Lead, AI & Automation

About the role

Berlin Packaging is 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. 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. This role leads the charge on AI and automation across the enterprise. You will have direct empowerment to identify, design, and build solutions that drive real operational impact. You are a hands-on technical lead who will architect and deliver intelligent workflows and AI-powered applications. You will partner closely with internal stakeholders to solve business problems through technology. The position requires navigating a complex enterprise environment while delivering production-grade solutions.

Key facts

What you'll do

Architect and develop AI and automation solutions across the enterprise, including intelligent workflows, LLM-powered applications, system integrations, and data pipelines. Evaluate and select the right tools and platforms for each use case, leveraging a broad understanding of the AI and automation landscape. Rapidly prototype solutions, validate them with stakeholders, and iterate based on real-world feedback to ensure business alignment. Own the complete delivery lifecycle, covering requirements gathering, development, testing, deployment, and continuous improvement. Establish architectural standards and engineering practices that ensure solutions are scalable, maintainable, and production-ready. Partner with product leaders to identify and prioritize automation opportunities with clear return on investment. Translate complex business problems into well-scoped technical solutions and execute them with minimal oversight. Communicate project outcomes and roadmaps in business-friendly terms to maintain stakeholder confidence. Provide technical direction and hands-on guidance to a small team of onshore and offshore engineers. Foster a collaborative, high-accountability team environment that balances growth, quality, and delivery velocity. Create documentation, standards, and best practices that keep the team aligned and the codebase healthy.

Requirements

You must have 5+ years of hands-on software development experience, with significant depth in AI, ML, intelligent automation, or related disciplines. You are a proven practitioner with a track record of delivering production AI and automation solutions in complex enterprise environments, not merely proofs of concept. You demonstrate strong proficiency in Python and/or JavaScript/TypeScript, along with fluency in REST APIs, microservices, and cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP. You possess deep hands-on experience with LLM integration, including OpenAI, Anthropic, or Azure OpenAI, and understand prompt engineering and agentic workflow design. You have working knowledge of RPA platforms like UiPath or Power Automate, as well as workflow orchestration tools. You understand enterprise system integration patterns, data pipelines, and API-driven connectivity. You have experience leading or technically directing a small team of engineers, including offshore or distributed team members. You are credible with business stakeholders and can earn trust quickly while explaining technical value in plain language.

Nice to have

Experience in manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, or packaging industries is preferred. Hands-on experience with Power Automate, Azure OpenAI, Salesforce AgentForce, or other enterprise automation platforms is valued. Familiarity with Agile or lightweight delivery frameworks suited to small, fast-moving teams is preferred. Exposure to MLOps practices, including model deployment, versioning, monitoring, and lifecycle management, is a plus. A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience, is preferred.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based at our Chicago office at 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza Suite 440, Chicago, Illinois. This role requires on-site presence. Travel may be required as part of job duties. Employment is contingent on authorization to work in the United States. Candidates must have the right to work in the United States without sponsorship.