Packaging Engineer Jobs in California
Packaging Engineer jobs in California are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in food and beverage manufacturing, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce fulfillment, roles available from entry-level packaging technologist through senior principal engineer. The busiest hiring markets are the Los Angeles Basin, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento, where established employers such as Gallo, Gilead Sciences, and Amazon maintain significant packaging operations. Specialties seeing the most consistent California demand include sustainable packaging design, materials engineering, and automation-integrated production systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 4 of 82+ Packaging Engineer jobs
- Lead and manage packaging development, improvement, and transfer projects for new and existing medical device products.
- Support sterile and non-sterile packaging systems for new products, product changes, line extensions, and sustaining engineering activities.
- Develop, review, and maintain packaging documentation including packaging specifications, Bill of Materials (BOM) drawings, test methods, and validation protocols.
- Contribute to design control deliverables for packaging design and process (e.g., DFMEA and PFMEA), design reviews, and change management processes.
- Draft, execute, and report packaging validations in accordance with ISO 11607, FDA, and internal Quality Management System requirements.
- Support audits and inspections of packaging processes (internal and external).
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, R&D, and Supply Chain to resolve packaging-related production and quality issues.
- Execute packaging validation and verification activities including packaging integrity, transportation simulation, and accelerated and real-time aging studies.
- Support new product introductions, product changes, and transfers by defining packaging strategies, validation plans, and timelines.
- Analyze data and implement improvements to ensure robust, repeatable, and compliant packaging processes.
- Confer with internal teams and external suppliers to evaluate packaging materials, components, and process changes.
- Support packaging transfer and supplier qualification activities across manufacturing sites.
- Investigate and resolve packaging-related nonconformances, deviations, and engineering changes using structured root-cause analysis tools.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, such as manufacturing automation, sustainability, integration of Unique Device Identification (UDI) or digital elements (e.g. RFID) and risk reductions.
- Comply with applicable Laws and Regulations, adhere to Quality Management System processes and requirements as well as demonstrate Ethics and Integrity in all matters and at all levels throughout the organization.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Job Details
Job ID 14241BR
Aliso Viejo, California, USA
Salary Range:
$116,706 - $153,177 (Financial compensation packages may be higher/lower than listed, & will ultimately depend on factors including relevant experience, internal equity, skillset, knowledge, geography, education, business needs and market demand)
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
- Minimum six (6) years of relevant work experience.
- Medical device experience.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage internal and external relationships.
- Ability to design, execute, and analyze packaging validations and studies.
- Ability to read and prepare technical documentation including specifications, procedures, and drawings.
- Advanced computer skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
- Experience with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) for packaging and component design.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, regulated manufacturing environment.
- Ability to apply lean and structured problem-solving methodologies to packaging projects.
- Comprehensive knowledge of medical device packaging materials, sterile barrier systems, and packaging equipment.
- Five (5) to seven (7) years of relevant packaging engineering experience.
- Expertise in packaging design, validation, and packaging process development.
- Statistical knowledge (DOE, Cpk) for packaging process characterization and optimization.
- Extended periods of computer and/or microscope use.
- Extended periods of sitting or standing.
- Extended periods working in a cleanroom and/or manufacturing environment.
- Light lifting, up to 25 lbs.
- Domestic and international travel up to 25% as required.
- May be required within the position to be in an environment that can include radiation exposure (such as Cathlabs).
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristics protected by law.
Fair Chance Ordinance
If you are applying to perform work for Terumo Neuro in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Terumo Neuro reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.
Terumo Neuro will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
- Lead and manage packaging development, improvement, and transfer projects for new and existing medical device products.
- Support sterile and non-sterile packaging systems for new products, product changes, line extensions, and sustaining engineering activities.
- Develop, review, and maintain packaging documentation including packaging specifications, Bill of Materials (BOM) drawings, test methods, and validation protocols.
- Contribute to design control deliverables for packaging design and process (e.g., DFMEA and PFMEA), design reviews, and change management processes.
- Draft, execute, and report packaging validations in accordance with ISO 11607, FDA, and internal Quality Management System requirements.
- Support audits and inspections of packaging processes (internal and external).
- Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, R&D, and Supply Chain to resolve packaging-related production and quality issues.
- Execute packaging validation and verification activities including packaging integrity, transportation simulation, and accelerated and real-time aging studies.
- Support new product introductions, product changes, and transfers by defining packaging strategies, validation plans, and timelines.
- Analyze data and implement improvements to ensure robust, repeatable, and compliant packaging processes.
- Confer with internal teams and external suppliers to evaluate packaging materials, components, and process changes.
- Support packaging transfer and supplier qualification activities across manufacturing sites.
- Investigate and resolve packaging-related nonconformances, deviations, and engineering changes using structured root-cause analysis tools.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, such as manufacturing automation, sustainability, integration of Unique Device Identification (UDI) or digital elements (e.g. RFID) and risk reductions.
- Comply with applicable Laws and Regulations, adhere to Quality Management System processes and requirements as well as demonstrate Ethics and Integrity in all matters and at all levels throughout the organization.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Job Details
Job ID 14241BR
Aliso Viejo, California, USA
Salary Range:
$116,706 - $153,177 (Financial compensation packages may be higher/lower than listed, & will ultimately depend on factors including relevant experience, internal equity, skillset, knowledge, geography, education, business needs and market demand)
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
- Minimum six (6) years of relevant work experience.
- Medical device experience.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage internal and external relationships.
- Ability to design, execute, and analyze packaging validations and studies.
- Ability to read and prepare technical documentation including specifications, procedures, and drawings.
- Advanced computer skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
- Experience with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks) for packaging and component design.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, regulated manufacturing environment.
- Ability to apply lean and structured problem-solving methodologies to packaging projects.
- Comprehensive knowledge of medical device packaging materials, sterile barrier systems, and packaging equipment.
- Five (5) to seven (7) years of relevant packaging engineering experience.
- Expertise in packaging design, validation, and packaging process development.
- Statistical knowledge (DOE, Cpk) for packaging process characterization and optimization.
- Extended periods of computer and/or microscope use.
- Extended periods of sitting or standing.
- Extended periods working in a cleanroom and/or manufacturing environment.
- Light lifting, up to 25 lbs.
- Domestic and international travel up to 25% as required.
- May be required within the position to be in an environment that can include radiation exposure (such as Cathlabs).
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristics protected by law.
Fair Chance Ordinance
If you are applying to perform work for Terumo Neuro in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Terumo Neuro reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.
Terumo Neuro will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
See All 82 Packaging Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Packaging Engineer JobsPackaging Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Packaging Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware18
- Technology & Software8
- Telecommunications5
- Manufacturing4
- Food & Beverage3
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in packaging engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in packaging science, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field
- Experience with packaging materials such as corrugated, flexible film, and rigid plastics
- Proficiency in CAD software for structural packaging design and prototyping
- Familiarity with ASTM, ISTA, or TAPPI testing standards for packaging validation
- Knowledge of FDA regulations for packaging used in food, beverage, or pharmaceutical applications
- Experience collaborating with supply chain, manufacturing, and marketing teams on product launches
Packaging Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a packaging engineer in California?
Most packaging engineer roles in California require a bachelor's degree in packaging science, mechanical engineering, materials science, or a related field, California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo offers one of the few dedicated packaging engineering programs in the state. California does not require a state-issued license specific to packaging engineering, though engineers who take on broader project engineering responsibilities may pursue Professional Engineer registration through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
Which companies hire packaging engineers in California?
Employers hiring packaging engineers in California right now include Apple, Nokia, and NVIDIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's dense concentration of food and beverage producers, consumer packaged goods brands, and life sciences companies means packaging engineers here work across a broader range of regulated and unregulated product categories than in most other states.
Which California cities have the most packaging engineer jobs?
San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale have the most packaging engineer openings in California. Los Angeles anchors hiring through its massive consumer goods and e-commerce distribution sector, the Bay Area draws demand from food tech startups and pharmaceutical firms, and Sacramento's location near the Central Valley's agricultural processing industry supports steady openings outside the major coastal metros.
Are there remote packaging engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Packaging engineering is fundamentally a hands-on role, prototype evaluation, line trials, and materials testing typically require on-site presence. About 26% of packaging engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in specification writing, supplier qualification, and project coordination work that can be done away from the production floor.
How can I get hired as a packaging engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is an internship or co-op secured during a packaging science or engineering program, particularly through Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's industry-connected curriculum. Large California food and consumer goods manufacturers such as Gallo and McCormick run structured new-graduate rotational programs, and many life sciences companies hire entry-level packaging associates who move into engineer roles after learning validation and compliance workflows. Candidates without a packaging-specific degree can also transition from adjacent roles in manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, or industrial design, especially with an Institute of Packaging Professionals certification.
Where can I find and apply to packaging engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to packaging engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.
See All 82 Packaging Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Packaging Engineer Jobs