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Packaging Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Monster Energy

Sr. Packaging Development Manager

Corona, CA · On-site

$114K - $152K/yr

In the position of Sr Packaging Development Manager, you will own the end-to-end (E2E) packaging development (print & structure) and technical project management of innovation and change management ...

Nokia

Senior Packaging Development Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$159K - $296K/yr

Own all the development of all the advanced packaging activities and designs: flip chip, reflow, fanout, thermo-compression bonding, underfill, hot bar soldering, wirebonding, etc... * Optimize the ...

Gilead

Packaging Engineer III

Foster City, CA · On-site

Execute packaging development activities supporting product development and clinical study supplies across OSD, biologics, and combination products. * Apply pharmaceutical packaging principles to ...

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Packaging Development information

See California salary details

$32.6K

$76.4K

$131.3K

How much do packaging development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for packaging development in California is $76,424.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,700.00 and $89,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Packaging Development job?

A Packaging Development job involves designing, testing, and improving packaging solutions to ensure product protection, usability, and cost-effectiveness. Professionals in this role collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, manufacturing, and supply chain, to create packaging that aligns with brand identity and sustainability goals. They also evaluate materials, comply with regulatory requirements, and optimize packaging for production efficiency and customer experience.

What are the typical daily responsibilities in a Packaging Development role?

In a Packaging Development role, your day-to-day activities often include designing packaging concepts, conducting materials testing, collaborating with suppliers, and working closely with manufacturing and marketing teams to ensure packaging solutions meet functional and branding requirements. You may also be involved in troubleshooting packaging-related issues on production lines and conducting cost and sustainability analyses. Additionally, it's common to manage multiple projects simultaneously and stay updated on industry trends and regulations. This diverse set of responsibilities ensures variety in your work and opportunities to build expertise across several facets of packaging and manufacturing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Packaging Development position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Packaging Development, you need a solid understanding of packaging materials, engineering principles, and product design, often supported by a degree in packaging engineering, materials science, or a related field. Familiarity with design software (such as CAD), testing equipment, and sometimes certifications like ISTA are commonly required. Strong project management, problem-solving, and communication skills help drive collaboration and innovation in cross-functional teams. These abilities are crucial for creating functional, cost-effective, and sustainable packaging solutions that meet regulatory and client specifications.

What are the most commonly searched types of Packaging Development jobs in California? The most popular types of Packaging Development jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Packaging Development jobs in California? For Packaging Development jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Packaging Development jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Packaging Development jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Packaging Development jobs? Cities in California with the most Packaging Development job openings:
Packaging Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Packaging Development job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $76,424 per year, or $36.7 per hour.

Packaging Development Specialist

Jackson Family Wines

Santa Rosa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Jackson Family Wines rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

29th of 434 rated food and drinks producers

Job description

Description
Position at Jackson Family Wines
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Packaging Development Specialist serves as the technical lead for packaging development, qualification, specification management, and implementation across all brands and production sites. This role bridges Creative, Marketing, Procurement, Suppliers, Quality, and Bottling Operations to ensure packaging concepts are successfully translated into manufacturable, scalable, and production-ready solutions.
Reporting directly to the Packaging Engineering Manager, the Packaging Development Specialist is responsible for serving as the packaging quality and qualification lead within the New Product Development (NPD) packaging initiatives, coordinating material qualifications, managing packaging specifications within company systems, and developing quality standards that ensure packaging materials consistently meet brand, supplier, and operational requirements.
This position serves as the primary technical authority for packaging feasibility and maintains responsibility for balancing creative objectives with manufacturing realities. The Packaging Development Specialist has the authority to challenge, modify, or reject packaging requests that cannot be reliably supported by supplier capabilities, bottling equipment, quality requirements, regulatory standards, or operational constraints.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/DUTIES:
Packaging Development & New Product Introduction
  • Lead packaging development projects from concept through commercial implementation.
  • Support new product launches, brand redesigns, and innovation initiatives.
  • Coordinate packaging timelines with Creative, Marketing, Procurement, Suppliers, Quality, and Operations.
  • Evaluate packaging concepts for manufacturability, scalability, and operational compatibility.

Creative Team Partnership & Technical Review
  • Collaborate with Brand and Creative stakeholders to translate packaging concepts into production-ready solutions.
  • Review proposed packaging designs for equipment compatibility, supplier capabilities, quality risks, regulatory compliance and production efficiency
  • Communicate technical limitations and manufacturing constraints during package development.
  • Recommend alternative materials, designs, or specifications when creative concepts cannot be reliably executed.
  • Maintain authority to delay, reject, or require modification of packaging concepts that do not meet operational, supplier, quality, or production requirements.

Material Qualification, Testing & Validation
  • Coordinate and execute qualification activities for new packaging materials and packaging changes.
  • Develop structured testing protocols and acceptance criteria.
  • Lead ALL bottling line packaging trials
  • Analyze trial data and provide technical recommendations for approval or rejection.
  • Investigate packaging failures and implement corrective actions.
  • Maintain documentation supporting package approvals and qualifications.

Bottling Operations Partnership
  • Support bottling operations during package launches, material changes, and troubleshooting activities.
  • Validate that packaging materials perform consistently on production equipment.
  • Partner with operations teams to reduce packaging-related downtime and quality losses.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives that improve efficiency, consistency, and package quality.

Packaging Specifications and Data Integrity
  • Maintain, and control comprehensive packaging specifications and associated documentation.
  • Serve as the primary specialist for packaging specifications, master data and documentation workflows within Specright ecosystem and related business systems.
  • Establish measurable quality standards, testing protocols, and clear acceptance criteria for all packaging components to ensure materials meet operational requirements.

Core Competencies
  • Technical Decision Making: Ability to make objective packaging decisions based on testing, operational capabilities, supplier performance, and risk assessment.
  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to influence decisions and drive alignment across Creative, Marketing, Quality, Procurement, Suppliers, and Operations.
  • Attention to Detail: Maintains high standards for specifications, testing protocols, data accuracy, and package quality.
  • Ownership & Accountability: Takes ownership of packaging projects, standards, and implementation activities while holding suppliers and internal teams accountable to defined expectations.
  • Continuous Improvement: Identifies opportunities to improve packaging performance, reduce risk, enhance efficiency, and strengthen quality systems.
  • Collaborative & Communicative: Keeps key stakeholders in the loop on project processes.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Essential Skills, Experience, and Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Engineering, Food Science, Manufacturing, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline preferred
  • Must have 1-3 years of experience in packaging engineering IF lacking Packaging Engineering or equivalent degree to qualify.
  • Experience supporting packaging development, material qualifications, or new product launches.
  • Experience working with suppliers, quality systems, and cross-functional project teams.
  • Specright/Salesforce, SharePoint, JDE or related specification management system experience preferred.

WAGE TRANSPARENCY: The annual salary for this role ranges from $75,000 - $95,000. Compensation will be determined by candidate experience, skills, and location.
BENEFITS:
  • Health Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability & Life insurance
  • 401k with employer match
  • Generous time off including vacation, holidays, and paid health time
  • Paid volunteer time
  • Learning & Development opportunities
  • Modern Health virtual mental health & coaching visits
  • Wine discounts!

Jackson Family Wines is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are based on merit and business needs.

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