Applications Engineer Co-op

What will you do as a Co-op – Combined Packaging & Food Science (Spring 2026) at Sealed Air?

We are excited to offer a spring position (Jan-May 2026) to highly motivated students currently pursuing a degree in packaging science, food science, or meat science. This role will be located on the campus of our Global Headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, within our Research & Development group. This summer program offers applied experience that has a true impact on the business. The program includes an opportunity to present to senior leadership teams, participate in formal training, interact with members of other departments (Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Field Quality, Supply Chain), and participate in campus-wide community service events.

This is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of food processing and packaging processes in the food, medical, and industrial markets. You’ll work in a highly collaborative team environment and will have the ability to have direct influence on active innovation projects. Sealed Air utilizes our internship program as a pipeline for identifying and hiring top talent for full time employment within our R&D team.

Responsibilities

• Apply your area of study to the development of new products and processes at Sealed Air. Products may include multi-layer polymer films, packaging equipment and automation.
• Apply knowledge of packaging requirements for markets including food (dairy, fresh red meat, seafood, smoked& processed protein, etc), medical devices, and industrials.
• Participate in shelf-life studies utilizing analytical methods, microbiology, and food discoloration
• Plan and conduct experiments under the direction of an experienced scientist/engineer
• Analyze results and assist with decision-making for next steps
• Prepare reports and present results at technical meetings
• Opportunity to lead a project including the management of timeline, execution, resources, and a final presentation of results and conclusions.
• Some limited travel may be involved to manufacturing plants or customers.

Qualifications

• Completed at least 2 years towards a bachelor’s degree in packaging science, food science, or meat science
• Strong academic record with 3.0 or higher GPA
• Authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship
• Creative and a strong problem solver
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Good written and verbal communication skills