Contract Packaging Engineer

About Sundays for Dogs Sundays for Dogs is a founder-led, direct-to-consumer brand reimagining pet food so dog owners can spend more quality time with their dogs — now and later. We make human-grade, air-dried food that supports long, healthy lives, and we build our company around shared core values that guide how we work and how we treat each other. We’re headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with a primarily remote team of ~50 full-time employees across the U.S. While we work distributed day to day, we come together in person on a quarterly basis because relationships matter. Our business today is 100% DTC, with our subscription model at the core of how we serve customers — and we’re building to scale with intention. We’re just getting started... About your team and position: Packaging work at Sundays sits at the intersection of R&D, Creative, and Operations rather than inside a single department. This role is being brought on as a contractor to support that work directly, partnering closely with our Creative Director and VP of Operations. We're hiring a Contract Packaging Engineer to scope and execute a defined set of packaging projects, bringing hands-on CPG packaging expertise and an existing supplier and vendor network. There isn't a permanent headcount for this function yet—the scope and pace of work don't currently justify one—but the engagement is structured to grow. If the product line expands and the need for ongoing packaging support becomes clear, this role could transition to a full-time position. Your day-to-day: Define and prioritize an initial slate of 3–4 packaging projects. Lead packaging engineering for shelf-stable CPG products, from concept through production-ready specs. Apply temperature-controlled and cold chain packaging expertise where projects call for it. Source, vet, and manage relationships with packaging suppliers and vendors, drawing on your own established U.S.-based network. Partner with R&D on formulation and packaging compatibility, and with Creative on how packaging carries the brand on shelf. Bring cost, timeline, and vendor tradeoffs to Operations leadership to support clear, informed decisions. Travel to Cleveland approximately once a month if not local, to stay aligned with the team in person. We'd love to hear from you if you have: You have proven experience in CPG packaging engineering, with a focus on shelf-stable products. You have experience with temperature-controlled or cold chain packaging (a plus, not required). You have an established network of U.S.-based packaging suppliers and vendors you can bring to this engagement. You have the ability to scope and deliver project-based work independently, without heavy oversight. You have experience partnering across R&D, Creative, and Operations functions. You are based in Cleveland, Ohio, or able to travel there roughly once a month.