Packaging Engineer

About the Role

As a key member of the Engineering team, the Packaging Engineer works cross‑functionally with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Procurement, Supply Chain, Product Development, Marketing, Process Engineering, and external suppliers to ensure packaging solutions are manufacturable, compliant, cost‑effective, and successfully implemented. The role leads projects related to new product packaging and modifications to existing packaging configurations, materials, components, equipment, and production lines, managing projects from concept through testing, implementation, qualification, and production startup. The engineer provides technical ownership for packaging performance, including equipment capability, package quality, line efficiency, material selection, and compliance within a regulated manufacturing environment, and works directly with suppliers on material selection and sample creation.

Requirements

• Experience leading packaging projects for new products, line extensions, packaging modifications, or new packaging formats
• Experience with automated packaging equipment such as fillers, cappers, labelers, cartoners, case packers, conveyors, coding systems, and vision inspection systems
• Working knowledge of packaging materials, components, specifications, testing methods, and supplier quality requirements
• Working knowledge of barrier properties associated with various packaging materials and the impact on shelf life
• Strong project management, analytical, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot electromechanical equipment, determine root cause, and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Understanding of manufacturing performance measures including OEE, cycle time, throughput, downtime, yield, scrap, and labor efficiency
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, equipment layouts, packaging drawings, and technical documentation
• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Minimum of 5+ years of packaging, manufacturing, or process engineering experience in a regulated manufacturing environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing or engineering reporting systems

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical owner and subject matter expert for packaging equipment, materials, processes, and line standards
• Partner with manufacturing engineers to develop and optimize packaging systems to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and reliability
• Evaluate packaging materials, components, and designs for manufacturability, product protection, quality, and cost
• Maintain packaging specifications, technical documentation, and engineering standards
• Partner with suppliers and Procurement to evaluate alternate materials and reduce packaging costs
• Investigate packaging‑related quality issues and implement corrective and preventive actions
• Ensure packaging systems and processes comply with cGMP, FDA, OSHA, and company requirements
• Lead packaging projects for new products, line extensions, packaging redesigns, equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and modifications to existing packaging systems
• Translate product and business requirements into packaging, equipment, tooling, automation, utility, and process requirements
• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, technical specifications, and capital justifications
• Evaluate, select, and implement packaging equipment and technologies that improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational capability
• Manage projects through design, procurement, FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, qualification, validation, and startup
• Plan and execute packaging trials, engineering runs, line testing, and initial production runs
• Analyze packaging line performance and identify opportunities to improve OEE, throughput, changeover time, material utilization, labor efficiency, and reliability
• Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts to reduce downtime, waste, packaging defects, and operating costs
• Partner with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Product Development to implement sustainable process and equipment improvements
• Ensure packaging changes and projects are successfully transferred into routine manufacturing operations and achieve targeted business results
• Support deviations, investigations, CAPAs, change controls, risk assessments, and validation activities
• Develop and maintain packaging‑related SOPs, work instructions, specifications, and training materials
• Incorporate safety, ergonomics, machine guarding, and compliance requirements into packaging designs and equipment modifications
• Partner with Quality to establish packaging acceptance criteria, testing protocols, and inspection requirements
• Support internal and external audits and maintain inspection readiness
• Prepare engineering updates, feasibility studies, cost analyses, and project status reports
• Provide technical training and guidance to operators, maintenance technicians, and other stakeholders
• Support packaging operations and engineering projects at Henderson and Broomfield facilities
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Work Environment

A large percentage of the time is spent in production and packaging areas where noise levels can be moderate to high.