R&D Engineer
$122K - $137K/yr
From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 - all while keeping the heart of "People Build Businesses ...
62 Sonoco Jobs Hiring Near You
R&D Engineer
$122K - $137K/yr
From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 - all while keeping the heart of "People Build Businesses ...
Account Representative
Holyoke, MA · On-site
Then utilizing Sonoco resources bring forth those value offerings to the customer / prospect. The foremost focus remains on increased profitable sales growth with new and existing accounts to ...
Account Representative
Holyoke, MA · On-site
Then utilizing Sonoco resources bring forth those value offerings to the customer / prospect. The foremost focus remains on increased profitable sales growth with new and existing accounts to ...
Sonoco Jobs Information
Do workers at Sonoco get paid breaks?
Yes. Most people get paid breaks.
84% of people say they get paid breaks.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and April 2026.
84% of people say they get paid breaks.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and April 2026.
Does Sonoco pay people when they’re sick?
No. Most people don’t get paid when they’re sick.
78% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.
Based on data from 41 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
78% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.
Based on data from 41 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
At Sonoco, are sick days and vacation days separate paid time off?
Only some people have separate paid time off for sick days and vacation.
38% of people say they have to use vacation days when they’re out sick.
Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
38% of people say they have to use vacation days when they’re out sick.
Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
Is the health insurance from Sonoco affordable enough for their workers?
Most people say the health insurance costs are okay.
95% of people say the health insurance costs are okay
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
95% of people say the health insurance costs are okay
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Do people get paid time off at Sonoco?
Most people get paid time off work.
84% of people say they get paid time off.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
84% of people say they get paid time off.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
How far ahead of time do people find out their work schedule?
Most people find out their schedule less than four weeks ahead of time.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.
- 74% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts one week or less ahead of time.
- 8% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts two weeks ahead of time.
- 3% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts three weeks ahead of time.
- 16% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts four weeks or more ahead of time.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.
Do workers at Sonoco worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
81% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.
Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
81% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.
Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
Do Sonoco workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Most people don’t get to choose which shifts they work.
71% report that they don’t have enough control over which shifts they work.
Based on data from 35 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
71% report that they don’t have enough control over which shifts they work.
Based on data from 35 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
How easy is it for Sonoco workers to change shifts?
Most people find it hard to change shifts.
69% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.
Based on data from 39 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.
69% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.
Based on data from 39 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.
How easy is it to get time off at Sonoco?
Most people find it easy to get time off.
83% of people report it’s easy to get time off.
Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
83% of people report it’s easy to get time off.
Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Do Sonoco managers change schedules at the last minute?
Most managers don’t change people’s schedules at the last minute.
76% of people say their manager doesn’t change their shift schedule at the last minute.
Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
76% of people say their manager doesn’t change their shift schedule at the last minute.
Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
Do jobs at Sonoco spill into time workers aren’t paid for?
Rarely. The job doesn't usually spill into unpaid time.
13% of people report that their job takes up time that they don’t get paid for.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
13% of people report that their job takes up time that they don’t get paid for.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and March 2026.
How easy is it to take sick days at Sonoco?
Some people find it hard to take sick days.
47% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
47% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Is a Sonoco job good for students?
Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
70% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and June 2026.
70% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and June 2026.
Is working at Sonoco good if you’re a parent or caregiver?
Only some parents and caregivers say this is a good place to work.
49% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.
Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.
49% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.
Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2026.
Do people at Sonoco feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
71% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.
Based on data from 41 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
71% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.
Based on data from 41 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
Do people at Sonoco get to take their breaks without interruption?
Only some people get breaks without interruption.
46% of people report that their breaks get interrupted.
Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
46% of people report that their breaks get interrupted.
Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
Is it stressful to work at Sonoco?
Most people feel stressed out here.
70% of people say they often feel stressed out at work.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
70% of people say they often feel stressed out at work.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Do people at Sonoco enjoy their jobs?
Only some people enjoy their job.
39% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
39% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
Do people at Sonoco recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
55% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
55% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.
Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Do people get enough training when they start at Sonoco?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
45% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.
Based on data from 42 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
45% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.
Based on data from 42 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Do people get support to advance at Sonoco?
Only some people are given support to advance their career here.
In the last year, 41% of people report not being given support to advance their career here.
Based on data from 39 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
In the last year, 41% of people report not being given support to advance their career here.
Based on data from 39 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Do people think Sonoco’s headquarters understands what’s happening where they work?
Most people think headquarters doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
85% of people think that this employer’s headquarters or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.
Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
85% of people think that this employer’s headquarters or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.
Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and June 2026.
Do workers feel well informed about how Sonoco is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
50% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
50% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.
Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2025 and June 2026.
What are the most popular titles at Sonoco?
What are the most popular cities for Sonoco jobs?
What are the most popular states for Sonoco jobs?
What are the most popular job types at Sonoco?
What are the most popular categories at Sonoco?
$122K - $137K/yr
Full-time
Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO
Posted 9 days ago
Sonoco rating
7.3
Based on 104 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz
53rd of 112 rated packaging manufacturers
Job description
From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 - all while keeping the heart of "People Build Businesses" alive.
Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.
We are seeking a high-caliber R&D Engineer to bridge the gap between applied mechanics and real-world performance. In this role, you will serve as a technical lead in characterizing material behavior and product performance-specifically paper and paper products-using a sophisticated blend of experimentation and advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Applied mechanics is a strategic technology platform at Sonoco. This platform has generated significant profit over the past 70 years. Many proprietary mechanics R&D findings have been incorporated into business IT systems that are routinely used globally.
Key Responsibilities
Advanced Simulation: Develop and execute complex linear and non-linear FEA models to predict structural behavior and optimize product performance.
Material Characterization: Lead paper mechanics analysis, utilizing first-principles and simulation tools to evaluate both legacy products and next-generation prototypes.
Experimental Synergy: Design experiments and perform rigorous statistical analysis on empirical data to validate and refine computational models.
Continuous Innovation: Proactively challenge legacy methodologies and workflows to drive efficiency, accuracy, and technical excellence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with multi-disciplinary technical teams to translate simulation insights into actionable design improvements.
Identify Project Opportunities: Understand business needs and priorities. Using a fundamental knowledge of applied mechanics, collaborate with colleagues to propose, plan, develop and execute R&D projects to significantly improve profitability.
Core Qualifications
- Deep expertise in solid and experimental mechanics; a background in composite materials is highly desirable.
- Proficiency in commercial finite element environments (preferably Abaqus) and associated numerical analysis toolsets.
- Strong background in statistical data analysis with a detail-oriented approach to interpreting complex datasets.
- Strong command of Fortran for legacy code maintenance and Python for modern application development.
- Skilled in applying engineering intuition to solve complex problems where standard academic theory may fall short.
- Working with a high level of autonomy while maintaining a collaborative spirit, a proven ability to take full project ownership, including planning, budgeting, and execution.
- Skillful at articulating technical findings to both specialized and non-technical stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, Sonoco operations and marketing.
Minimum Qualifications:
MS in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Materials Science, related field.
A minimum of 5 years of proven expertise in mechanical and structural analysis, spanning both computational simulation and experimental validation.
Preferred Qualifications:
PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Materials Science, or related field.
3+ years of proven industry track record in structural analysis and experimental validation.
Experience in linear and nonlinear Finite Element analysis.
Compensation:
This is a progression position, and can be a Level I, II, III, or IV, depending on experience and business needs. The annual base salary range for this role is as follows:
Research & Development Engineer I: $73,280 - $82,440.
Research & Development Engineer II: $88,000 - $99,000.
Research & Development Engineer III: $107,440 - $120,870, plus an annual target bonus of 7.5% of base salary
Research & Development Engineer IV: $122,320 - $137,610, plus an annual target bonus of 7.5% of base salary
At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
- Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
- Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.
About Sonoco
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Sonoco is a $5 billion global provider of consumer packaging, industrial products and packaging supply chain services. When collaborating with our customers, we leverage our deep knowledge of material science, our i6 Innovation ProcessTM, and our industry-leading packaging and services portfolio to create impactful customized solutions that build stronger brands. We produce packaging for many of the world's most recognized brands, in markets such as appliances and electronics, automotive, beverages, confection, construction, converted paperboard, fresh and natural food, frozen and refrigerated food, shaving, home, lawn and garden, medical/pharmaceutical, pet care, powdered beverages, recycling and snacks. Sonoco's operations consist of our global consumer packaging businesses (rigid paper and closures, flexibles and plastics); our display and packaging division (high-impact retail displays and packaging supply chain management); our industrial businesses (tubes and cores, reels and spools, uncoated recycled paperboard and Sonoco Recycling, one of the world's largest recyclers); and our Protective Solutions division (custom-designed protective, temperature-assurance and retail security packaging solutions and highly engineered components). From our headquarters in Hartsville, S.C., and more than 300 operations in 33 countries, we serve customers in 85 nations.
Industry
Manufacturing
Company size
10,000+ Employees
Headquarters location
Hartsville, SC, US