Product Development Engineer, Flexible Packaging

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. Accredo Packaging is a family- and minority-owned flexible packaging manufacturer and part of API Group. Founded in 2009, and based in Sugar Land, Texas, Accredo Packaging provides flexible packaging and film solutions with a focus on advanced manufacturing, performance, innovation, and solutions designed to help customers pursue their sustainability goals.

By pairing the best talent in the industry with state-of-the-art technologies, we create innovative, environmentally responsible packaging that drives value for our customers and the planet. Location: Sugar Land, TX (Greater Houston) Type: Onsite, no option for remote or Hybrid Relocation assistance is available Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Product Development Engineer to serve as a key technical leader and customer-facing resource.

In this role, you will bridge the gap between customer needs and manufacturing capabilities, driving business growth through strategic product development initiatives. You will provide end-to-end technical expertise—ensuring film applications meet performance expectations across production, converting, packing line runnability, distribution logistics, consumer end-use, and sustainable end-of-life performance.

Products You Will Help Develop In this position, you will engineer and commercialize advanced, high-performance polyolefin and polyethylene-based film structures tailored for demanding food and CPG applications. Key product formats in your development portfolio will include: Flexible Barrier Packaging Films: High-barrier, multi-layer films engineered for moisture, oxygen, and aroma protection to maximize product shelf life.

Laminated Roll Stock: Specialized substrate films engineered for high-speed printing, lamination, and form-fill-seal (FFS) packaging operations. Shrink Bundling & Overwrap Films: Tough, high-clarity shrink and overwrap packaging films optimized for multi-pack bundling, secondary containment, and retail shelf presence.

Wicketed Bags & Specialty Formats: Customized film formulations optimized for high-speed converting into wicketed bags, pouches, and bag-making applications. Breathable Films & Packaging Labels: Controlled gas/moisture-transmission films for fresh produce/micro-vented packaging, as well as high-performance filmic substrates for pressure-sensitive and wrap-around labeling.

Key Duties & Responsibilities Serve as the primary technical interface for assigned customer accounts and market segments, leading technical meetings, discovery sessions, and joint development programs. Translate customer application requirements and market trends into clear technical specifications for innovative blown film packaging structures.

Oversee product development projects from initial concept and lab scale testing through commercial launch, ensuring timelines and performance gates are met. Partner closely with raw material vendors (resin suppliers, masterbatch/additive producers) to evaluate, select, and optimize materials for cost, processability, and functional performance.

Design and engineer monolayer and multilayer blown film structures optimized for barrier properties, seal strength, puncture resistance, optics, and shelf-life extension. Spearhead sustainable packaging initiatives, including recyclable mono-material structures, PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin integration, and downgauging/lightweighting projects.

Plan, facilitate, and oversee internal plant development trials on blown film lines to validate processing parameters and physical property metrics. Coordinate and attend external customer plant trials, offering on-site troubleshooting for film runnability on converting, printing, and Form-Fill-Seal (FFS) packaging equipment.

Analyze trial data, summarize results, and deliver clear technical reports and recommendations to both internal leadership and external clients. Collaborate closely with Sales, Operations, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory teams to ensure new formulations are commercially viable, compliant (FDA, food contact, etc.), and scalable.

Support root-cause analysis and corrective actions for technical issues or customer complaints related to product performance.

Qualifications

& Requirements Bachelor’s Degree in Polymer Science, Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Science, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline. Minimum of 8 years of progressive product development experience within the flexible packaging industry (specifically focused on polyolefin/PE-based blown film extrusion).

Deep working knowledge of blown film extrusion processing, Polyethylene (PE) resins (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, mLLDPE, EVA), functional additives, and polymer characterization. Strong understanding of film conversion processes (printing, laminating, pouching) and high-speed packaging equipment dynamics (Form-Fill-Seal). Proven track record of managing technical relationships with external customers, presenting data, and navigating technical commercialization projects.

Familiarity with sustainable packaging trends, circular economy goals, recyclable film structures, and bio-based/recycled content resins. Self-starter with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple complex technical projects simultaneously. Travel Willingness to travel up to 20% for customer visits, trials, and industry events.