Lead Application Engineer – Flexible Packaging | Remote USA | Travel

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

Technical Associate – Adhesive Technologies | Hartsville, SC | $135K–$152K + Bonus + Relocation

⚙️ Technical Associate – Adhesive Technologies

📍 Location: Hartsville, SC (On-site)
🧳 Travel: Up to 20%
💼 Reports To: Technology Senior Director
🎯 Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent
💰 Salary Range: $135,600 – $152,550 + Annual Bonus (12.5% target)
🚚 Relocation: Full package available

🌟 The Opportunity

Join a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions as a Technical Associate specializing in adhesive technology. In this hands-on, innovation-driven role, you’ll design, test, and commercialize new water-based adhesive products, supporting multiple industries including paperboard and food-grade packaging.

You’ll work closely with R&D, operations, and commercial teams to turn ideas into market-ready products — driving both performance and sustainability across the company’s global adhesive division.

🧠 What You’ll Be Doing

Product Development & Commercialization

• Conceive, formulate, and test new adhesive and coating technologies.

• Conduct plant trials to ensure successful scale-up and commercialization at customer sites.

• Collaborate with production teams to transition newly developed products into full-scale manufacturing.

Business & Technical Collaboration

• Partner with sales and business development to identify customer opportunities and provide technical assessments.

• Leverage emerging adhesive technologies to expand into new industries, markets, and customers.

• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to leadership, sales, and customer stakeholders.

Process & Quality Optimization

• Use Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and analytical troubleshooting to enhance performance and reduce costs.

• Support supply chain in evaluating and qualifying new raw material and additive vendors.

• Lead or assist quality assurance initiatives to identify root causes and implement long-term corrective actions.

Innovation & Intellectual Property

• Stay ahead of industry trends and technologies, assessing feasibility for future applications.

• Maintain accurate documentation on intellectual property, supporting patent filings and trade secret protection.

🎓 What You’ll Bring

✅ Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Material Science, or a related technical discipline.
✅ 5+ years’ experience in formulating water-based adhesives (experience in paperboard or food-grade packaging highly desirable).
✅ Proven problem-solving ability — able to tackle complex challenges and identify optimal solutions.
✅ Strong hands-on capabilities, willing to conduct bench or trial work independently.
✅ Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
✅ Excellent communication and interpersonal skills — adaptable to various audiences and stakeholders.
✅ A proactive, “can-do” attitude, coupled with creativity and innovation to achieve technical and business goals.

💡 Why You’ll Love It Here

You’ll join a company where innovation, integrity, and inclusion are at the heart of everything they do. Employees are encouraged to grow, experiment, and make a tangible impact on sustainability and manufacturing excellence.

🎁 Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary $135,600 – $152,550 + 12.5% annual bonus (up to 25% potential)

• Full relocation assistance provided

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match

• Paid time off and 11 company holidays

• Life and disability insurance

• Education and professional development support

🧩 Ideal Candidate Snapshot

• Experience Level: Mid-level (5–10 years)

• Function: R&D / Adhesive Technology / Product Formulation

• Industry: Packaging, Adhesives, Materials Science

• Work Environment: On-site in Hartsville, SC

• Travel: Up to 20%

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of adhesive innovation within a company that values technical excellence, continuous improvement, and doing the right thing. If you’re passionate about creating smarter, safer, and more sustainable products — this role is for you.

Senior R&D Engineer – Thermoformed Packaging | Franklin Park, IL | $140K–$165K + Full Relocation

Sr. R&D Engineer – Thermoformed Packaging

📍 Location: Franklin Park, IL, USA (Onsite)
💼 Employment Type: Full-time
💰 Base Salary: $140,000 – $165,000
🎁 Signing Bonus: Negotiable
🚚 Relocation Package: Full
🌍 Travel: Up to 40% (mostly domestic)
🛑 Visa Sponsorship: Not available

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior R&D Engineer to join our Thermoformed Packaging division. Reporting to the R&D Director, you will play a key role in developing, designing, and qualifying new thermoplastic materials and processes for consumer-based packaging applications. This position requires deep expertise in plastics extrusion, thermoforming, and material processing to drive innovation, sustainability, and manufacturing efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert in plastic materials processing for consumer packaging.

• Lead R&D projects from concept to commercialization, with a focus on sustainable packaging solutions.

• Provide recommendations on manufacturing equipment to support current and future business needs.

• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams, OEMs, and suppliers to solve complex technical challenges.

• Drive growth initiatives by identifying new technologies and opportunities for improved productivity and capacity.

• Originate and champion new ideas aligned with the company’s innovation and technology strategy.

• Lead capital projects and technical integrations to enhance product performance.

• Promote a positive, safe, and collaborative work environment.

• Ensure compliance with safety policies and procedures.

Qualifications – Must Haves

• B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Polymer Science.

• 7+ years of experience in plastics manufacturing and processing (extrusion, thermoforming, tooling).

• Strong working knowledge of PET, PP, HIPS, and PE resins plus additives.

• Experience in coatings and lamination on rigid sheet is a plus.

• Proven results leading capital projects in a manufacturing environment.

• Experience collaborating with OEMs and suppliers.

• Strong problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and project leadership.

Preferred Traits:

• Background in consumer-based food packaging.

• Results-driven, self-starter with a positive attitude.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

• Effective written and verbal communicator.

• Inquisitive and innovative, with a passion for new technologies.

Interview Process

1. 30-min recruiter screen with Internal recruiter.

2. 1-hour video interview with hiring manager.

3. 1-hour panel interview with the team, potential onsite visit.

Company Culture & Perks

We design and manufacture sustainable packaging solutions that serve the food, retail, and medical sectors. From snacks and condiments to healthcare items and pet food, our packaging protects products while promoting a healthier planet.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Retirement Plans

• Paid Time Off

• Equity Opportunities

• Work From Home Flexibility

• Additional Perks (e.g., relocation, growth opportunities)