Product Development Engineer - Thermoforming

Product Development Engineer - Thermoforming

Location:

Neenah, US;
Deerfield, US

Department: R&D/Innovation Management

Job Type: Employee, Full-time, On site

As a member of AFNA's R&D team, you will support new product launches for thermoformed products across the MPS, GCI, Liquid & Dairy business segments. The purpose of this role is to manage new product introductions from the idea/prototype phase through production tool commercialization. This role works closely with account managers, marketing, product management, external design engineers, external tool engineers & mold shops, process engineers, production team members, and quality in the early phases of product development.

This role is customer-facing, providing direct support to the commercial team. This role is accountable for delivering new thermoforming development projects, monitoring progress, communicating internally and externally regarding key deliverables, and proactively addressing issues.

• Demonstrate Amcor's values of Safety, Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability and Results & Out performance in your work.
• Conduct design reviews where you will identify and translate abstract customer needs into defined CTQ's and provide input on part features to improve the manufacturability of the parts.
• Lead new commercial tool introductions and oversee the process from start to finish on schedule through a stage gate process.
• Lead process development of the thermoforming operation through parameter optimization, DOE experiments, and trials that will lead to a robust and repeatable process for new product tools at both Amcor & co‑manufacturing sites.
• Select vendors to fabricate the tooling and sign‑off for acceptance of tooling.
• Work closely with production and quality on initial tool debugging, followed by process validation and establishing the optimal forming/trimming window and setting processing specifications.
• Work closely with engineering, sales, quality, and operations to ensure parts meet customer specifications.
• Provide expertise and recommendations on manufacturing equipment needed to support the current business and enable capability for future growth.
• Originate innovative ideas to support the R&D product innovation and technology strategy.
• Manage competing priorities while working on customer‑specific projects, platforms initiated by Amcor, cost take‑out (CTO) initiatives and long‑term product and process innovations.

• A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field is preferred.
• Thermoforming, part design and/or mold‑making experience is preferred.
• 5+ years of industry experience in plastics manufacturing & processing (i.e., extrusion, thermoforming, and tooling).
• Strong problem‑solving, critical thinking skills & attention to detail.
• 30-50% travel – mostly domestic – to customer, Amcor & co‑manufacturing sites.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment with proven results leading capital projects working with OEMs and suppliers.