Senior Packaging Engineer & Category Manager
Wonder
About Us
Everything’s on the menu at Wonder. Except compromise.
The Wonder app is the premiere platform to feed every craving, all in one order. Our 25+ award-winning restaurant partners span every cuisine you can think of, from Greek to Thai, and come from the minds of the best chefs in the industry—Bobby Flay, José Andrés, Marcus Samuelsson, and more.
And our diners don’t have to choose just one: they can mix and match dishes from as many Made by Wonder restaurants as they’d like, or order from neighborhood gems near them. Everything is made to order at our brick-and-mortar locations across the East Coast and delivered fast and free, and more locations are opening every week.
The best in the business are coming to Wonder, working every day to make us the destination for every mealtime moment. Join a team of technology, culinary, and logistics pioneers, backed by top-tier venture capitalists, and help us make great food more accessible.
About the role
The Senior Packaging Engineer and Category Manager is responsible for leading the strategy, design, sourcing, and optimization of food packaging solutions that deliver functionality, sustainability, and operational excellence across a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) network. This role integrates category strategy development, supplier management, and cost optimization to ensure packaging aligns with brand, quality, safety, and regulatory standards while driving efficiency throughout the supply chain.
Key responsibilities include:
Develop and execute the overall packaging category strategy, aligning material specifications, design platforms, and sourcing approaches with business goals and sustainability targets.
Lead packaging innovation projects from concept through commercialization, ensuring alignment with brand, marketing, operations, and supply chain priorities.
Vet and qualify suppliers, assessing technical capability, compliance history, financial stability, and sustainability performance.
Partner with Procurement to lead cost modeling, negotiation, and contract development to secure optimal value, quality, and continuity of supply.
Ensure regulatory compliance with all applicable food contact, labeling, and environmental regulations, maintaining awareness of evolving national and international standards.
Drive form factor consolidation and optimization, reducing complexity, improving operational efficiency, and leveraging scale across product lines and markets.
Design, test, and validate packaging that maintains food integrity, temperature, and quality across dine-in, takeout, delivery, and drive-thru channels.
Develop and implement performance testing protocols covering transportation, shelf life, food safety, and consumer usability.
Lead sustainability initiatives focused on material reduction, recyclability, compostability, and alignment with corporate ESG goals.
Collaborate with cross-functional partners in R&D, Operations, Marketing, QA, and Supply Chain to balance innovation, functionality, and cost.
Support global packaging standardization, documentation, and specification management.
Monitor emerging materials, regulations, and technologies to identify opportunities for competitive advantage.
Provide technical guidance to resolve packaging issues in manufacturing, logistics, and restaurant operations.
Promote continuous improvement in packaging development and supplier management processes.
The experience you have
Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
7+ years of packaging engineering experience, with at least 3 years in QSR, foodservice, or CPG packaging.
Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies and manage supplier relationships from qualification through performance evaluation.
Experience with cost analysis, negotiation, and contract execution for packaging materials and services.
Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance for food contact packaging, including FDA/USDA and global requirements.
Expertise in packaging materials (paper, plastics, fiber, compostable/biodegradable substrates) and processes (forming, sealing, printing, laminating).
Skilled in packaging performance testing (ISTA, ASTM, or equivalent).
Proficiency in design and analysis tools (ArtiosCAD, TOPS, Cape Pack, or similar).
The way you work
You have demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects from concept through commercialization.
You exhibit strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
You have experience with sustainable packaging design and lifecycle assessment preferred.
You have a solid understanding of QSR operations and customer experience drivers.
Base Salary: $149,000 - $157,000 per year.
Wonder uses geographic-specific salary structures, which means the salary offered may vary depending on where the job is located. The final salary offer will take into account various factors, such as the candidate's skills, education, training, credentials, and experience.
Our hybrid model requires 3 days a week in the office. That said, many team members choose to come in more often to take advantage of in-person collaboration and connection. You're welcome—and encouraged—to be in the office up to 5 days a week if it works for you.
#LI-Hybrid
Benefits
We offer a competitive salary package including equity and 401K. Additionally, we provide multiple medical, dental, and vision plans to meet all of our employees' needs as well as many benefits and perks that are not listed.
A final note
At Wonder, we believe that in order to build the best team, we must hire using an objective lens. We are committed to fair hiring practices where we hire people for their potential and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As such, we do not discriminate or make decisions based on your race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, marital status, disability, or any other protected class. If you have a disability, please let your recruiter know how we can make your interview process work best for you.
We look forward to hearing from you! We'll contact you via email or text to schedule interviews and share information about your candidacy.