Where Are We Working? A Look at Remote, Hybrid, and On-Site Trends

The question of where we work has become just as important as what we work on. As part of our 2025 Packaging Engineer Career Survey, we asked participants about their current work setups, and the responses revealed some interesting trends across the industry.

The Breakdown: Remote vs. Hybrid vs. On-Site

We found that packaging engineers are working in a variety of environments, but the majority are still spending at least some time on-site. Here’s how it shook out:

• A solid portion of respondents reported hybrid roles, splitting their time between home and the office or lab.

• Fully on-site roles are still common, especially in manufacturing-heavy sectors.

• Remote-only roles remain the least common, but they do exist. Often they are tied to senior positions, consulting, or corporate-level packaging roles.

  
  

Flexibility Varies by Industry

Not all industries are approaching work location the same way:

• CPG and personal care companies are showing the most flexibility, often offering hybrid models that give engineers breathing room for both focus and collaboration.

• Medical device and pharmaceutical companies tend to stick with in-person expectations, due to regulatory requirements and close interaction with equipment and cross-functional teams.

• Food and beverage shows a mixed approach, often tied to whether the packaging team is plant-based or part of a corporate R&D function.

  
  

Engineers Are Adapting

What stood out the most in the comments? Engineers are getting creative. Some talked about setting up home labs to handle certain tasks, others mentioned driving long distances a few days a week just to retain some flexibility. Many expressed that the ability to work from home even once or twice a week is a major factor in job satisfaction.

It’s clear that hybrid is becoming the new normal in packaging, at least for companies that want to stay competitive in recruiting.

What This Means for You

If you're a hiring manager, flexibility could be a key differentiator when attracting top talent; especially for experienced engineers who have already proven they can manage their time and deliver results.

If you're a job seeker, it’s worth asking detailed questions during interviews. “Hybrid” means something different everywhere, so make sure the expectations align with your lifestyle.

This is just one piece of what we learned from the 2025 survey. In our next post, we’ll be digging into salary trends by experience level. Stay tuned!

— The PackStaff Team