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Food Packaging Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Actalent

Packaging Engineer

East Hanover, NJ

... Science, Engineering, or a closely related technical field. * 4+ years of experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG) packaging, with a strong preference for experience in food packaging. * Hands-on ...

Actalent

Packaging Engineer

East Hanover, NJ

... Science, Engineering, or a closely related technical field. * 4+ years of experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG) packaging, with a strong preference for experience in food packaging. * Hands-on ...

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Food Packaging Scientist information

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How much do food packaging scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for food packaging scientist in the United States is $90,961.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $100,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a food packaging scientist do?

A Food Packaging Scientist is responsible for developing, testing, and improving packaging materials and designs for food products. Their work ensures that packaging keeps food safe, fresh, and appealing throughout its shelf life. They also evaluate the environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with food safety regulations. These professionals often collaborate with engineers, food scientists, and marketing teams to create innovative packaging solutions.

What are some typical challenges a food packaging scientist faces when developing new packaging solutions?

Food Packaging Scientists often encounter challenges balancing product safety, shelf life, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. They must ensure packaging materials comply with food safety regulations, prevent contamination, and maintain product freshness. Additionally, keeping up with consumer demand for environmentally friendly options while maintaining performance standards requires innovative thinking and collaboration with suppliers, production teams, and regulatory experts.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a food packaging scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Food Packaging Scientist, you need a solid background in food science, chemistry, or materials science, often with a relevant degree and industry experience. Familiarity with packaging design software, laboratory testing equipment, and regulatory standards like FDA or EU packaging regulations is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for innovation and project management. These competencies ensure the development of safe, sustainable, and effective packaging solutions that protect food quality and meet compliance standards.

What are popular job titles related to Food Packaging Scientist jobs?

For Food Packaging Scientist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Packaging Scientist

Natick, MA • On-site

Pueo Business Solutions LLC
Business Management Consulting • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Pueo Business Solutions LLCexternal

Full-time

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Description:

The Packaging Science / Materials Engineer provides on-site technical food packaging support to the DEVCOM Soldier Center (SC) Combat Feeding Division (CFD) under PWS 4.12.2. Working with the Food Protection and Innovative Packaging team, the incumbent plans and conducts advanced studies in the design, development, and production of packaging materials, methods, and total packaging systems for operational rations — with emphasis on novel polymers, barrier performance, and sustainable materials that reduce Soldier-carried load while meeting military performance requirements. The position is full-time, non-supervisory, and fully on-site at 1,880 hours per year, supporting Government personnel in a manner that preserves inherently governmental decision-making authority.


Serve as the on-site Packaging Science / Materials Engineer supporting the DEVCOM SC Combat Feeding Division Food Protection and Innovative Packaging team. Specific responsibilities include:


Packaging Materials Research and Testing

  • Design and perform barrier performance storage studies for oxygen (O2) and water vapor (H2O) transmission in flexible ration packaging materials. 
  • Conduct tensile, puncture resistance, seal strength, and burst strength testing of polymeric pouch and film materials. 
  • Perform leak detection and package integrity evaluations on primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. 
  • Conduct scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of packaging materials, including analysis and interpretation of results. 
  • Analyze experimental data using statistical and data analysis software (e.g., GraphPad, SAS, or equivalent). 

Novel and Sustainable Materials Development

  • Evaluate and help create novel polymer materials that meet military performance requirements while providing lighter-weight, more sustainable, multifunctional packaging. 
  • Perform extrusion of novel materials, including compounding, cast film, and blown film processing at laboratory scale. 
  • Evaluate biodegradable, compostable, and other sustainable materials for incorporation into operational ration packaging to reduce Soldier-carried load and burden. 

Scale-Up and Production Support

  • Guide or perform scale-up of laboratory-based packaging solutions to full-scale industrial production. 
  • Support development and review of packaging requirements and quality assurance provisions (PKG & QAPs), MIL-DTL specifications, and related packaging standards. 

Technical Documentation and Communication

  • Assist with and write technical proposals based on capability needs for operational ration packaging. 
  • Prepare reports and briefings covering design of experiments, technical approach, milestone schedules, key performance metrics, and project accomplishments. 
  • Provide technical comments during document coordination with governmental and non-governmental standards bodies. 
  • Attend and present research findings at technical meetings within the scientific community, as directed. 

Technical Knowledge

  • Working knowledge of polymer science and its application to food and operational ration packaging. 
  • Knowledge of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging materials and total packaging systems. 
  • Understanding of barrier performance concepts: oxygen transmission rate (OTR), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and shelf-life determination. 
  • Familiarity with mechanical characterization methods including tensile, puncture, seal strength, burst, and drop/vibration testing. 
  • Knowledge of biodegradable and compostable materials and their application to primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. 
  • Familiarity with governmental and non-governmental packaging and container standards, MIL-DTL specifications, and packaging requirements and quality assurance provisions (PKG & QAPs). 

Technical Skills

  • Hands-on operation of barrier testing instrumentation such as MOCON Oxtran / Permatran for O2 and H2O transmission-rate studies. 
  • Laboratory-scale extrusion of polymeric materials, including compounding, cast film, and blown film processing. 
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of packaging materials, including analysis and interpretation of data. 
  • Proficiency in data analysis software such as GraphPad, SAS, or equivalent. 

Professional Skills

  • Strong technical writing skills; able to author test reports, briefings, and technical proposals. 
  • Design of experiments and structured study planning against milestone schedules and key performance metrics. 
  • Ability to present research findings clearly to scientific, Government, and industry audiences. 
  • Highly organized; able to manage multiple concurrent research projects simultaneously. 
Requirements:

Education

  • Master's degree or higher in packaging science or an equivalent discipline (PWS 4.12.2 - "MS or higher"). 
  • A PhD in packaging science, polymer science, or materials science is acceptable and preferred.

Required Experience

  • Polymer science and operational ration packaging. 
  • Packaging and polymeric materials for foods, including primary, secondary, and tertiary materials. 
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of packaging materials, including analysis and interpretation of data. 
  • Biodegradable and compostable materials and their application to primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. 
  • Designing, planning, and executing scientific studies and technical proposals related to operational ration packaging. 
  • Data analysis software such as GraphPad, SAS, or equivalent.

Preferred Experience:

  • Barrier testing instrumentation such as MOCON Oxtran / Permatran for O2 and H2O transmission-rate studies. 
  • Laboratory-scale extrusion trials for novel polymeric materials, including compounding, cast film, and blown film processing. 
  • Packaging integrity and mechanical characterization: seal strength / burst testing, tensile and puncture testing of polymeric pouch materials, and drop / vibration testing of case-level packaging. 
  • Demonstrated ability to guide or perform scale-up from laboratory-based solutions to full-scale industrial production. 
  • Familiarity with governmental and non-governmental packaging and container standards; writing packaging-related technical documents and providing technical comments during coordination. 
  • Prior experience supporting DoD combat rations, MIL-DTL specifications, or packaging requirements and quality assurance provisions (PKG & QAPs)

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