Process Engineer - Materials Development
Dart Container ·
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Full time
- Category
- Industrial engineering
Help Shape the Future of Sustainable Food Packaging
Travel: Up to 50% initially, with regular travel to manufacturing facilities
At Dart, we're expanding our innovation and development capabilities and looking for a Process Engineer or Senior Process Engineer to help drive the future of paper-based packaging, converting technologies, and sustainable materials.
This role offers a unique combination of manufacturing support, product development, process optimization, material qualification, and innovation. You'll work directly with manufacturing plants, suppliers, procurement, quality, and product development teams to support paper materials, converting processes, and the development of next-generation products across cups, lids, dinnerware, molded fiber, and other paper-based packaging platforms.
We're looking for engineers who are analytical, coachable, naturally curious, and confident challenging assumptions to solve complex technical problems. Direct paper industry experience is valuable but not required for the Engineer level. We are open to candidates from chemical engineering, materials science, packaging, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and other manufacturing environments who are eager to learn the paper converting business.
What You'll Do...
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Support manufacturing plants through process qualifications, troubleshooting efforts, second-source validations, and continuous improvement projects.
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Participate in production trials, new product development, and process optimization initiatives.
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Analyze process and material performance using statistical tools, Minitab, Design of Experiments (DOE), and root-cause analysis techniques.
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Assist with supplier qualifications and material evaluations for paperboard, coated paper, cup stock, plate stock, lid materials, and fiber-based packaging materials.
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Work directly with operators, technicians, and plant teams to understand manufacturing challenges and implement solutions.
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Develop technical documentation, qualification reports, SOPs, trial summaries, and engineering recommendations.
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Support the transition of new technologies and equipment into Dart's expanding innovation center in Mason.Bring new perspectives and ideas from outside the traditional paper industry.
- Lead large-scale process improvement, troubleshooting, qualification, and product development projects.
- Serve as a technical leader for paper materials, supplier qualification, manufacturing readiness, and converting performance.
- Lead material evaluations, supplier reviews, production trials, and second-source qualification efforts.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration among Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Sustainability, Product Development, and supplier partners.
- Support complex troubleshooting involving runnability, converting performance, coating behavior, sealing, printability, material variation, and product quality.
- Mentor engineers and influence technical direction across multiple facilities.
- Lead qualification planning, documentation, risk assessments, and implementation activities for new products and material changes.
- Help establish engineering best practices while accelerating innovation and commercialization efforts.
For Both Levels
We're seeking engineers who are:
- Curious, coachable, and eager to learn.
- Confident asking questions and challenging assumptions when appropriate.
- Comfortable working directly with operators, technicians, and plant leadership.
- Strong analytical thinkers who enjoy solving complex technical problems.
- Willing to travel to manufacturing facilities and relocate to Michigan.
- Effective communicators who can explain technical concepts clearly.
- Motivated to become experts in Dart's converting and manufacturing processes.
- Requires one of the following:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Paper Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials science, or a related technical field and three (3) years of related engineering experienc.
- Associate’s degree and nine (9) years of related engineering experience
- Engineering experience in manufacturing, process engineering, packaging, materials, product development, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, consumer goods, or similar industries.
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of products.
- Experience analyzing production equipment, processes and materials and solving issues
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience with statistical analysis, DOE, root-cause investigations, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Ability to learn quickly in a highly technical manufacturing environment.
- Willingness to relocate to Michigan and travel regularly to manufacturing facilities.
- Ability to travel up to 50% to manufacturing plants, supplier locations, trials, technical reviews, and qualification activities.
- Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problemsAbility to successfully prioritize, and organize projects, deadlines, and tasks with little supervision in both team and independent environments
- Confidence to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and advocate for data-driven solutions.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Greenbelt or Blackbelt Certification
- Proven experience and success in leading engineering efforts for new or modified products from conception through launch.
- Progressive experience in product design and development
- Experience with CAD and simulation tools
- Requires one of the following:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Paper Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials science, or a related technical field.
- Associate’s degree and twelve (12) years of related engineering experience
- Senior-level experience supporting paper materials, coated paper, paperboard, fiber-based packaging, or paper converting operations.
- Direct experience with converting paper for cups, lids, plates, or similar formed and converted food packaging applications.
- Demonstrated ability to support manufacturing trials, supplier qualifications, material testing, plant troubleshooting, and cross-functional technical decision-making.
- Strong understanding of how paper material properties affect converting performance and finished product quality.
- Willingness to relocate to Michigan and travel regularly to manufacturing facilities.
- Ability to travel up to 50% to manufacturing plants, supplier locations, trials, technical reviews, and qualification activities.
- Strong communication, ability to influence, documentation, organization, and follow-through skills.
- Ability to work independently in plant environments and provide practical technical recommendations under real production conditions.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Experience with cup stock, plate stock, coated paperboard, poly-coated paper, barrier-coated paper, lid materials, molded or fiber-based packaging, or food-contact paper materials.
- Experience supporting supplier transitions, second-source qualifications, material cost-savings projects, or new material commercialization.
- Familiarity with paper material testing, coating performance, sealing behavior, converting defects, curl, moisture effects, stiffness, density, caliper, printability, and runnability.
- Experience working directly with Procurement, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Sustainability, suppliers, and plant leadership.
- Experience developing material specifications, qualification reports, trial plans, technical recommendations, and approval documentation.
#LI-KS1
Overview: Dart makes everyday products that give people the freedom to enjoy the food & drinks they love, wherever they are. From to-go containers and dinnerware to tamper-evident food packaging and even the red SOLO cup, Dart products have been keeping people on the go and having fun for 65 years. We’re a family-owned, family-focused company of 12,000 employees united by a shared set of values and dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. Headquartered in Mason, MI, with 30 locations in three countries, we’re proud of our ability to innovate, manufacture and lead the way with each new generation of quality products.
Benefits: Dart Container full-time employees enjoy great benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company matching contributions, paid vacation, paid holidays, short-term disability, tuition assistance, product discounts and more.
Dart Container is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are subject to a drug test (excluding THC*/marijuana/cannabis) and background check at the time of offer.
*THC testing ONLY when such testing is required by law.
Dart Container is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all candidates for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation to access this website or for the application process, you should call Dart at (800) 545-3278 Ext 3370 or email us at [email protected]. Relay calls can be made by dialing 711 or the relay number for your state.
If you experience difficulty applying online, you may call (800) 545-3278 Ext 3390 or email us at [email protected] for assistance.