CONTRACT ROLE: Packaging Engineer

About the role

This is a Temporary, Contract position expected to last 12 months.

Essential Functions

• Develop clear primary and secondary packaging requirements by gathering voice of customer through Sales and Product Line Managers, reviewing historical customer complaint and non-conformance data to identify common issues with existing packaging, and comparing SaniSure packaging designs with competitors and adjacent industry best practices.
• Analyze packaging specifications, designs, including technical drawings and Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Provide engineering support for packaging compliance (GMP, GDP, sustainability regulations, REACH, RoHS, and other applicable regulatory or customer requirements).
• Design and develop primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging and labeling for new and existing products, ensuring product protection and usability.
• Evaluate and select packaging materials (polymers, adhesives, inks, varnishes, paper, corrugate, films, foams, sustainable alternatives) based on cost, performance, regulatory suitability, and environmental impact.
• Work with vendors and suppliers to optimize packaging and labeling solutions, coordinate material procurement, and provide testing oversight.
• Create supplier and component redundancy and resolve supplier issues.
• Work with Design Engineering and Manufacturing to integrate a Design for Manufacture & Assembly and Design to Cost perspective into packaging designs.
• Create testing strategies and protocol documentation.
• Plan and conduct package and label verification and validation testing, including ISTA and ASTM protocols; drop, vibration, compression, humidity, and temperature-controlled.
• Generate test reports summarizing results.
• Drive Capital equipment requests and qualification for packaging lines and equipment.
• Support driving full documentation of packaging design including BOM, drawings, change control, and procedures.
• Lead risk assessment activities including Design Failure Mode Effects Analysis (DFMEA) for packaging designs.
• Partner with Quality and Operations to support design verification and process validation activities for packaging systems and labeling.
• Provide technical support during manufacturing transitions and troubleshoot manufacturing and packaging-related issues.
• Support deviation and non-conformance activities related to packaging issues and drive effective corrective actions.
• Support customer complaint investigations related to packaging and analyze complaint data to identify and address systemic design issues.
• Propose design changes to resolve.
• Act with a sense of urgency to manage implementation and monitor effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain positive rapport and working relationships with other personnel across the organization in support of initiatives to execute packaging improvements and enhancements.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 4-6+ years hands-on packaging and/or labeling design and development experience within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device industry, or related regulated industry.
• Strong understanding of materials commonly used in pharmaceutical or medical device packaging, including the structural and chemical properties of glass, polymers, adhesives, inks, varnishes, and paper.
• Working knowledge of industry packaging testing standards (ISTA, ASTM, TAPPI).
• Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) for packaging design.
• Design verification and process verification/validation protocol and report writing.
• Design control, change control, and risk management experience (DFMEA, PFMEA).
• Project management and strong organizational and time management skills with high sense of urgency.
• Detail and deadline oriented.
• High initiative with the ability to work independently and problem solve with minimal supervision or direction.
• Must have a strong work ethic and ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to interact with staff at all levels within and external to the organization.
• Experience working in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) environment; familiarity with GDP (Good Distribution Practice) and Quality management systems a plus.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10%, including occasional international for supplier visits.

Preferred Experience

• Sustainable packaging design and lifecycle assessment experience.
• Familiarity with automated packaging/filling line equipment.
• Six Sigma / Lean certification.