Lead Application Engineer – Flexible Packaging
📍 Location: Fully Remote (USA)
✈️ Travel: Up to 60% (primarily US, occasional Canada/Mexico)
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Base Salary: $105,000 – $125,000
Full benefits package
Bonus eligible
Relocation assistance possible for ideal candidates
Benefits Include:
Medical, dental & vision coverage starting Day 1
401(k) with company match
Employee stock purchase program
Generous PTO & volunteer time
Tuition reimbursement & career development programs
Paid parental leave & family support benefits
Flexible work policies and wellness programs
🚀 Overview
A global leader in adhesive technologies and functional coatings is seeking a Lead Application Engineer – Flexible Packaging to provide technical leadership and customer-facing engineering support across the flexible packaging market.
This role serves as a trusted technical advisor supporting laminating adhesives and coatings technologies, helping customers optimize manufacturing processes, troubleshoot issues, implement new technologies, and drive innovation initiatives.
The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in flexible packaging, coatings, laminating adhesives, or converting processes with excellent customer engagement and project management capabilities.
🔧 Key Responsibilities
Technical Customer Support
Provide technical recommendations, troubleshooting, and application support for customers
Conduct onsite technical visits including:
Product demonstrations
Audits
Process troubleshooting
Equipment optimization
Support complaint investigations and root cause analysis
Document activities and findings within CRM and laboratory systems
Flexible Packaging & Coating Expertise
Support laminating adhesives and coatings applications
Provide expertise in:
Coating technologies
Converting processes
Flexible packaging applications
Mechanical/application equipment optimization
Assist customers in improving adhesive-related manufacturing processes
Project Management & Innovation
Lead customer-focused technical projects from concept through implementation
Scope and justify customer projects and technical initiatives
Collaborate cross-functionally with:
Product Development
Manufacturing
Supply Chain
Sales & Marketing
Support innovation pipeline initiatives and new technology adoption
Training & Relationship Management
Deliver technical training to customers and field sales teams
Serve as the technical liaison between customers and internal teams
Build strong relationships with stakeholders across all organizational levels
Promote best practices and share technical learnings across accounts
Laboratory & Technical Analysis
Coordinate and prioritize laboratory testing activities
Prepare technical reports summarizing findings and recommendations
Analyze complex technical and application-related problems
Support troubleshooting and process optimization initiatives
✅ Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in:
Chemical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Materials Engineering
Chemistry
Or related technical field
5–10+ years of:
Technical service
Application engineering
Flexible packaging industry experience
Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Strong project management and organizational skills
⭐ Highly Preferred Experience
Flexible packaging industry experience
Hands-on coating and/or converting expertise
Experience with:
Laminating adhesives
Coatings technologies
Application equipment
Converting machinery
Customer-facing technical service experience
🛠️ Core Skills
✔ Flexible Packaging
✔ Laminating Adhesives
✔ Coatings Technology
✔ Application Engineering
✔ Technical Service
✔ Troubleshooting
✔ Process Optimization
✔ Converting Equipment
✔ Project Management
✔ Customer Training
✔ Root Cause Analysis
✔ Industrial Manufacturing
🎯 Ideal Candidate
Hands-on technical expert within flexible packaging and coatings environments
Strong customer-facing engineer comfortable working onsite with manufacturing teams
Excellent communicator capable of interacting with operators through executive leadership
Organized and proactive project leader with strong analytical capabilities
Comfortable balancing technical problem solving with commercial support responsibilities
🌟 Why Join
Join a globally recognized innovation leader in adhesives and coatings technology
Fully remote role with significant customer engagement and technical ownership
Opportunity to work on cutting-edge flexible packaging solutions
Strong career growth and international development opportunities
Collaborative culture focused on innovation, sustainability, and technical excellence
📋 Additional Details
Fully remote position
Heavy customer interaction and travel-based role
Travel up to ~60% with advance planning and support for work-life balance
Candidates must be comfortable working independently and managing multiple customer projects simultaneously