Senior Engineer, Packaging Development

We are seeking a Senior Engineer of Packaging Development who brings deep technical expertise in component design and development, thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, ensuring technical excellence and brand alignment. This role will serve as a strategic driver of re-sourcing initiatives, overseeing testing and validation protocols, and partnering cross-functionally to ensure packaging meets ILIA’s standards of performance, sustainability, and aesthetics.

This role is hybrid for candidates located in Los Angeles or New York City and reports into the Senior Director of Packaging.

Responsibilities

• Drive the development of innovative packaging solutions, serving as the technical packaging expert within the organization, with a focus on materials, component engineering, and manufacturability; partnering with external vendors to identify areas for efficiencies. 

• Lead the end-to-end packaging development for portfolio updates, including strategic sourcing initiatives and sustainability repacks, ensuring timely, cost-effective, and brand-aligned execution. 

• Approve and maintain technical drawings, specifications, risk analyses, dimensional evaluations, while providing guidance to junior packaging development team members to foster growth, accountability, and technical expertise.

• Present packaging solutions and business cases to leadership, influencing decision-making with data-driven recommendations.

• Support Senior Director of Packaging to drive continuous improvement in processes, materials, and supplier relationships to maintain ILIA’s leadership in clean beauty packaging.

• Collaborate closely with Quality Assurance to develop and refine packaging related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring packaging consistently meets regulatory, safety, and performance standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related technical field (advanced degree preferred).

• 7+ years of progressive experience in packaging development and management, preferably within the beauty or personal care industry.

• Proven track record of delivering innovative, sustainable packaging solutions at scale.

• Knowledge of global packaging regulations, sustainability certifications, and emerging materials is a plus.

• Strong experience with custom tooling, manufacturing processes, and advanced packaging test methods.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and project management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.

• Demonstrated agility in managing multiple complex projects in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

What we would like to offer...

• Base salary range: $125,000-140,000

• Bonus Opportunity

• Health Benefits - 100% employer-paid medical, dental & vision coverage

• Flex Time Off - No cap on personal time off and paid company holidays

• Seasonal Flex Days - Flexible scheduling to enjoy extra time under the sun during the Spring & Summer season

• Parental Leave - Up to 18 weeks paid parental leave

• 401(k) - Save for your future with a 401(k) with a company match

• Flexibility & Wellness Stipends - Monthly stipends to support remote work & self-care

• Hybrid Work Model - Find your flow, working from home or from our office 

• ILIA Products - Quarterly stipend to replenish your favorite products and try new ones

About ILIA

ILIA makes clean skin-centric beauty. We see skincare and makeup as one and believe that skin should look like skin. With transparency as our guide and color as our vehicle, we challenge the conventions of clean beauty to create something radically new, through safe, groundbreaking formulas that protect + revive the skin. Headquartered in Laguna Beach, California, ILIA brings together a strong group of innovative thinkers, rule-breakers and creative problem solvers. We pave the way forward as the leading clean makeup brand in what is being called the Clean Beauty Revolution. Fast paced growth provides constant learning, collaborative teamwork, and the desire to be the best at what you do. We celebrate taking risks and doing what hasn’t been done before.