Application Development Engineer (Flexible Packaging)

$100,560 - $113,130/Yr

Sonoco Products - Hartsville, SC

Full-time

Remote - Hartsville, SC

Paper Manufacturing

About the position

The Application Development Engineer for the Flexibles Division at Sonoco Products Company serves as a key technical liaison between customers and the company. This role focuses on developing and providing technical services for flexible packaging solutions, ensuring alignment with customer needs and business priorities. The engineer will lead technical activities, manage projects, and maintain strong customer relationships while working in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Commercial Team to identify and commercialize flexible packaging opportunities at targeted accounts.
• Lead technical activities to expand sales of existing structures and develop new flexible packaging structures.
• Translate customer requirements to Sonoco specifications and develop manufacturing instructions.
• Ensure portfolio alignment with business priorities and customer needs.
• Define project success criteria, draw conclusions based on data, and make technical recommendations.
• Manage projects that are often fast-paced with high visibility.
• Provide routine technical service activity.
• Develop and lead pilot, production, and filling/packing trials.
• Build and maintain strong technical customer relations.
• Coordinate activities to accomplish tasks using available internal and external resources.
• Prepare written and verbal presentations, project plans, updates, and periodic reports for internal and external use.
• Travel domestically and internationally to manufacturing plants, suppliers, customers, conferences, and other innovation partners.
• Maintain complete and accurate work records, including documentation for intellectual property protection.

Requirements

• Strong material science knowledge (OPP, PET, PE films, Nylon, paper, and foil laminations).
• Product development experience in flexible packaging applications; project management; and developing customer relationships.
• Knowledge of or experience in food packaging such as retort and/or hot fill, hard-to-hold products, coffee, beverage, retail confection, bakery, snacks, frozen food, lidding, portion control packaging, perimeter of the store, or personal care markets.
• Bachelor of Science, preferably in Engineering, Food Science, Packaging, or Plastics related field.
• 5+ years in Flexible Packaging Product Development and manufacturing processes, including printing (roto/flexo), laminating (adhesive and extrusion), coating, slitting, pouching, and form/fill/seal conversion.

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