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Engineering Director - Materials Development

Date: Oct 8, 2025

Company: Dart Container

Are you ready to lead innovation in materials engineering and drive commercial impact?

We’re seeking an Engineering Director of Materials Development to lead a team focused on advancing our capabilities in plastics, paper and fiber substrates, with a strong emphasis on commercializing solutions that support our company’s shift toward lightweight, sustainable packaging.

What You’ll Do

+ Create a strategic vision for the materials development engineering and R&D team, in collaboration with executive leadership.

+ Lead a team of managers and individual contributors in the Materials Engineering group, currently strong in fiber, and help build expertise in plastics and paper.

+ Build strategic relationships with functional partners and customers including suppliers and vendors to drive innovation aligned with an 18-36 month roadmap, streamlining projects and identifying opportunities for OSVs (outside service vendors).

+ Present and explain proposals, reports, or findings to internal and external audiences

+ Champion commercial leadership—ensuring engineering efforts are focused on business impact, not research for research’s sake.

+ Foster a culture of cross-training and connection between the immediate team's goals to company-wide success.

What You'll Bring

+ Bachelor’s in engineering, business, or related field with 8+ years of engineering experience inclusing 7+ years of people leadership experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

+ Proven success in successfully contributing to the commercialization of engineered products and leading complex projects from concept to production.

+ Strong understanding of plastics engineering, materials science, and manufacturing processes.

+ Ability to lead and inspire a team with diverse technical backgrounds (chemical, process, etc.).

+ Strategic thinker with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

+ Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a subject matter expert team driving real change in the packaging industry. This is a chance to shape the future of materials innovation, optimize team performance, and make a measurable impact on our business.

Overview: Dart makes everyday products that give people the freedom to enjoy the food & drinks they love, wherever they are. From to-go containers and dinnerware to tamper-evident food packaging and even the red SOLO cup, Dart products have been keeping people on the go and having fun for 65 years. We’re a family-owned, family-focused company of 12,000 employees united by a shared set of values and dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. Headquartered in Mason, MI, with 30 locations in three countries, we’re proud of our ability to innovate, manufacture and lead the way with each new generation of quality products.

Benefits: Dart Container full-time employees enjoy great benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company matching contributions, paid vacation, paid holidays, short-term disability, tuition assistance, product discounts and more.

Dart Container is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are subject to a drug test (excluding THC*/marijuana/cannabis) and background check at the time of offer.

*THC testing ONLY when such testing is required by law.

Dart Container is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all candidates for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

https://www.dartcontainer.com/eeoaa/

If you have a disability and need an accommodation to access this website or for the application process, you should call Dart at (800) 545-3278 Ext 3370 or email us at [email protected]. Relay calls can be made by dialing 711 or the relay number for your state.

If you experience difficulty applying online, you may call (800) 545-3278 Ext 3390 or email us at [email protected] for assistance.

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