Lead, AI & Automation 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza Suite 440, Chicago, Illinois

Berlin Packagingis the premier supplier of rigid packaging.With over $3 billion in revenue, we have grown 5x faster than the overall packaging industry since 1898.
Chances are you enjoy products supplied by us every day! We serve virtually every end market: automotive, beverage, food, home care, industrial chemical, pet care and veterinary, personal health and beauty, wine and spirits, and cannabis.
Our engagement scores are 2x the national average, and every employee shares in Berlin's profitable growth.Combined with our "Anything is Possible" mindset and our winning culture, our 2,000+ employees agree, we love it here!
Berlin Packaging has been investing in technology across the enterprise, and this roleleadsthe charge on AI and automation. As our

AI & Automation Lead , you will have direct empowerment toidentify, design, and build solutions that drive real operational impact — spanning intelligent workflows, process automation, and AI-powered applications across the enterprise.
This is a hands-on technical lead role. You will be the primary architect and practitioner, working alongside a small team of onshore and offshore engineers to deliver end-to-end applications toourinternal and external audiences. You set the technical direction, you stay close to the code, and you're accountable for what ships.
The ideal candidate has done this before. You know how to navigate a complex enterprise environment, earn trust quickly, and deliver working solutions that create real business value — without waiting to be told exactly how.
What You'll Do

Design & Build AI-Powered Solutions

Architect and develop AI and automation solutions across the enterprise — from intelligent workflows and LLM-powered applications to system integrations and data pipelines
Evaluate and implement the right tools and platforms for each use case, drawing on a broad command of the AI and automation landscape
Prototype rapidly, validate with stakeholders, and ship — iterating quickly based on real-world feedback
Own the full delivery lifecycle: requirements, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing improvement
Set the architectural standards and engineering practices that ensure solutions are scalable, maintainable, and production-grade
Drive Business Impact

Partner withproductleaders toidentifyand prioritize automation opportunities with clear ROI
Translate business problems into well-scoped technical solutions — and deliver them without heavy oversight
Maintain a forward-looking roadmap that balances near-term wins with longer-term capability building
Communicate outcomes in business terms, keeping stakeholders informed and confident in the work
Lead the Team

Provide technical direction and hands-on guidance to a small team of onshore and offshore engineers
Set clear expectations, review work, and maintain quality and velocity across the team
Foster a collaborative, high-accountability environment where engineers grow and delivery stays on track
Build the documentation, standards, and practices that keep the team aligned and the codebase healthy
Required Qualifications

8+ years of hands-on software development experience, with significant depth in AI/ML, intelligent automation, or related disciplines
A proven practitioner — you have a track record of delivering production AI and automation solutions in complex enterprise environments, not just proofs of concept
Deep hands-on experience with LLM integration (OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure OpenAI, or similar), including prompt engineering and agentic workflow design
Working knowledge of RPA platforms (UiPath, Power Automate, or similar) and workflow orchestration tools
Strong grasp of enterprise system integration patterns, data pipelines, and API-driven connectivity
Experience leading or technically directing a small team of engineers, including offshore or distributed team members
Credible with business stakeholders; able to earn trust quickly and communicate the value of technical work in plain language
Preferred Qualifications

Experience in manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, or packaging industries
Hands-on experiencewith Power Automate, Azure OpenAI, SalesforceAgentForce, or other enterprise platforms in an automation/AI context
Familiarity with Agile or lightweight delivery frameworks suited to small, fast-moving teams
Exposure to MLOps practices: model deployment, versioning, monitoring, and lifecycle management
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
This position is not eligible for employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future. This includes, without limitation, H-1B and other work visas, OPT/CPT STEM extensions, and green card (PERM/I-140) sponsorship, regardless of whether a green card process has already begun with a different employer. Candidates must have independent, unrestricted authorization to work in the United States for the full duration of employment.
IL Base Pay Range
$110,000 - $130,000 USD
Berlin Packaging offers an outstanding compensation and benefits package including:
Competitive PTO including vacation, personal days, holidays, and sick time
1Berlin Shared Ownership Plan
Profit sharing
401(k) with company match
Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for transportation, medical, and dependent care expenses
Paid parental leave for up to 12weeks
529 college savings plan
Employee Assistance Program for mental health and well-being
Calm app to improve mental wellbeing
Employee referral program
Company sponsored short- and long-term disability and life insurance with optional voluntary life insurance
At Berlin Packaging, we look at candidates' skills but hire based on traits . We believe in hiring smart, passionate people who are enthusiastic to learn and develop their skills. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Berlin Packaging provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.
Visit our Careers page for more information on our Anything is Possible culture and Total Rewards.

*Note: any salary information shared is a general guideline only. Pay is based on candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
*This position is not eligible for employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future. This includes, without limitation, H-1B and other work visas, OPT/CPT STEM extensions, and green card (PERM/I-140) sponsorship, regardless of whether a green card process has already begun with a different employer. Candidates must have independent, unrestricted authorization to work in the United States for the full duration of employment.

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