Necessaire Inc Packaging Engineer (Beauty) - Independent Contractor New York, NY · Contractor Company website

Nécessaire is looking for an independent packaging engineer to take on the hands-on technical work behind our launch calendar and two new pump platforms (airless and atmospheric). That means evaluating vendor samples at each tooling gate, running functional and compatibility testing, attending PPS reviews, first-article checks and line trials, and writing the specifications and fill/assembly instructions our contract manufacturers build from. You will work to deliverables, milestones and acceptance criteria agreed with Nécessaire, and you will run the work your way: your own methods, test setups, sequencing and schedule. Nécessaire keeps strategy, vendor selection and commercial decisions. You bring the technical findings and recommendations those decisions depend on. This suits a packaging engineer who can pick up programs mid-stream and keep them moving to agreed milestones with minimal oversight.

About Necessaire Inc

Necessaire believes in less, but better.

At Necessaire we design personal care – The Necessary (™) – that supports our health and wellness. We use our business to make a positive environmental impact everywhere we can. Necessaire is a Certified B Corp, Certified Climate Neutral, Certified Plastic Neutral, How2Recycle Verified and a 1% For The Planet Member.

Description

1. Sample Evaluation & Validation Testing

Catch fit, function and cosmetic issues at the sample stage, while they’re still cheap to fix.

  • Evaluate vendor samples at each gate (T1 / T2 / T3 and beyond) for fit, function and cosmetic quality against specification, with written findings
  • Run bench functional testing (priming, dosage, actuation force, restitution, seal and leakage) and report results
  • Coordinate formula–packaging compatibility testing with labs and formulation, and track results to completion
  • Issue clear, specific correction lists to suppliers after each sample round


2. Quality Gates

Make sure what reaches the line is what was approved.

  • Conduct PPS / decorated PPS reviews, first article inspections and line trial observations, with a written report for each
  • Review finished-good assembly at the contract manufacturer and report findings ahead of approval
  • Investigate component failures, identify root cause and recommend corrective action


3. Specifications & Drawings

Give suppliers and contract manufacturers one unambiguous source of truth.

  • Review technical drawings, dielines and tolerances against structural specification
  • Write component specifications and standards for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging


4. Assembly & Fill Instructions

Make sure every contract manufacturer quotes and builds from the same inputs.

  • Write per-SKU assembly and fill instructions for contract manufacturers in Nécessaire’s standard format (fill height, orientation, viscosity range, lot code placement, pack-out)
  • Update instructions as launches progress, so CM quotes stay built on the same, unambiguous inputs


5. Platform & Value Engineering Programs

Bring two new pump platforms to launch and find savings without compromising function.

  • Lead the technical workstream on the airless and atmospheric pump programs: sample evaluation, validation tracking and test documentation
  • Test and analyze designated value-engineering projects (material, structure and component changes) and report recommendations
  • Work directly with suppliers on sample corrections and tooling adjustments, coordinated with Nécessaire



Required Qualifications

  • 3-5+ years packaging engineering experience in beauty, personal care, fragrance or CPG
  • Hands-on experience with primary packaging: injection- and blow-molded components, closures, tubes, pumps
  • Working knowledge of secondary packaging: folding cartons, rigid boxes, sets and kits
  • Able to read and mark up technical drawings; solid understanding of dimensional tolerancing
  • Experience running functional and compatibility testing, and documenting results clearly
  • Line trial and contract manufacturer experience
  • Experience working directly with overseas suppliers (Asia and Europe), including across time zones
  • Self-directed; able to manage multiple concurrent workstreams and deliver to agreed milestones
  • Able to contract as an independent professional, individually or through a business entity, with their own insurance and tax responsibilities



Preferred Experience

  • Airless and atmospheric pump systems — sampling, validation and supplier qualification
  • CAD proficiency (SolidWorks or equivalent)
  • Transit testing (ISTA) and e-commerce packaging performance
  • Decoration processes: hot stamp, screen print, metallization, spray
  • Bio-based and recycled resins; sustainability requirements from major retailers
  • Limited edition and collaboration launches on compressed timelines



Salary

$77 - $96 per hour