1

Plastics Engineering Manager Jobs in Romeoville, IL

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Senior Manager - Materials R&D

Chicago, IL

$104K - $144K/yr

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Senior Manager - Materials R&D

Chicago, IL

$111K - $153K/yr

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Senior Manager - Materials R&D

Chicago, IL

$110K - $153K/yr

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Senior Manager - Materials R&D

Chicago, IL

$112K - $154K/yr

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Senior Manager - Materials R&D

Chicago, IL

$114K - $157K/yr

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

Senior Manager - Materials R&D

Chicago, IL

$115K - $159K/yr

Job Purpose As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials ... Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring ...

CAE Engineer

Lisle, IL · On-site

$80K - $140K/yr

... plastic & copper alloy-based high-speed interconnect systems, through Hypermesh & LS-DYNA tools or ... engineering management priorities. * Publish technical papers and patents. Who You Are (Basic ...

Experience leading quality in a manufacturing environment (rigid plastics preferred but not required) * A bachelor's degree in quality engineering or quality management * Strong knowledge of GMP ...

Quality Manager

Aurora, IL · On-site

$75K - $90K/hr

Experience leading quality in a manufacturing environment (rigid plastics preferred but not required) * A bachelor's degree in quality engineering or quality management * Strong knowledge of GMP ...

Experience leading quality in a manufacturing environment (rigid plastics preferred but not required) * A bachelor's degree in quality engineering or quality management * Strong knowledge of GMP ...

Sustaining Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$94K - $116K/yr

Basic understanding of Electrical Engineering skills is a plus. * Knowledge of plastic and metal ... Good project management skills * Strong verbal & written communication skills Benefits Paid Time ...

New

Showing results 41-60

Plastics Engineering Manager information

See Romeoville, IL salary details

$47.4K

$149.7K

$177.4K

How much do plastics engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for plastics engineering manager in Romeoville, IL is $149,748.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,800.00 and $176,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a plastics engineering manager do?

A Plastics Engineering Manager oversees the design, development, and production of plastic products and components. They lead engineering teams, ensure manufacturing processes meet quality and efficiency standards, and collaborate with other departments to optimize materials and production techniques. Their role also involves troubleshooting technical issues, implementing cost-saving measures, and staying updated on industry advancements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a plastics engineering manager?

To thrive as a Plastics Engineering Manager, you need expertise in plastics materials, process engineering, project management, and a relevant engineering degree, often supported by prior supervisory experience. Familiarity with CAD software, injection molding simulation tools, Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing certifications, and ERP systems is highly valued. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are essential soft skills for managing teams and coordinating with other departments. These skills help ensure efficient production, drive innovation, and maintain product quality in a manufacturing environment.

What does a typical day look like for a plastics engineering manager?

A typical day for a Plastics Engineering Manager involves overseeing engineering teams, coordinating production schedules, and addressing technical challenges related to plastics manufacturing. They collaborate closely with design, quality, and production departments to troubleshoot issues, implement process improvements, and ensure manufacturing targets are met. Frequent tasks include reviewing project timelines, conducting team meetings, and mentoring junior engineers. Managers may also interact with suppliers and customers to resolve material or product concerns, making this a dynamic role with a blend of technical and leadership responsibilities.

What job categories do people searching Plastics Engineering Manager jobs in Romeoville, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Plastics Engineering Manager jobs in Romeoville, IL are:

What cities near Romeoville, IL are hiring for Plastics Engineering Manager jobs?

Cities near Romeoville, IL with the most Plastics Engineering Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Plastics Engineering Manager job openings in Romeoville, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,748 per year, or $72 per hour.

Senior Research & Development Manager

Kraft/Heinz

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Job Description
Job Purpose
As the Rigid Plastic Packaging Senior Manager within the Sustainability & Materials Center of Excellence, you will lead a team of technical experts charged with developing rigid plastic packaging solutions to serve the North American portfolio. The objective of the team is to develop material and format solutions that meet sustainability requirements, addressing innovation, compliance, and value engineering initiatives. The team will develop and lead technical strategies and deliver novel, functional, cost-competitive solutions. In this role you will partner with Innovation, Process, and Platform packaging teams as well as cross-functional stakeholders to translate technical and sustainability requirements into viable, commercial, manufacturable solutions. The role includes leading the team to identify material/polymer/packaging technology solutions and research pathways, and leading proof of concept, technology scale-up, and seamless transition of technologies to the business units. The ideal candidate combines deep technical packaging expertise with strong sustainability knowledge and proven experience managing complex projects and technical teams.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
  • Lead and prioritize a portfolio of complex rigid plastic packaging technology strategies and initiatives, including balancing technology exploration with proof of concept of novel technologies and managing complex partnerships across the value chain, demonstrating value and business case for technology applications.
  • Build, coordinate and manage relationships and partnerships with suppliers and technology providers (e.g., resin, coating, material suppliers; packaging manufacturers), and external partners (e.g., universities, institutes, start-ups, open innovation networks).
  • Identify material/polymer/packaging technology solutions that avoid material bans and regulatory risks.
  • Advance recyclable, reusable, and compliant rigid packaging formats aligned with enterprise sustainability goals and legislative requirements.
  • Deliver packaging designs to" Performance-Based Specifications (PBS) , ensuring solutions meet defined functional, quality, shelf-life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance outcomes (rather than prescriptive designs).
  • Provide technical leadership and oversight on packaging reviews, ensuring design decisions align with enterprise standards, manufacturability, sustainability, and long-term platform strategy.
  • Own project and portfolio-level budgets, resourcing strategies and capacity planning, ensuring delivery within approved financial guardrails; develop and maintain project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations; monitor progress, assess risk, and proactively escalate tradeoffs.
  • Serve as an accountable owner for governance, escalation and go/no-go decisions; represent packaging steering forums and influence stakeholders.
  • Act as technical expert for junior developers and direct team to flex onto projects requiring problem solving.
  • Partner with legal to build robust IP strategies; conduct exploration to build an IP portfolio to drive competitive advantage.
  • Mentor, coach and train junior project team members and contribute to PMO best practices and templates.
  • Build and sustain a high-performing technical team; manage, coach, mentor and retain employees, including goal-setting, performance management, salary planning and hiring.
  • Build strong succession and upskilling plans for junior talent, maximizing apprenticeship with more senior/experienced team members.
People Management Responsibilities
  • Team (salaried): targeting 3 direct reports
Key Outputs & Deliverables
  • Deliver technology strategy and prioritize a portfolio of complex rigid plastic packaging technology/format initiatives to deliver against sustainability, innovation and value engineering initiatives.
  • Lead and deploy a team of packaging technical experts to deliver" 7 to 10 concurrent complex packaging technology projects annually, meeting committed timelines, budgets, and technical performance targets from concept through proof of concept and handover.
  • Ensure full compliance with evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements for portfolio projects, including:
  • Minimizing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees
  • Designing packaging solutions that avoid material bans and regulatory risks
  • Advancing recyclable, reusable, and compliant packaging formats aligned with enterprise sustainability goals and legislative requirements
  • Deliver packaging designs to PBS, ensuring solutions meet defined functional, quality, shelf-life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance outcomes.
Expected Experience & Required Skills
  • BS/MS/PhD degree in Engineering, Materials, Chemical or Packaging Engineering preferred or related discipline.
  • Minimum 8 years of R&D technology development and commercialization experience in packaging and project leadership experience (consumer goods, food & beverage, pharma or similar preferred).
  • Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end development projects, identifying and driving packaging technology initiatives, leading external partnerships, and coordinating cross-functional teams.
  • Demonstrated experience in people management
  • Strong technical knowledge of" materials "(polymers, barriers and additives , etc.) and" manufacturing constraints , including converting processes (e.g., filling, labeling, molding , injection molding, extrusion blow molding, thermoforming ), bottle closure and dispensing systems .
  • Proven project management/PMO skills; experience with governance, risk management, budget management, and stakeholder reporting.
  • Expert knowledge of design of experiments and statistics; strong technical problem solving.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills; ability to influence at all levels.
  • Previous experience leading complex, multisite or global packaging or technology launches.
  • Expert knowledge of sustainable packaging solutions, material/package industry standards and regulations.
  • Experience with pilot line setups and scale-up to industrial production.
  • Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of the time .
Work Environment & Schedule
This position operates primarily in a hybrid work environment and is based at the Kraft Heinz R&D Innovation Center in Glenview, IL. Our hybrid model provides flexibility based on business needs, allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week, with an expectation to work on-site at least three days per week at the Glenview Innovation Center ( Glenview , IL).
Physical demands include but not limited to
  • Regular office work
  • Physical presence at labs and manufacturing sites (internal and external) to perform experimental and validation testing
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz' strategy and values.
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$120,800.00 - $151,000.00
Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family's needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You'll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
  • Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
  • Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
  • Emotional - Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
  • Financial - 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location(s)
Glenview R&D Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact
NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com for assistance.