functional project tasks. This position leads simple to complex projects and supports technical initiatives as needed. It also acts as a key packaging resource for one or more business units and works both independently and as part of a team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working directly with packaging suppliers, material, and technology to help drive innovation and new business. This candidate will also drive projects focused on the interface between the packages we design and operational efficiencies in our manufacturing plants and throughout our distribution networks.
Job Description

• Support the innovation stage-gate process on assigned packaging projects from ideation through commercialization.
• Conceptualizes, designs, prototypes and commercializes functional packaging for new products to meet design criteria.
• Identifies and initiates opportunities and brings together cross-functional expertise to drive efficiencies, optimize processes and build the business.
• Applies knowledge of operations, other functions in Lamb Weston and at the customer to address value chain problems.
• Identifies and validates new materials/expertise/technologies and potential new packaging solutions.
• External collaboration to discovery new packaging technologies.
• Collaborates with other team members to generate new concepts/opportunities in product and packaging.
• Effectively communicate within the greater packaging technical community.
• Lead technical delivery of base business projects independently while simultaneously supporting high complexity technical projects.
• Support assigned business unit on all packaging projects from ideation through commercialization. Understand BU strategic goals and performance as well as customer base and packaging performance.
• Develop ideas for innovation, operational, and quality improvements that are relevant to the business.
• Collaborate with business and technical peers on assigned projects, as well as external partners and resources.
• Independently plan, execute, and analyze plant/pilot plant/lab trials.
• Prepare and present results of technical reports to leadership team, both written and oral.
• Document trial results using standard processes to include written reports. Share results with relevant parties.
• Utilized as a subject matter expert in selected packaging technology platforms.
• Maintain strong understanding and application of experimental design, performance specs, and material qualification/CQV process.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the packaging principles and operating systems for the assigned business.
• Maintain awareness of technical trends and developments in the packaging industry.
• Participate and/or lead brainstorming and information gathering for resource planning process as needed.
• Mentor and/or manager to associate engineers.

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors in Packaging, Engineering, or related field required, MS preferred.
• 5+ years' work experience in packaging industry, CPG preferred.
• Strong understanding of packaging materials capabilities and equipment.
• Understanding of government regulatory requirements in the processing of food.
• Strong ability to collaborate and maintain cross-functional partnerships, both internally and externally.
• Ability to effectively, appropriately communicate to senior organization, both verbally and nonverbally.
• Advanced analytical and logical problem-solving abilities.
• Basic understanding of food science and how food affects packaging.
• Basic understanding of food safety, sanitary design, and equipment cleaning.
• Thorough understanding of physical and structural package testing procedures.
• Financial understanding to optimize profitability.
• Team building skills that focus on mentoring and coaching.
• Strong negotiating skills when working through conflict resolution.
• Proficient in 2-D/3-D design programs (AutoCAD, ArtiosCad, and/or SolidWorks).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of time.
• Valid US Drivers license and ability to meet Company driving standards.

Position Physical Requirements:
Incumbent must have the ability to effectively perform all of the following physical demands:

• Ability to lift 25 to 50 lbs.
• Ability to stand for 75% of a day
• Ability to sit for 4 hours at a time

Key Functional Competencies:
Value Chain, Financial & Business Acumen Ability to strategically seek out, analyze, and take action on business opportunities across the entire value chain (product, packaging, and process), to optimize Lamb Weston's growth. Foundation - Understands basic company financial concepts and applies knowledge of adjacent functional areas to produce positive outcomes
Innovative and Strategic Thinking - Proactively generates & evaluates ideas, concepts and opportunities in creative ways (even with imperfect information) to deliver enterprise level thinking, vision & direction. Advanced - Easily produces innovative ideas or links a group of ideas together
Product & Manufacturing Knowledge - Leverages knowledge of product, packaging, supply chain, market and customer to influence decisions and drive a competitive advantage. Advanced - Applies knowledge of portfolio to develop new products and innovate processes
Concept Creation & Development - Translates diverse insights to build and scale innovative packages and products to meet the needs of consumers and customers. Advanced - Turns ideas into tangible results
Project Management - Develops, implements, facilitates and manages comprehensive project plans that deliver objectives. Foundation - Organize work and develop plans within functional area to meet business needs.
Work Process Discipline and Execution - Develops, documents, implements and maintains standardized processes, procedures and programs. Advanced - Integrates and optimizes work processes to drive compliance and efficiencies
Food Science - Knowledge of food science principles (including chemistry, engineering, microbiology & sensory) to design, develop and enhance products from ideation to commercialization. Foundation - Understands and applies food science.
Packaging Engineering - Understands and uses knowledge of material sciences, manufacturing and equipment capabilities to design, develop and enhance packaging from ideation to commercialization of LW products. Mastery - Leverages packaging materials & technology as it pertains to company strategy in order to drive LW's growth in the marketplace.
Commercialization - Translates formulations and specifications from batch to full scale production including the hand off to Supply Chain utilizing food safety standards. Advanced - Uses manufacturing knowledge to achieve full scale production.
Industry-Competitive Benefits
Coupled with our compensation and bonus incentive programs, our benefits deliver rewards that are market competitive. Some of the most attractive elements of our benefit programs include:

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts
• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program
• Paid Time Off
• Financial Wellness - Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance
• Family-Friendly Employee events
• Employee Assistance Program services - mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Anticipated Close Date
The anticipated close date is a good faith estimate for when this job will be closed. Some jobs may be unposted or filled earlier or later than the Anticipated Close Date depending on interview processes and business needs.
Anticipated Close Date: 04/12/2026
Pay Transparency
In compliance with applicable state and local laws, Lamb Weston has opted to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation is specific to this position and takes into account a number of variables. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range posted based on various factors, including, but not limited to, job duties, experience and expertise. A candidate's work location could also impact the actual compensation being outside of the range to reflect local cost of labor. A reasonable annual estimate of the range for this role is listed below.
Pay Rate or Range: $95,020.00 - $142,520.00
Equal Opportunity Employer
Lamb Weston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law