Senior Packaging Engineer (CHINA)

FULL TIME

REMOTE — CHINA

Position: Senior Packaging Engineer
Working Hours: Monday–Friday, with flexibility to coordinate with US-based teams and suppliers across time zones.

Scope of the Role

We are looking for a Senior Packaging Engineer based in China to own and drive packaging development across a growing portfolio of beauty and personal care products.

This is a senior, hands-on technical role responsible for managing packaging projects from initial concept and material selection through prototyping, sampling, testing, supplier approvals, and production readiness. You will serve as a key technical partner to international teams and manufacturing partners in China, ensuring that packaging meets quality standards, technical specifications, cost targets, and project timelines.

The ideal candidate combines deep packaging engineering knowledge with strong supplier management, project ownership, and problem-solving capabilities. You should be comfortable making technical decisions independently, identifying risks early, and driving projects forward in a fast-paced, international environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Packaging Development & Engineering

Lead the end-to-end development of packaging components for beauty, personal care, and consumer products.

Evaluate and recommend appropriate packaging materials, structures, finishes, and manufacturing processes based on product requirements, quality standards, cost, and sustainability considerations.

Review and validate technical drawings, dielines, specifications, prototypes, and production samples.

Work closely with suppliers to optimise packaging design, functionality, durability, manufacturability, and overall product presentation.

Identify technical risks and recommend solutions before they affect project timelines or product quality.

2. Supplier & Manufacturer Management

Own relationships with packaging manufacturers and suppliers across China.

Lead technical discussions, clarify specifications, communicate design changes, and establish clear expectations for quality and delivery.

Coordinate sampling, tooling, colour matching, testing, and production approvals.

Monitor supplier performance, resolve manufacturing issues, and escalate risks with clear recommendations.

Partner with suppliers to improve quality, cost efficiency, lead times, and production processes.

3. Project Management & Execution

Manage multiple packaging development projects simultaneously, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and approvals remain on track.

Establish project timelines, track dependencies, and proactively address delays or bottlenecks.

Maintain accurate project documentation, specifications, sample records, and approval histories in Asana or equivalent tools.

Provide regular project updates to international stakeholders, highlighting progress, risks, decisions required, and next steps.

Take full ownership of project execution, from initial briefing through final production approval.

4. Quality Assurance & Technical Validation

Coordinate packaging testing and validation to ensure components meet required performance and quality standards.

Review test results, investigate defects, and implement corrective actions with suppliers.

Verify packaging consistency across samples and production runs, including dimensions, functionality, materials, finishes, and colour accuracy.

Support root-cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.

Ensure packaging specifications and approvals are documented accurately and maintained throughout the product lifecycle.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate with Product Development, Creative, Marketing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to translate product and brand requirements into technically viable packaging solutions.

Balance design intent with manufacturing feasibility, quality, cost, and operational constraints.

Communicate technical recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Identify opportunities to streamline packaging development workflows and improve supplier coordination.

Use digital and AI-enabled tools where appropriate to improve documentation, reporting, and operational efficiency.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in packaging engineering, packaging development, or a closely related technical role.

Based in China, with practical experience working directly with local packaging manufacturers and suppliers.

Strong understanding of packaging materials, including PP, PET, HDPE, paperboard, laminates, and related substrates.

Knowledge of manufacturing methods such as injection moulding, extrusion, offset printing, and flexography.

Proven ability to review technical drawings, dielines, material specifications, and packaging requirements.

Demonstrated experience managing packaging projects from development and sampling through testing, approvals, and production.

Strong supplier management and negotiation skills, with the ability to resolve technical and production challenges independently.

Excellent project management, organisation, and attention to detail.

Professional fluency in English for communication with international teams.

Mandarin fluency for effective supplier and manufacturer coordination in China.

Comfortable working independently in a remote, fast-paced, international environment.

Experience with Asana or comparable project management tools.

A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset, with strong ownership and accountability.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in beauty, cosmetics, personal care, or consumer packaged goods (CPG).

Experience supporting international brands with manufacturing operations in China.

Familiarity with packaging sustainability, material optimisation, and quality control systems.

Experience with colour management, Pantone matching, and print production.

Success in This Role

Packaging projects are delivered on schedule and meet technical, quality, and cost requirements.

Suppliers are proactively managed, with clear communication and fewer avoidable delays.

Packaging issues are identified and resolved before mass production.

Technical specifications, sample approvals, and project records are accurate and up to date.

International teams have clear visibility into project progress, risks, and decisions.

Packaging quality and manufacturing efficiency improve through ongoing supplier collaboration.

Skills

5+ years of packaging engineering or packaging development experience, based in China with practical experience working directly with local packaging manufacturers and suppliers, strong understanding of packaging materials including PP, PET, HDPE, paperboard, and laminates, knowledge of manufacturing methods such as injection moulding, extrusion, offset printing, and flexography, professional fluency in English and Mandarin fluency.

Experience in beauty, cosmetics, personal care, or consumer packaged goods, experience supporting international brands with manufacturing operations in China, familiarity with packaging sustainability and material optimisation, experience with colour management and Pantone matching.