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Milk Makeup

Packaging Engineer

Hybrid

New york, United states

$ 135,000 /year

Freelance

18-02-2026

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Skills

Creativity Merchandising Marketing Project Management

Job Specifications

Welcome to the MILK MAKEUP FAM:

At Milk Makeup, we’re all about cool clean beauty fueled by creativity. Born out of Milk, a creative hub in downtown New York City, innovation, self-expression, and community are at the heart of everything we do. We believe beauty isn’t about how you do your makeup, it’s what you do in it—and how you Live Your Look—that matters.

The Role:

The Packaging Engineer will be responsible for leading primary packaging innovation, sourcing, development, and execution to market for the entire Milk Makeup product pipeline/portfolio across all beauty categories. This individual will establish and execute the company’s overall strategies to drive package-related innovation in new product development, the redesign/upgrade of existing products, sustainability, as well as productivity initiatives. As the leader of the packaging function, this individual role will leverage their engineering skills and creative thinking in identifying and developing package solutions that meet project/business needs, striking a balance of being innovative, timely, cost efficient and environmentally conscious. This person must work within multi-functional teams to develop new products to market as quickly as possible, managing the creative and marketing inputs as well as supply chain requirements for cost, quality and supplier responsiveness, all within a managed timeline and cost objective.

This role will represent primary packaging in cross-functional initiatives taking projects from conception to post-commercialization, working closely with Product Development, Marketing, Creative, Merchandising, Regulatory Affairs, Production, third party manufacturers and testing labs, etc. and will report into the SVP of Product Development and Packaging.

This is a 6-month contract position.

What YOU’ll do:

Responsible for establishing, driving, and executing Milk Makeup’s overall strategy for primary packaging innovation, sourcing, custom packaging development, redesign, cost efficiency, sustainability, testing, productivity, and reorder quantity qualification.
Responsible for leading, developing, and executing primary packaging initiatives across all beauty categories from ideation to market for Milk Makeup and delivering within specified budgets and timelines.
Drive projects with full ownership both externally and with internal cross-functional parties to ensure all steps of the timeline are met
Leads all primary packaging inquiries, sourcing initiatives, project start-ups, price quote requests, and identifying time lines, etc. with suppliers
Own costing budget for primary packaging as it is related to the COG per product
Responsible for acquiring price quotes for all custom primary packaging tooling, lab testing, primary packaging, samples, models etc.
Responsible for creating primary packaging briefs stating decoration specs, price target, quantity, performance specs, photo for reference, competitive benchmarks for reference, design description to send to all suppliers for sourcing
Leads repackaging design, improvement, testing and sustainability development initiatives
Responsible for passing primary packaging price quotes, testing invoices etc. to Head of Purchasing in order to send purchase orders within project time line along with specified quantity, timing, and product information
Monitors and leverages emerging technology/consumer/market trends in the packaging space, staying ahead of competition
Attends packaging trade shows to meet with new suppliers and review new packaging innovation and technologies
Researches innovative suppliers and their offerings that align with our new product pipeline
Cultivates strong partnerships with suppliers to consistently review new packaging innovation technology, formats, improvements in functionality, cost efficiencies, timing efficiencies, and sustainability to stay ahead of competition.
Responsible for sourcing multiple viable, innovative, sustainable primary packaging options for all product concepts in the Milk Makeup product pipeline to review with/present to Product Development and Product Design that are within budget, timeline, and MOQ/reorder requirements
Initiate and lead monthly packaging innovation meetings with Product Design and Product Development teams to show new vendor presentations to drive inspiration for new formats, technologies, sustainability etc. as well as sharing new product launches or competitive packaging inspiration that relates to the Milk Makeup product pipe line.
Seek out and translate consumer insights into product/package requirements. Develop packaging that aims to deliver an optimal user experience
Work cross-functionally with Product Development, Product Design, Production, Project Management, Merchandising, Regulatory, and Marketing teams to define packaging function and design requirements as well as objectives.
Responsible for ensuring the function and optimal user experience of all primary packaging with formula after revie

About the Company

Driven by creativity and designed by industry insiders, Milk Makeup is inspired by our home; Milk. A cultural hub in NY and LA, that sits at the crossroads of fashion, music, photography, art and film. A place where trends are born and a platform for the next generation. Milk Makeup is fun, eco-conscious and cool. Our multifunctional, high-tech formulas are built for the girl on the go who spends less time getting done up, more time getting stuff done. Know more