Sr. Engineer, Packaging

A note to candidates re COVID-19: The care of our 125,000 Mars Associates is at the center of how we are running our business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping our Associates safe & preventing the spread of the virus is of the upmost importance for us. This includes candidates applying and interested in working for Mars. While we have open jobs available, the health, safety & wellbeing of all involved is our top priority, and we are taking action & guidance from leading health authorities & local governments. As a result, our application & recruitment processes have been adapted to be conducted virtually. Learn more about these changes here. JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description: The Senior Packaging Engineer leads the development and deployment of innovation, sustainability, and productivity initiatives across Mars Petcare North America’s packaging portfolio. Operating in a pet-friendly, collaborative environment, this role provides cross-functional leadership to support existing products, drive new package development, and standardize processes across pilot and full-scale manufacturing sites. Success in this role requires connecting innovative workstreams with high-quality, consistent manufacturing outcomes to deliver packaging solutions that meet evolving pet parent needs. The Senior Packaging Engineer is responsible for leading large, business-critical projects with regional or brand-wide impact, ensuring alignment from concept through commercialization. This role provides strong technical expertise and strategic insight, while owning the management and implementation of key packaging processes, standards, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Senior Packaging Engineer plays a critical role in driving operational excellence, influencing stakeholders, and advancing scalable, sustainable packaging solutions across the portfolio. What are we looking for? Minimum Requirements * Bachelor’s Degree in Packaging, Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, a related technical field or equivalent * 5-7+ years’ experience working on packaging projects and technology development * Demonstrated experience with packaging designs * Strong understanding of machinery and scale-up risks * Willingness to travel up to 30% Preferred Qualifications * Advanced Degree in Packaging, Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, or a related technical field What will be your key responsibilities? * Technical Leadership: Lead and manage high-impact, complex packaging development projects spanning across major portfolios * Advanced Specifications: Develop complex specifications for multi-site and cross-functional projects, ensuring packaging robustness across the entire value chain * Innovation & Scale-Up: Translate technology from virtual/working proof-of-principle models to full-scale working machinery in partnership with third-party builders and global teams * Risk & Opportunity Management: Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks of regional or site-level impact. Cascade coaching on risk management tools to junior associates * Associate Development: Mentor, coach, and support the technical development of junior Packaging Engineers and Technologists within the team What can you expect from Mars? * Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles. * Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today. * Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University. * An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus. Mars does not sponsor visas for this role. This position is not eligible for relocation benefits. #LI-Onsite #LI-AM1 About Mars: Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow. Note to Search Firms/Agencies: Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific. Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.