Senior Engineer - Fiber Applications and Packaging Design

Position Summary

Sealed Air’s Research & Development (R&D) department is looking for a Senior Applications / Design Engineer with an Expertise in Paper to work in our Charlotte, NC campus.

The overall role is to support the R&D mission which includes the:

• ·       Packaging design of fiber and customer centric protective solutions
• ·       Development and delivery of innovative, sustainable, robust, differentiated product solutions in alignment with the division strategy
• ·       Development and execution of test plans to validate solutions fitness for use with respect to customer applications

Job Description

• Collaborate with R&D and business leaders to identify and address material technology gaps aligned with innovation priorities. Develop and execute strategies to support growth through advanced material solutions.
• Leverage engineering expertise (chemical, mechanical, electrical, etc.) to support innovation projects by providing technical input, generating new ideas, and leading final validations based on customer needs.
• Design custom packaging solutions to meet protective needs and support customer engagement. Ensure timely delivery of material and product development projects, aligned with R&D leadership priorities.
• Lead cross-functional teams, ensuring effective resource use and on-time project completion. Support new business development through commercialization of innovative products.
• Evaluate new material technologies for feasibility, business impact, and development needs. Test materials and systems rigorously, with a strong focus on customer pain points and operational realities.
• Maintain awareness of competitor technologies and industry trends. Build partnerships within Sealed Air and with external stakeholders including vendors and academic institutions.
• Serve as the key Applications Engineer for an assigned region. Travel to customer sites to understand operational challenges and provide tailored technical solutions.
• Recommend improvements to existing products and support development of new solutions based on materials, systems, and customer processes. Deliver on-site support and collaborate closely with customers, vendors, and internal teams.
• Create and execute test plans and field trials to ensure product reliability. Use customer and internal feedback to guide innovation toward commercialization.
• Conduct root-cause analysis, generate actionable insights, and provide technical documentation to support decision-making.
• Foster strong customer relationships using communication, influencing, and sales skills to drive collaboration and accelerate solution adoption.
• Develop and present clear value propositions and competitive positioning for Sealed Air’s new technologies and innovations.

Qualifications

• BS or MS or PhD in Fiber & Paper Technology, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Packaging Science
•  Packaging design or custom packaging experience is preferred
• Minimum 5 years of research and development experience in fiber and paper processing. Product development in the packaging industry using paper and fiber is highly preferred.

Major Skillsets

• Strong knowledge of fiber, paper, and additives in paper manufacturing
• Understanding of production processes, coatings, and additives
• Familiarity with re-pulping and sustainability is a plus
• Chemistry background preferred
• Innovative with processing equipment and adjacent technologies
• Strong collaboration and idea generation skills
• Good judgment and decision-making ability
• Resourceful and able to drive results
• Self-motivated, problem-solver, works well with remote teams
• Willing to travel ~30% (domestic & international)
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Skilled in data analysis and reporting tools
• Able to clearly present ideas and manage multiple priorities
• Professional, reliable, solutions-oriented
• Strong interpersonal skills and independent work ethic