Packaging Engineer

Job Details:

Job Location:

Kikkoman Foods Inc HQ and Walworth Plant - Walworth, WI 53184, Job Shift: First Shift

Summary:

The Packaging Technologist is responsible for supporting the Supply Chain department through the lifecycle of packaging development. This includes identifying materials, ensuring environmental policy compliance, overseeing quality testing, and providing technical administrative support. You will act as a key liaison between Purchasing, Warehouse, EH&S, and Production departments to develop, monitor, and optimize packaging solutions that protect product integrity and drive cost efficiency.

• Generate new packaging concepts and maintain rigorous technical material specifications.
• Research and recommend emerging packaging technologies to streamline operations and reduce waste.
• Maintain accurate Technical Documentation, including Bills of Materials (BOM) and artwork databases.
• Provide technical input on the design and standardization of containers and secondary packaging.
• Design and execute trial runs and stress tests to validate packaging durability during transport, storage, and customer handling.
• Track packaging-related defects, document root causes, and implement corrective actions with vendors.
• Authorize returns for defective materials, secure credits, and expedite replacements to prevent production downtime.
• Participate in quality improvement processes including HACCP, ISO, and safety audits.
• Identify and source sustainable materials to align with corporate environmental goals.
• Manage the disposition of recyclable materials and negotiate scrap/recycling contracts.
• Provide management with detailed cost estimates for new packaging options and optimization projects.
• Evaluate vendor performance against quality standards and on-time delivery metrics.
• Work directly on the production floor to optimize packing line efficiency and resolve mechanical or material bottlenecks.
• Align with Purchasing, EH&S, and Warehouse teams to ensure seamless material transitions.
• Comply with and enforce all food safety (GMP/HACCP), ISO 14001, and internal quality specifications.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or 7+ years of experience in mechanical engineering in a manufacturing environment.
• Preferred experience includes overall industrial project management with an emphasis on production process engineering. Some facilities engineering and utilities experience are also preferred.
• Candidates must be proficient with AutoCAD and experienced in production process and plant layout.
• Food industry experience is strongly preferred.

• Ability to effectively communicate
• Highly detail oriented
• Understanding and knowledge of mechanics and/or electrical

• Regularly required to sit for long periods of time doing office tasks on a computer
• Frequently is required to sit, stand, walk, talk and hear
• Occasionally required to reach above shoulders, climb, crouch, stoop or kneel
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds usually from floor to waist level, up to 20 feet away
• Ability to work under conditions of high temperature and high humidity for extended periods of time
• Kikkoman expects all employees to behave and communicate in a manner which will facilitate good relations with customers, clients, co-workers and supervisors; maintaining a positive work atmosphere

The requirements listed above must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. I have reviewed the above job description and understand the job duties that are accurately defined within.