Job Description

Cold Chain & Packaging Lead Engineer

Location:

Montreal (In-office, with travel to lab facilities)

Job Type:

Full-Time

Reports To:

CTO

About Relocalize

Relocalize is reimagining the food supply chain. Our mission is to decarbonize and decentralize food production by deploying automated, hyperlocal micro-factories that cut food waste, eliminate trucking, and slash CO? emissions. We are a venture-backed clean-tech startup scaling breakthrough automation technology with global impact. By co-locating production and packaging at distribution centers, we aim to make supply chains cleaner, faster, and more resilient.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a hands-on

Cold Chain & Packaging Lead Engineer

who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment. This is not a typical behind-the-scenes R&D role -- you'll be in the thick of it, from designing thermal experiments in our lab to collaborating with sales on ice packs performance tests. You will be the go-to expert for everything cold chain and packaging, driving innovation in how we keep products cold and safe. If you're excited to build something from scratch (literally setting up labs and new processes) and see your ideas directly reduce waste and emissions, this role is for you. You'll work across engineering, operations, and sales, ensuring our cold chain solutions go from concept to reality with speed, precision, and impact.

What You'll Do

Technical Product Manager (TPM):

Leads the development and commercialization of our autonomous, on-site cold-packs product, bridging engineering, operations, and customer needs in collaboration with our CTO and CRO. This role defines product requirements and performance specifications (thermal performance, packaging, automation interfaces, and conditioning standards), coordinates cross-functional teams to design and deliver reliable, food-safe, water-based cold packs, and ensures seamless integration within Relocalize's micro-factory platform. The TPM translates customer and market insights into scalable technical solutions, drives product validation through testing and data, and supports continuous improvement of cost, sustainability, and manufacturability to advance Relocalize's mission of decarbonizing the cold chain.

Cold Pack Science & Design Expert:

Develop and deepen our understanding of cold pack science - including coolant chemistry, thermal performance, and packaging design. Lead experimentation on how different materials, film types, fill compositions, and geometries affect cooling behavior and durability. Build data-backed models to optimize cold pack performance across melt duration, temperature stability, and structural integrity. Partner with suppliers to evaluate new packaging systems, materials and formulations that enhance performance while improving sustainability.

Sustainable Packaging Systems & Process Improvement Expert:

Become our packaging system expert and own the relationships with our packaging technology providers. Lead process engineering initiatives focused on sustainable packaging systems. Evaluate and refine packaging materials, sealing technologies, and production workflows to reduce waste, energy use, and cost. Collaborate with equipment and material suppliers to validate packaging innovations that enhance both performance and sustainability. Partner with the engineering team to standardize best practices across future micro-factory deployments.

Lab Leadership:

Run our in-house labs for thermal testing and packaging durability testing. Design and execute experiments to improve ice production processes and test packaging strength (puncture, drop, and vibration resistance). Analyze results and use data to guide design improvements.

Thermal Performance Testing:

Build and lead a new thermal performance testing lab from the ground up. Select testing equipment, develop protocols in line with industry standards (e.g. ISTA thermal profiles), and conduct thermal chamber tests to verify that our packaging maintains required temperatures (e.g. 4 C for 20+ hours) under various conditions.

Sample Program Ownership:

Coordinate and lead the process of creating and delivering product samples (e.g. frozen cold pack trials or packaged ice samples) for prospective customers.

External Collaboration:

Serve as the primary point of contact for third-party labs and testing facilities.

What You Bring

Education & Background:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or similar), Material Science, Packaging Engineering, or a related field.

Industry Experience:

5+ years of experience in cold pack technology, packaging design/testing, or thermal R&D. Experience in temperature-controlled packaging (for food, pharmaceuticals, or similar) or material science of insulating materials is highly preferred. Startup experience is a strong plus (we love folks who can adapt and wear many hats).

Lab & Technical Skills:

Proven hands-on experience setting up and running laboratory tests for physical products. Comfortable with designing experiments, using lab equipment (thermal chambers, data loggers, etc.), and interpreting data to drive decisions. Familiarity with industry test standards for packaging and thermal performance (e.g. ISTA guidelines for cold-chain shipping tests) is a big advantage. Bonus if you have experience with CAD or packaging design software for prototyping solutions.

Problem-Solving & Ownership:

Natural problem-solver who thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments. You anticipate roadblocks and creatively engineer around them. You take ownership of projects from start to finish, whether it's a new lab setup or an urgent customer request, and you do so with limited resources and time.

Cross-Functional Communication:

Strong communication and collaboration skills. You can talk thermal dynamics with engineers one minute, then distill those concepts for a sales or operations colleague the next. Ability to clearly explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders (and vice versa) is key. You're a team player who can align diverse groups toward a common goal.

Leadership & Mentorship:

While this is initially an individual contributor role, you should be comfortable leading interns or junior team members on projects. You set an example with your work ethic and organization. Experience mentoring others or leading small teams in a lab or project setting is a plus.

Passion & Impact:

A passion for climate action, sustainability, and innovative technology. You care about reducing waste and CO? in supply chains, and you're motivated by the mission of providing sustainable alternatives (e.g. replacing Styrofoam coolers and gel packs with greener solutions). You want your work to make a tangible positive impact on the world.

Why You'll Love Working Here

Autonomy & Ownership:

Work in a startup culture where you have real ownership, autonomy, and visibility. You'll have the freedom to build out your domain and the responsibility to make it happen.

Tangible Impact:

See your work directly reduce food waste and CO? emissions. The innovations you lead in cold chain and packaging will tangibly decarbonize supply chains and improve sustainability, which you can

feel good

about every day.

Growth & Vision:

Grow with a mission-driven company backed by strong partners and investors. You'll be joining at a mid-senior level in a critical domain, with opportunities to shape the future of cold chain technology at Relocalize. As we scale our network of micro-factories across North America, your work will be central to our success - and you'll grow your career in the process.

Join us at Relocalize and help build the future of sustainable cold-chain logistics. If you're ready to

roll up your sleeves

and reinvent how we keep things cold (while saving the planet), we want to hear from you!

Ingenieure Principale - Chaine du Froid & Emballage

Lieu :

Montreal (en presentiel, avec deplacements vers les installations de test)

Type :

Temps plein

Rend compte a :

CTO

A propos de Relocalize

Relocalize repense completement la chaine d'approvisionnement alimentaire. Notre mission :

decarboner et decentraliser la production alimentaire

en deployant des micro-usines automatisees et hyperlocales qui reduisent le gaspillage, eliminent le transport routier et diminuent fortement les emissions de CO?. Nous sommes une start-up cleantech financee par du capital-risque, avec une technologie d'automatisation unique et un impact global. En rapprochant la production et l'emballage des centres de distribution, nous voulons rendre les chaines d'approvisionnement plus propres, plus rapides et plus resilientes.

L'opportunite

Nous recherchons une

Ingenieure Principale Chaine du Froid & Emballage

, orientee terrain et a l'aise dans un environnement entrepreneurial. Ce n'est pas un role de R&D classique : vous serez impliquee dans toutes les phases, de la conception d'experiences thermiques en laboratoire jusqu'aux tests de performance clients pour les packs de froid.

Vous deviendrez

la reference interne

pour tout ce qui touche a la chaine du froid et a l'emballage. Si vous etes motivee a construire des choses from scratch (y compris mettre en place un laboratoire et de nouveaux processus), et si vous voulez voir vos idees reduire concretement les dechets et les emissions, ce poste est pour vous.

Vous collaborez avec l'ingenierie, les operations et les ventes pour transformer nos concepts en solutions reelles -- rapidement, precisement, et avec impact.

Ce que vous ferez

Responsable Technique Produit (RTP)

Piloter le developpement et la commercialisation de notre produit de packs de froid fabriques sur site. Travailler en etroite collaboration avec le CTO et le CRO pour connecter besoins clients, contraintes techniques et capacites de production. Definir les exigences produits : performances thermiques, packaging, interfaces d'automatisation, normes de conditionnement. Coordonner les equipes interfonctionnelles pour livrer des packs de froid fiables et securitaires, integres a la micro-usine Relocalize. Traduire les insights clients et marche en solutions techniques scalables. Diriger la validation produit via tests et donnees. Soutenir l'amelioration continue : couts, durabilite et industrialisation.

Experte Science & Design des Packs de Froid

Developper une comprehension approfondie de la science du pack de froid : chimie du liquide caloporteur, performance thermique, geometrie, materiaux. Concevoir et conduire des experimentations sur : films, materiaux, compositions de remplissage, geometries, resistance mecanique. Construire des modeles bases sur donnees pour optimiser duree de fonte, stabilite thermique et integrite structurelle. Travailler avec les fournisseurs pour evaluer de nouveaux materiaux, systemes d'emballage et formulations plus performants et durables.

Experte en Systemes d'Emballage Durables & Amelioration des Processus

Devenir notre referente pour les systemes d'emballage et gerer la relation avec les fournisseurs de technologie. Mener des projets d'ingenierie de procedes axes sur des systemes d'emballage plus durables. Evaluer et optimiser les materiaux, technologies de scellement et flux de production pour reduire dechets, energie et couts. Collaborer avec les fournisseurs d'equipement et de materiaux pour valider de nouvelles innovations. Standardiser les meilleures pratiques pour les deploiements futurs de micro-usines.

Direction du Laboratoire

Diriger les tests internes : performances thermiques et durabilite des emballages (perforation, chute, vibration). Concevoir et executer des plans d'experiences pour ameliorer les processus de production de glace et valider la resistance des emballages. Analyser les resultats et orienter les ameliorations de design.

Creation d'un nouveau laboratoire de performance thermique

Mettre en place un laboratoire thermique complet. Selectionner les equipements. Developper des protocoles conformes aux normes (ex : profils thermiques ISTA). Mener des tests en chambre thermique pour valider le maintien des temperatures requises (ex : 4 C pendant 20+ heures).

Responsable du programme d'echantillons

Organiser et diriger la creation et l'envoi d'echantillons (packs de froid congeles, echantillons de sacs de glace) pour les clients potentiels.

Collaboration externe

Etre le point de contact principal pour les laboratoires et centres d'essai partenaires.

Ce que vous apportez

Formation & experience

Bac ou maitrise en ingenierie (mecanique, chimique, materiaux, emballage...) ou domaine connexe. 5+ annees d'experience en packs de froid, design/tests d'emballage ou R&D thermique. Experience en emballage a temperature controlee (alimentaire, pharma...) fortement souhaitee. Experience en start-up : un atout significatif.

Competences techniques & laboratoire

Experience demontree en mise en place et realisation de tests en laboratoire. A l'aise avec la conception d'experiences, les chambres thermiques, enregistreurs de donnees, etc. Connaissance des normes ISTA ou equivalentes : gros plus. Competence en CAO ou design d'emballage : bonus.

Resolution de problemes & ownership

A l'aise dans les environnements rapides, complexes et ambigus. Capable d'anticiper les obstacles et de trouver des solutions creatives. Capable de prendre en charge des projets de A a Z avec des ressources limitees.

Communication interfonctionnelle

Excellente capacite a communiquer des concepts techniques a des publics techniques ou non techniques. Capacite a aligner des equipes variees autour d'un meme objectif.

Leadership & mentorat

A l'aise pour encadrer des juniors ou des stagiaires. Leadership naturel base sur l'exemple, la rigueur et l'organisation.

Passion & impact

Interet marque pour la durabilite, l'action climatique et l'innovation. Motivation a reduire les dechets, les emissions et a remplacer des solutions polluantes (ex : polystyrene, packs gel) par des alternatives durables.

Pourquoi vous allez aimer travailler avec nous

Autonomie & responsabilite

Un environnement start-up ou vous avez de l'impact, de la visibilite et un vrai champ d'action pour construire votre domaine.

Impact concret

Votre travail reduira directement le gaspillage alimentaire et les emissions de CO?. Les innovations que vous menerez auront un impact immediat et tangible sur la chaine du froid.

Croissance & vision

Vous rejoignez un role cle dans une entreprise en forte expansion. A mesure que nous deployons des micro-usines partout en Amerique du Nord, votre contribution sera essentielle -- et votre carriere evoluera avec nous.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

Dental care Extended health care Life insurance On-site parking Paid time off
Application question(s):

Are you willing to provide references who can vet your experience? (Yes/No) This role is in-person at our office. Are you committed to working on-site? (Yes/No) Describe your hands-on experience setting up and running laboratory tests for physical products. Explain your familiarity with industry test standards for packaging and thermal performance (e.g. ISTA guidelines for cold-chain shipping tests)
Experience:

cold pack technology: 5 years (preferred) packaging design/testing: 5 years (preferred) thermal R&D: 5 years (preferred)
Location:

Montreal, QC (preferred)
Work Location: In person