Principal, Package Engineer

About Liquid I.V.

At Liquid I.V., our purpose is to elevate the vitality of people and the planet. An ambitious goal? Yes! But by playing to win, holding the bar higher, championing wellbeing, and always thinking with a pioneering mindset we can go further together to leave a lasting mark. 

Our products are stocked in over 80,000 retail doors, including the world’s leading specialty, big box, and online retailers such as Costco, Walmart, Target, Amazon, and many more. In just over 10 years, our growth has been exponential. And as part of Unilever, we’re continuing the expansion of Liquid I.V. into a global brand. 

We’re also passionate about cultivating solutions for equitable clean water access, a healthier planet, and thriving communities. We contribute over 1% of our company revenue to our Impact Program through which we provide partnerships and grants to organizations that expand access to clean and abundant water locally and globally. By 2026, our goal is to help ensure access to clean water for 2 million people around the world. 

About our Team:

We are a world-class team of innovators and passionate changemakers, looking to develop transformative hydration solutions and make a meaningful impact on the world around us.  

At Liquid I.V., we are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve.    

Our team members enjoy a flexible and inclusive working environment, a highly collaborative and innovation-forward culture, generous benefits and perks that empower employees to champion their wellbeing every day, as well as an infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for extraordinary hydration. 

About the Role:

Liquid I.V. is looking for a Principal Packaging Engineer to lead the strategy and execution of innovative, scalable, and sustainable packaging solutions across our growing product portfolio. This individual will serve as the technical authority in packaging innovation – bringing deep expertise in materials science, design for sustainability, manufacturing, and commercialization. As a thought leader within the organization, the Principal Packaging Engineer will guide long-term packaging development strategies aligned with innovation and sustainability goals. 

Functions and duties of this role include, but not limited to:

• Innovation 
  • Scout for new packaging materials to expand LIV product formats.
  • Research, evaluate, and qualify cutting-edge packaging materials, vendors, and technologies while balancing sustainability, cost, and performance.
  • Own end-to-end development: design, prototype, test, validate, and commercialize packaging systems across primary, secondary, and tertiary formats.
  • Manage new product launches from concept through commercialization with a cross-functional team including Project Management, Product Development and Operations. Stay informed and educate the team of category, brand and competitive packaging trends and dynamics.
  • Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including Senior Leadership, about emerging business opportunities, technology capabilities and technologies.

• Sustainability 

  • Provide technical expertise on sustainable materials, packaging formats, and life cycle assessment (LCA), guiding key business decisions.
  • Contribute to Sustainability Reporting, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and external communications related to Packaging.
  • Stay ahead of industry trends and regulatory changes to future-proof Liquid I.V.’s packaging strategies.
  • Serve as a Subject Matter Expert with a passion for knowledge-sharing while actively identifying and assessing opportunities to advance Unilever Sustainable Packaging goals.

• Commercialization 

  • Co-create and execute technical strategy for next generation packaging platforms with a focus on sustainable, cost-effective, and high-performance solutions.
  • Collaborate with suppliers, co-manufacturers, co-packers, and Unilever Center of Excellence (COE) sites to scale and commercialize packaging solutions.
  • Guide development of packaging specifications, testing protocols, and tooling documentation across all packaging formats including flexibles, cartons, corrugate, rigids, etc.
  • Identify and lead implementation of cost savings and packaging efficiency initiatives.
  • Provide production technical guidance to our manufacturing partners and cross-functional teams, which involves identifying process challenges and gaps, recommending technical solutions, and following through to successful completion and resolution.
  • Identify areas of opportunities and provide simple ideas for expanding value/profits and driving continuous improvement to the business.
  • Possess a strong sense of leadership to accomplish Objectives & Key Results (OKRs) and be able to manage projects independently or in a team environment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Material Science/Technology, Engineering, or a related field (master's degree preferred)
  • 10+ years of experience in CPG R&D Packaging Development with a Bachelor’s degree, or
  • 8+ years with a Master’s degree
  • Minimum 3 years in a senior or lead packaging development role
• Advanced research in novel materials to further sustainability goals
• Proven success in developing and commercializing packaging in multiple formats to drive business growth including flexibles, cartons, corrugate, and rigids
• Deep knowledge of sustainable materials, circular design, and recyclability standards
• Strong communication, collaboration, and project management skills with demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and lead complex, multi-phase projects
• Excellent planning, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Experience with Lean Six Sigma is a plus
• Strong working knowledge of food manufacturing processes, quality assurance principles, specification development, product commercialization & scale ups (eg. CQV)
• Experience with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 
• Experience using pallet software TOPS or CAPE
• Strong organizational & teamwork skills, ability to prioritize/multi-task and handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving innovation in a fast paced, dynamic working environment
• 25% domestic & international travel to manufacturing facilities is required

What We Give:

• 100% company-paid medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (PPO, HMO and Kaiser options).
• A 401k plan with company match, short and long-term disability coverage. 
• A generous PTO and sick policy that includes 13+ paid annual holidays. 
• Wellness classes (fitness, mental health, nutrition, finance, etc.). 
• An Employee Assistance Program, including membership for guided meditation for all employees. 
• Monthly tech and wellness reimbursement. 
• An infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for endless hydration!  

Work Environment:

• Hybrid office environment with flexibility for industry events. Travel 20%-30% of the time. 

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

The expected salary range for this position is $123,000 - $184.600 annually and is bonus eligible. The exact salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, internal company equity, and budget.  The listed range is applicable only to the annual base salary and does not include additional perks, benefits, or applicable bonus eligibility comprising the total compensation package.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the role. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to the company’s mission, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Liquid I.V.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know that the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives that encourage new ways of solving problems, so we strive to attract and develop talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Liquid I.V. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.