Packaging Engineer

Position Description

Reporting to the Director of Engineering, the Engineer Packaging is responsible for developing, testing, and evaluating new and existing pallet loads, as well as secondary and tertiary packaging systems. This role ensures design compatibility, machinability, and shipping distribution efficiency. The engineer collaborates with external vendors, engineering, purchasing, commercial, and operations leadership to drive packaging solutions from functional prototype to full operational implementation, meeting quality, functionality, manufacturing performance, and cost objectives.

• Participates in weekly project review meetings and delivers technical outputs such as specification evaluations, test protocols, test results, die‑line approvals, and specification sign‑offs.
• Updates and maintains packaging quality systems and specifications.
• Manages multiple assignments concurrently with moderate supervision.
• Drives projects from initiation to completion, documenting each phase and ensuring successful closure.
• Serves as the Project Packaging Engineer, primarily focused on primary and secondary packaging.
• Interacts with commercial, manufacturing, product development, equipment engineering, graphics, and shipping/transportation personnel to optimize package design and development efforts.
• Troubleshoot new and existing packaging problems involving designs, materials and processes and provide creative, timely, and cost‑effective solutions.
• Initiates cost reduction projects and cost avoidance opportunities that include packaging redesign initiatives, package component consolidation, and production line efficiencies.
• Liaison and communication with Commercial Account Managers, Purchasing Managers and suppliers to obtain an adequate customer packaging brief that can be communicated internally.
• Coordinate packaging qualification tests with program manager, suppliers, plants and quality to gain cross‑functional alignment on project scope, trial requirements, approval, critical paths, budget, and trial results and findings.
• Coordinate with purchasing and Program Managers the procurement of materials to meet the critical path.
• Schedule, support and perform experimental trials and tests as required and document procedures and results.
• Accompany sales personnel to meet with customer personnel concerning packaging or damage problems.
• Daily support of ACE workflow, packaging inquiries, creating pallet specifications, completing customer packaging data sheets within 48 hours of request or prior agreement. Assists in developing Bills of Materials and cost analysis.
• Quarterly validate accuracy of plant capability and packaging specification databases.
• Analyze packaging engineering drawings and material specifications to assess physical characteristics, handling requirements, and environmental and safety requirements.
• Prototype packaging and models using appropriate materials: flexible, corrugated and folding carton manufacturing, plastic film and pressure‑sensitive labels, and other materials as appropriate.
• Consult with company’s counsel to determine any product patent or liability impact of new designs.
• Interview suppliers of packaging materials and, in consort with purchasing manager, select most appropriate materials for use.
• Attend professional activities and events to acquire and expand expertise to keep current and advise on emerging trends in packaging technologies, and environmental/regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain an innovation portfolio of packaging concepts and prototypes. Organize, catalog and maintain an up‑to‑date inventory of packaging materials and supplies in support of Package Development programs.
• Develop and execute processes for maintaining packaging specification database documentation including package component specifications, pallet configurations.
• Develop and execute packaging procedures including the Packaging change management process activities and interdepartmental packaging processes.
• Compile weekly reports on the status of key projects and communicate to stakeholders.

• Ability to understand the full life cycle of employee data from initial input to…