Engineer - CB3 - NM

About the role

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers' products - whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals - and add dimension and beauty with colourful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.

Axalta Coating Systems is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Packaging Engineer to join our Raw Material Technology team at our Global Innovation Center in Philadelphia, PA.

The Packaging Engineer is responsible for managing Axalta's finished product packaging offerings including packaging materials, EH&S requirements, global regulatory requirements, cost optimization efforts, packaging consolidation and associated process related improvements that support business and customer needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate and qualify new packaging (e.g., corrugated, cans, bottles, drums, IBCs, labels, pails, etc.) to support both waterborne and solventborne coating products, considering supply chain stability, costs, operations and potential supply gaps
• Collaborate with procurement, process technology, operations, product stewardship and regulatory teams to integrate new packaging into current product lines and assess their impact on product performance and customer satisfaction
• Collaborate with process technology and operations teams to scale-up and implement new packaging materials in manufacturing.
• Design and execute experiments and testing protocols that probe critical-to-quality packaging characteristics for finished product interactions and compatibility.
• Develop and maintain packaging specifications, qualification protocols, and technical documentation.
• Partner with suppliers to assess new technologies and drive packaging innovation.
• Support troubleshooting and root cause analysis of packaging-related issues in manufacturing or customer applications.
• Stay current with industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies.
• Collaborate with global business teams to align packaging strategies with market needs and business objectives.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field, advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of experience in packaging, packaging coatings, or related industries
• Strong understanding of packaging attributes and their influence on performance.
• Hands-on experience with analytical techniques (e.g., FTIR, adhesion, XRF, microscopy), familiarity with pack testing, handling and runnability testing of packages.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams.
• Commitment to making safety a priority in all aspects of work.
• Candidate must have a working proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Experimental Designs (DOE) and statistical analyses.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements (UN, DOT, etc.).
• Familiarity with high-throughput screening or digital tools.
• Experience applying data-driven decision making in R&D or technical evaluation processes.

Key Behavioral Competencies

• Share Axalta's values of doing what's right, acting boldly, and winning together.
• A change agent that has successful track record of building strategic relationships with key stakeholders globally.
• Action and results oriented. Attention to details
• Ability to take complex, disparate information and translate into executive summaries.
• Excellent organizational & relationship management skills
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work in a self-directed capacity
• Ability to balance the potentially competing needs of multiple customers in a matrix environment
• Ability to positively influence others, create a passion for excellence, and execute multiple projects while meeting customer expectations

This is an active opening for which we are recruiting to fill immediately.

Axalta operates its business in two segments: Performance Coatings and Mobility Coatings, which serve four end markets, including Refinish, Industrial, Light Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle, across North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Our diverse global footprint allows us to deliver solutions in over 140+ countries and coat 30 million vehicles per year. We've recently set an exciting 2040 carbon neutrality goal, in addition to 10 other sustainability initiatives, and we take pride in working with our customers to optimize their businesses and achieve their goals.