Technician, Materials​/Testing

Posted Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:00 AM

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence.

We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

Position Summary: To provide accurate, credible, timely and cost-effective testing and evaluation. This position supports profitable revenue growth for our plants by addressing Customer requirements for performance evaluation, and similarly supports the ongoing evolution of PCA’s product offerings through development projects.

Dimensions: This individual will be one of a team in the TDSQ labs supporting customer and product development efforts across the PCA organization. Project work ranges from new paper grade development to onboarding of new large Customers to plant trials to materials evaluations for Customers and prospects. Lab activities provide over $2.5MM/yr in testing services and an order of magnitude more financial impact to the company.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Provide accurate, effective, quick response testing, evaluation and reporting. Develop and implement test plans and testing process, including:
  • Source, log, track, prepare, condition and assemble test specimens.
  • Analyze and summarize data, complete reporting of results with a high level of integrity.
  • Reporting with value-added conclusions and suggestions to improve, optimize, or remedy the problem that generated the request.
• Support the accuracy and functionality of TDS lab facilities, including routine cleaning, preventive maintenance, and minor repairs of equipment as well as participation in internal calibration and verification (internal/external) programs.
  • Proficient operation of all equipment in the PCA's TDS Labs, following relevant TAPPI/ASTM/ISTA standards.
  • Operate and maintain data collection systems, participating in collaborative testing work.
• Familiarity with operations of test equipment in primary lab area
  • Chaperone customer-focused testing efforts in key operational area of the tech labs, with an emphasis on addressing customer requests.
  • Involvement in customer validation programs and special projects designed to grow our fundamental knowledge base.
  • Work with contract and co-op staff that periodically join the lab on a temporary basis.
  • Participate in the test method review process.
• Work safely both on site and off; encourage contractors/students in safe operation of all lab equipment and support lab safety culture and site safety goals.
• Responsible for knowing and following policies and procedures of the company; for sharing information that would benefit other members of the team; and for finding ways to improve the delivery of service to our Customers.
• Continually strive to strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectation for Customers. This includes supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service which involves doing what’s right for our Customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.

Decision Making: The Technician is expected to work under close supervision, typically reporting to the Sr Manager, Technical Operations and Resources. This position requires a professional able to follow guidance on test protocols, safely executing them in a timely fashion to meet customer needs. The Technician is expected to collaborate with more senior team members as needed in determining the best way to address customer needs and report results.

The individual is expected to take general direction and make decisions on the many details associated with the project or task. The individual is expected to use his/her…