Packaging Engineer

Packaging Engineer Location: Sparrows Point, Maryland Schedule: Full-Time | 100% On-Site Facility: 1900 Finishing Mill Road, Suite 100, Sparrows Point, MD 21219 About Arnold Packaging For more than 90 years, our client, Arnold Packaging, has been redefining what packaging can do. More than a traditional distributor, Arnold combines advanced material science, custom engineering, and manufacturing expertise to develop innovative packaging solutions that protect products, streamline operations, and improve customer profitability. From heavy-duty wood crates and skids to high-performance corrugated packaging, proprietary solutions like ECORRCRATE™, and precision-engineered foam cushioning, Arnold transforms complex packaging challenges into practical, high-performance solutions. Join a company with a long-standing reputation for quality, innovation, and customer partnership - and help shape the next generation of industrial packaging solutions. The Opportunity Arnold Packaging is seeking an innovative, detail-oriented Packaging Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of custom packaging solutions across its wood and corrugated manufacturing operations. Based at Arnold’s modern facility at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, this role offers the opportunity to take projects from concept to production, combining technical design expertise with hands-on manufacturing collaboration. You’ll work closely with sales, customer service, and production teams to turn customer requirements into durable, cost-effective, and sustainable packaging solutions. Your work will directly impact product protection, shipping efficiency, material utilization, and overall customer value. From engineering custom crates for demanding industrial applications to developing packaging that meets stringent military and export requirements, you’ll tackle challenges where precision, creativity, and practical problem-solving matter. What You’ll Do Custom Packaging Design & Prototyping

• Design and develop custom wood containers, crates, skids, and single-, double-, and triple-wall corrugated packaging, including cross-laminated solutions such as ECORRCRATE™.
• Create detailed 2D and 3D designs, prototypes, layouts, and technical drawings for customer approval and manufacturing execution.
• Translate unique customer requirements into functional packaging designs that balance protection, durability, manufacturability, and cost.

Engineering & Material Optimization

• Evaluate product dimensions, weight, fragility, handling requirements, and transportation conditions to determine the best packaging approach.
• Engineer custom blocking, bracing, cushioning, and foam inserts to protect products throughout storage, handling, and shipment.
• Identify opportunities to reduce material waste, shipping weight, dimensional weight, and total cost of ownership without compromising performance.
• Explore innovative materials and structural designs that improve packaging efficiency and sustainability.

Testing, Compliance & Quality

• Ensure packaging designs meet applicable ISPM-15 export regulations, military specifications (MIL-SPEC), and relevant industrial requirements.
• Conduct or coordinate performance testing, including drop, compression, and shock testing, to validate packaging integrity and product protection.
• Troubleshoot design or performance issues and implement improvements that support quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction.

Manufacturing & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the technical resource connecting engineering design with the realities of wood and corrugated manufacturing.
• Partner with production teams to ensure designs are practical, efficient, and ready for the shop floor.
• Collaborate with technical sales and customer service teams to understand customer challenges, participate in consultations, and recommend effective packaging solutions.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance production processes, product quality, and overall packaging performance.

What You’ll Bring Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in structural packaging design, preferably within industrial packaging or a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on knowledge of both corrugated and wood packaging design and manufacturing processes.

Technical Expertise

• Proficiency with structural design software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Pallet/Crate Design System, or comparable CAD and palletization tools, including CAPE or TOPS.
• Strong understanding of packaging materials, including corrugated flute structures, lumber grades, heat-treatment standards, and protective foams.
• Familiarity with ISTA testing procedures, ISPM-15 export standards, and MIL-SPEC requirements is a plus.

The Qualities That Set You Apart

• A creative, analytical approach to solving complex packaging challenges.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with customers, sales professionals, engineers, and manufacturing teams.
• A practical, hands-on mindset with an appreciation for how designs translate into real-world production.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, adapt to changing needs, and thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Why Join Arnold Packaging?

• Make a tangible impact: Develop solutions that protect valuable products, improve shipping performance, and help customers operate more efficiently.
• Bring your ideas to life: See your designs move from concept and prototype to the manufacturing floor and final application.
• Work with an experienced team: Collaborate with professionals who understand the importance of quality, innovation, and customer partnership.
• Build with a stable, growing company: Join a family-oriented organization with more than 90 years of industry experience and a commitment to continued growth.
• Enjoy a competitive package: Receive a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Ready to Engineer What’s Next? If you enjoy solving challenging engineering problems, designing smarter packaging, and seeing your work make a real-world difference, Arnold Packaging offers an opportunity to put your expertise to work. Bring your creativity, technical knowledge, and problem-solving skills to a team that builds packaging solutions beyond the ordinary.