Packaging Engineer

Job Title: Packaging Engineer

Location: Remote, Chicago, IL/Midwest or Central, PA preferred 

Travel: Up to 75% 

Summary:

With minimal supervision from the Manager, the position leads the design and technical development of packaging solutions for new and existing products. This position is responsible for the development of  packaging  materials by working with Project Teams and Vendors to recommend, review, test and identify costs for various packaging design proposals.  The position is responsible for creating detailed specifications and accurate bill of materials for successful packaging implementation.  The position supports production facilities by assisting in issues resolution and optimizing packaging design to ensure peak performance.

The position is expected to manage a mix of low-to-medium complexity commercial projects which require fundamental packaging technology expertise.  As a representative on project teams, the position is expected to advocate the best interests of packaging via sharing of technical knowledge, gathering fact-based data, providing analytics, and implementing solutions which deliver against project scope and expectations.

Major Duties & Key Responsibilities:

Product & Packaging Development/Commercialization

• Collaborate with project initiator to define, understand, and align to project objectives and expectations. 
• Design, review, recommend, and test various packaging design proposals.
• Consider various packaging material substrates and structures in the design of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging to minimize material usage and optimize manufacturing and labor efficiencies, while maintaining product integrity and enhancing retail performance and aesthetics.
• Determine impact of new packaging design on existing and new automation systems at manufacturing locations. 
• Develop design-of-experiments/test methodologies on packaging materials and structures to determine performance attributes best suited to maintain product quality, integrity, and maximize shelf-life while minimizing costs.
• Conduct analytical testing on materials and structures; evaluate and interpret technical data findings and clearly communicate results to stakeholders.
• Coordinate and support equipment trials, line trials, distribution tests, etc. to validate new packaging materials and structural designs
• Recommend best design, align with stakeholders, and execute optimized packaging design solution.
• Contribute to project success through clear written and verbal correspondence and presentations understandable by stakeholders of varying technical & business understanding
• Ensure projects remain on schedule by setting achievable expectations, proactively driving tasks for on-time completion, proactively highlighting potential risks to task completion, timely responses to communications, and actively participating in project team meetings.
• Simultaneously manage multiple projects and prioritize work accordingly to meet established and aligned to timelines and deliverables for each.
• Assess and resolve identified packaging design problems and opportunities (ie. consumer, retail, distribution, manufacturing performance) on existing items.  Work with cross-functional stakeholders to implement design, quality, process, and system improvements as a result of findings to ensure long-term corrective action.

Documentation

• Create and publish robust and accurate specifications which detail critical attributes to ensure consistent material quality and packaging assembly to meet aligned performance requirements.  This includes mechanical drawings, written specifications, and process instructions.
• Provide necessary packaging component mechanical drawings for artwork development and layout.  Approve graphical artwork for correct application to mechanical drawing and critical-to-function attributes (ie. UPC, date code, eyetrack)
• Create, enter and publish accurate packaging bill of materials into the Material Data Management System to enable planning and sourcing of materials, and correct build of the Finished Good Item.
• Publish specifications and bill of materials to meet established timelines and priorities to enable production planning and material order requirements.
• Support creation and review of packaging quality standards and tolerances, and regulator documents.
• Work with Procurement to obtain cost estimates for new packaging materials by providing necessary specifications and information.  Assist in presenting cost estimates for input into business case impact analytics.
• Ensure packaging related risks and key decisions are proactively, timely, visibly, clearly, and thoroughly documented in project team minutes, gate review documentation, on-line project folder/archives, project presentations, and emails.
• Ensure technical reports documenting test results, data, and analytics are appropriately archived in shared data sites/folders, project folder/archives, etc. for easy identification and retrieval.

Packaging Optimization

• Identify and initiate packaging research aimed at decreasing costs, reducing material usage, and improving recyclability while maintaining product & packaging integrity.
• Partner with Procurement on implementation of cost reduction strategies/initiatives.
• Conduct value analysis activities to identify and implement packaging material and structural changes to improve production and labor efficiencies. 
• Review internal and external customer data to understand causation of packaging failure or sub-optimal performance, and develop/implement corrective actions accordingly.
• Identify and drive opportunities to standardize materials to reduce complexity and enable volume leveraged pricing for packaging components

Continuous Self-Development and Improvement

• Develop and maintain a professional knowledge of new and emerging trends in packaging technology.
• Identify areas of opportunity to implement new technologies into packaging solutions.
• Identify individual Global Behavior and ‘Ways of Working’ gaps, develop action plan to close gaps, and actively work to close gaps and strengthen skillsets/behaviors

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities: 

• Possess basic understanding of packaging concepts and principles.
• Fundamental technical knowledge of packaging materials and converting technologies
• Possess mechanical aptitude and ability to understand interrelation of material & equipment
• Ability to design transport simulation tests and interpret results.
• Good critical thinking skills to consider how constraints/changes impact design and functional attributes
• Demonstrated successful problem solving process skills
• Ability to make rational decisions independently and seek assistance as needed for complex matters
• Ability to successfully communicate complex subject matter both verbally and in written form to audiences of varying organizational levels and technical/business understanding with some manager guidance.
• Basic understanding of supply chain operations and cross-functional partner responsibilities
• Able to work collaboratively with others to accomplish a common objective.
• Self-motivated and takes initiative/action with minimal direction
• Ability to successfully and consistently prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Good organizational, time management, and communication skills to meet commitments.
• Strong PC skills; Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint, Cape/Tops, MS Teams, SAP(nice to have)

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: 

BS in Packaging Engineering preferred with 1-3 years of Packaging Development experience.

BS in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related science field with 1-3 years of experience in Packaging Development.