Packaging Engineer

Who We Are:

Fueled by passion, KAYALI was founded in 2018 by beauty mogul and fragrance fanatic, Mona Kattan. Translating to ‘my imagination’ in Arabic, KAYALI provides a modern fragrance experience inspired by Mona’s rich Middle Eastern heritage and the art of layering scents to help you create your mood; where sharing scents is a ritual and smelling good is both an act of goodwill and self-love. Mona collaborates with some of the world’s most renowned perfumers and sources the finest ingredients to create unique juices that are infinitely memorable, long-lasting, and cruelty-free. Each luxurious fragrance is an ode to true craftsmanship and tells a special story, from the addictive notes to the multi-faceted jeweled bottles.

Our Mission
To make everyone feel like the diamond they are! To build a global community of fragrance lovers through the power of scent and by providing them with the most innovative & luxurious fragrances, education and sharing our Middle Eastern fragrance rituals with the world.

Summary

This role supports the upstream packaging design and feasibility agenda, working under the guidance of the Assistant Manager of Packaging Design & Innovation. The Packaging Engineer assists in translating brand and consumer experience requirements into early‑stage packaging concepts, design intent documentation, and feasibility inputs.

You will contribute to concept development, early supplier engagement, sustainability considerations, and cross‑functional coordination through Design Lock, where projects transition to the downstream industrialization team. Success in this role looks like well‑documented, brand‑right packaging concepts that are thoughtfully considered, technically informed, and clearly communicated to enable efficient scale‑up.

Responsibilities

Support upstream packaging concept development, early feasibility inputs, supplier coordination, sustainability considerations, and documentation prior to Design Lock.

Concept Support, Architecture & Design Intent

• Support the translation of brand strategy and consumer experience into packaging concepts, CMF (colour/material/finish) options, and pack architecture proposals under guidance from the Assistant Manager.
• Assist in the creation and maintenance of design intent decks, including form language, ergonomics, usability, and consumer ritual.
• Contribute to concept libraries, benchmarks, rationale documentation, and competitive reviews.
• Support concept co‑development with fragrance and beauty suppliers, including coordination of samples and rapid prototyping (e.g., mock‑ups, 3D prints).
• Prepare early 2D drawings or basic 3D models to help communicate design intent (not final industrial specifications).
• Assist with exploratory work on novel mechanisms, closures, and decorative techniques, escalating IP‑related questions through the Assistant Manager. Early Feasibility (Pre‑Lock)

• Assist in gathering early feasibility inputs from suppliers, including ROM lead times, cost ranges, MOQs, and manufacturability considerations.
• Support lightweight risk assessments by documenting potential risks (e.g., fit, breakage, finish robustness, compatibility) and proposed mitigations.
• Help prepare Design Lock documentation and read‑outs, clearly capturing assumptions and open items for downstream teams. Sustainability Support

• Support the integration of sustainability considerations into early concepts, including recyclability, material reduction, PCR options, and component simplification.
• Assist in compiling upstream sustainability information (material families, decorations, disassembly considerations) to support downstream compliance and reporting work.
• Build foundational understanding of regulatory and claims considerations that influence packaging choices, with guidance from senior team members. Cross‑Functional Coordination (Upstream)

• Support collaboration across Creative, Brand, Consumer Insights, Formulation, and Regulatory teams by tracking feedback, decisions, and actions.
• Assist with preparing materials for design reviews, pre‑reads, and follow‑up documentation through Design Lock.
• Ensure information is clearly documented and shared to support alignment and continuity. Supplier & External Partner Support (Early Stage)

• Assist in coordinating briefs, samples, mood boards, and early A/B concept trials with selected suppliers.
• Maintain trackers for concept options, supplier feedback, pros/cons, and identified risks.
• Support capability mapping across packaging components (glass, pumps/valves/atomizers, metallization, printing, secondary packaging) to build technical knowledge.
• Develop working familiarity with decorative techniques such as metallization, hot‑stamping, silk‑screen, and lacquer. Handover & Documentation

• Support preparation of Design Lock documentation, including design intent, pack architecture, CMF direction, assumptions, and sustainability notes.
• Assist with structured handovers to Downstream Packaging Industrialization teams, ensuring documentation is complete and clearly organized. Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience: Minimum 4 years in packaging engineering, packaging design, or product/industrial design (fragrance/beauty/consumer goods preferred); internships/co‑ops count.
• Technical: Foundational understanding of materials & finishes (glass, plastics, metal, decoration). Basic knowledge of pack components and mechanisms (atomisers, pumps, closures). Familiarity with DFM/DFA principles at a learning or applied level.
• Tools: SolidWorks (or similar 3D), Adobe Dimension, Adobe Illustrator for dielines/visuals, KeyShot (nice to have). Strong Slides/PowerPoint and Sheets/Excel for optioning and trade‑offs.
• Strengths: Aesthetic judgement + feasibility mindset, structured documentation, cross‑functional coordination, clear written & visual communication, curiosity and learning mindset.
• Languages: Excellent English; Arabic, French, or Mandarin a plus. Benefits

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision coverage
• Find your Magic Days
• Volunteer Day
• Birthday Leave
• Egg Freezing Benefits
• Employee discounts on all Kayali products
• Quarterly product gifting

Kayali is committed to building diverse and inclusive teams and upholding an equal employment workplace that is free from discrimination. We hire stellar individuals regardless of their race, color, ancestry, religion, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, medical conditions, disability, or veteran status. If you need reasonable accommodations at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.