Packaging Engineer, Senior

Location: Nashville, TN OR Omaha, Nebraska
Hybrid role: (1-2 days/week) from home
Travel: Approximately once a month to start and then 20% of the time. 

We are a fast-growing, innovative health and wellness company committed to improving lives through science, research, and product innovation. Our team is passionate about developing and delivering high-quality products that support the well-being of people and pets.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a passionate and detail-oriented Senior Packaging Engineer to join our team and champion packaging excellence in Vireo's cosmetic and dietary supplements product portfolio. In this role, you will play a vital role in ensuring that our brand's product packaging is of the upmost quality, providing both our consumers and business partners with confidence in the safety and consumer experience of our offerings.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Packaging & component sourcing, testing, production implementation, and continuous improvements:

• Ensure packaging is compatible with formulations including: researching & compiling material specifications & conducting packaging compatibility testing.
• Analyze technical drawings and conduct tolerance and stack up analyses for critical component assemblies.
• Create finished good specifications and set standards.
• Draft and execute package testing SOP's including: line trial protocols, pilot & validation runs, drop & ship testing. Interpret results and make data-driven decisions.
• Develop relationships with existing and new suppliers to identify packaging for new product developments that meet design brief requirements, timeline, and cost.
• Partner with third-party manufacturers and suppliers to ensure adherence to quality standards throughout production& ensure supplier test strategies align with company expectations for quality, performance, and compliance.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for packaging inquiries from consumers, retailers, and business partners, providing accurate and timely responses to questions regarding product performance including setup of new SKU's, dimensions, sizing, etc.
• Proactively identify and resolve supplier-related quality issues during both launch and ongoing production as it relates to componentry and finished goods.
• Manage and maintain quality control documents for all existing documentation and drive creation/implementation of new quality standards including packaging testing and inspection processes.
• Work closely with Supply Chain on packaging sustaining operations initiatives to drive necessary testing protocols to qualify new parts.
• Drive process both internally and at contract manufacturers. Ability to work with cross functional teams to identify gap analyses where processes could be implemented.
• Drive quality continuous improvement and track key quality metrics based on monthly customer feedback and sales data. Establish when proactive investigations may need to be required to identify a root cause.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in pertinent field (e.g. Engineering, Chemistry, etc.), or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years' experience in consumer package goods packaging engineering roles + experience with supplements, food, cosmetics, OTC's, medical devices, and/or personal care products is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of polymer materials and packaging formats including liquids, powders, capsules, pumps, closures, tubes, bottles, etc.
• Knowledge of packaging & shipping requirements for retail customers.
• Experience validating new tooling and component development.
• Willing to travel to both our manufacturing sites in Tennessee & Nebraska, domestic and international suppliers, contract manufacturers, trade shows, etc approximately 20%).
• Proven ability to make recommendations in uncertain and unstructured environments.
• Collaborative Communicator: Honest, clear, and direct—able to explain and defend technical decisions while building trust across teams.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical mindset and problem-solving skills.
• Quality focused - Comfortable applying core quality tools and standards to support both product development and manufacturing excellence.
• Out of the box thinker with ambition to learn in a pace past environment.
• Self-starter ability to know where to start on a project but seeks guidance as needed.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret technical data and assess its impact on business operations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and compliance management software.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Must be able to sit/stand for 8 hours.

COMPENSATION + BENEFITS

• Base salary + bonus based on company and personal performance
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Supplement insurance programs with company assistance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time off, Paid Holidays