Packaging Engineering Intern, Food Innovation Team
Taco Bell Corp.
Irvine, CA
02.2026 - 08.2026
- Managed 5-10 concurrent packaging projects across 6+ SKUs spanning sustainability, cost savings, product innovation, and international initiatives while developing expertise across 40+ packaging SKUs and supporting commercialization efforts in U.S. Global markets.
- Led packaging efforts for 2-3 pillar teams, collaborating with Marketing, Product Development, Operations & Safety, Legal, Procurement, and suppliers to ensure alignment of packaging solutions with business objectives and launch timelines.
- Directed packaging development from concept to execution, creating supplier briefs, evaluating prototypes, analyzing test data, managing timelines, onboarding suppliers, and developing final specifications and technical documentation.
- Led weekly and biweekly meetings with cross-functional stakeholders and suppliers, presenting project updates, testing results, design recommendations, and commercialization risks to teams ranging from 5-20+ contributors and leadership stakeholders.
- Evaluated paper and paperboard packaging substrates including Kraft, SBS, TMP, SUS, clay-coated materials, and specialty structures to balance cost, printability, durability, manufacturability, sustainability, and supply chain requirements.
- Conducted packaging validation through visual inspections, production-run sample reviews, leak testing, grease resistance testing, and performance evaluations to ensure compliance with quality and functional requirements.
- Collaborated with packaging suppliers and Clear Packaging to review specifications, assess performance, interpret testing results, and support qualification of new and existing packaging systems.
- Visited supplier manufacturing facilities to gain hands-on understanding of converting, printing, and production processes for paper cups, bowls, carryout bags, and pinch-bottom packaging systems, strengthening packaging design and manufacturing knowledge.