Manager, Design Engineering

TOPPAN Packaging Americas specializes in designing and manufacturing sustainable, high-performance flexible and thermoformed packaging solutions for the food, beverage, medical and consumer goods industries. We offer products like transparent high barrier films, pouches, clamshells and trays, utilizing advanced technology to enhance product safety, visibility and environmental sustainability.

TOPPAN Packaging Americas operates as part of the global TOPPAN group, with 22 manufacturing facilities across North America, Latin America and Europe.

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Description:

Reporting to the Vice President/General Manager, this role is responsible for leading and managing the Design Engineering function supporting thermoformed medical packaging solutions. The position integrates engineering design resources into a cohesive, high-performing team focused on product development, package design, tooling, and commercialization execution.

This leader will drive innovation, ensure regulatory-conscious design practices, and deliver speed-to-market, cost-effective, and customer-centric packaging solutions that meet the stringent requirements of the medical device and healthcare industries.

What you’ll be doing :

Team Leadership & Organizational Development Build, lead, and develop a high-performance Design Engineering team specializing in thermoformed medical packaging.

Create a clear vision and strategic roadmap for the evolution of the department aligned with business growth objectives.

Foster a safe, compliant, and inclusive work environment, ensuring adherence to all safety and quality standards.

Lead talent development through coaching, performance management, training, and succession planning.

Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across locations and cross-functional teams.

Product Development & Design Engineering Lead the end-to-end design and development of thermoformed medical packaging solutions, including trays, blisters, and related components.

Drive innovative packaging concepts while optimizing existing designs for manufacturability, cost, and performance.

Oversee design execution using CAD tools (e.g., Solid Works) and other engineering technologies.

Provide expertise in concept development through 3D modeling, renderings, and prototyping. Reverse engineering and 3D scanning

Ensure designs meet regulatory, sterilization, and material compatibility requirements for medical applications.

Tooling & Vendor Management Manage tooling development process, including mold design and thermoforming tooling suppliers.

Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to accelerate development timelines and resolve technical issues.

New Business Commercialization Lead the transformation of the team toward a project management–driven organization, enabling effective execution of new product commercialization.

Partner with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Sales & Marketing, Regulatory, and Supply Chain) to ensure seamless project execution.

Translate customer and market requirements into technical solutions and actionable development plans.

Operational & Technical Excellence Drive continuous improvement in design processes, systems, and interdepartmental communication.

Maintain responsibility for departmental equipment, software, and technical capabilities, recommending upgrades as needed.

Stay current on thermoforming technologies, materials innovation, and medical packaging trends.

Oversee engineering documentation, change control processes, and design standards compliance.

Optimize resource allocation to balance speed, cost, and quality objectives.

Facilitate and drive Toppan's Global Performance System (GPS) in the design engineering area

This is an onsite position located out of Huntley, IL Facility We’d love to hear from you if:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Packaging Science, or Industrial Design.

Minimum 5+ years of experience in thermoforming or closely related plastics manufacturing environments.

Strong experience in:

Medical packaging design and development

Thermoforming processes and tooling

Project management and new product commercialization

Regulatory…