Senior Packaging Development Engineer in Salisbury

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritising work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

Drive packaging innovation that supports product quality, efficiency, and sustainability across a diverse protein portfolio. As a Senior Packaging Development Engineer, you will lead the development and implementation of packaging solutions from concept through commercialization, ensuring performance across manufacturing environments while meeting cost, regulatory, and sustainability goals. You will partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Marketing, Procurement, and external suppliers to deliver scalable, effective packaging strategies. This role is ideal for a technically strong, forward-thinking professional who thrives on innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and delivering high-impact solutions at scale.

This position is located onsite at our Innovation Center in Salisbury, MD. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates to support a smooth and successful transition. The salary range for this position is $89,000 - $133,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Promote applicable safety, regulatory, GMP requirements in lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing facilities.
• Assist in writing new policy and procedures as needed.
• Own the technical direction and execution of complex packaging development programs from concept through commercialization across multiple product lines and plants.
• Serve as the technical authority for assigned packaging platforms, materials, and formats, providing clear direction and decision-making throughout the development lifecycle.
• Lead packaging design, material selection, testing strategies, and validation activities to ensure solutions meet performance, regulatory, customer, and consumer requirements.
• Plan and execute lab, pilot, and plant trials, including scale-up and commercialization activities across manufacturing locations.
• Anticipate and mitigate technical and operational risks associated with packaging changes and new introductions.
• Develop, review, and approve packaging specifications, material standards, and test protocols with a focus on consistency, scalability, and long-term performance.
• Establish best practices and technical guidance for packaging development, validation, and documentation.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and complete documentation of development work, supplier qualifications, and commercialization trials.
• Lead plant-level packaging issue resolution and performance improvement efforts, including root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Support manufacturing teams during startup, changeover, and sustained production phases to ensure packaging systems perform as intended.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardization, and simplification across plants.
• Drive cost optimization through material selection, design efficiency, and standardization without compromising product integrity or brand expectations.
• Evaluate and recommend packaging technologies, materials, and suppliers based on total cost of ownership, risk, and long-term strategy.
• Provide technical input into capital projects, major packaging changes, and supplier transitions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Quality, Operations, Procurement, and Regulatory to scope, prioritize, and implement packaging solutions.
• Serve as a primary technical interface with packaging suppliers, equipment vendors, and external testing partners.
• Support customer-facing engagements related to packaging performance, innovation, and issue resolution as required.
• Lead competitive benchmarking and internal testing to evaluate packaging technologies, materials, and formats.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments, translating insights into actionable opportunities.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior and mid-level packaging engineers.
• Review challenges on technical work to raise overall capability, rigor, and consistency within the packaging organization.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Packaging Engineering or related discipline, plus 6 -10 years related work experience. In the absence of a Bachelor’s Degree, total experience must equal 12 years.
• Demonstrated expertise in packaging development processes, materials, barrier systems, packaging equipment, testing methods, and commercialization.
• Strong technical problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently on complex, ambiguous challenges.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional partners without direct authority.
• In-depth knowledge of food manufacturing processes and packaging system integration.
• Expertise in poultry processing and/or related food product systems.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master’s degree with 4 years related experience or PhD with 2 years’ experience.
• Experience supporting multiple plants or product platforms.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies and equipment.

When in a plant environment:

• Exposure primarily consists of wet and moist floors which include metal and plastic grating surfaces.
• May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• May handle products from 25 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• May be exposed to noise ranges of 50 db to 110 db.
• May be exposed to all chemicals used in poultry, food, and processing facility.
• Must wear and use protective and safety equipment required for the job as directed by the Company.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.