Principal Packaging Engineer
Position Purpose
As the Principal Packaging Engineer, you will serve as the enterprise-wide technical expert and strategic lead in FDA regulated packaging. The position leverages deep knowledge in packaging including but not limited to design, test methods, standards, and industry insights to create and deliver a pipeline of breakthrough innovations and overall organizational improvement. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, and lead with accountability projects from concept to commercialization. A proactive approach in identifying opportunity areas and a strong drive for results and overall organizational improvement is essential. This role requires excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate across functions, influence stakeholders and ensure alignment with organizational goals. The Principal Engineer must take responsibility for technical mentorship and coaching, fostering technical growth and knowledge of junior engineers while strengthening the team’s technical capabilities.
Essential Functions And Basic Duties
Demonstrate strong ownership and leadership on technical strategies and problem solving while driving projects from concept to commercialization.
Own the technical roadmap for packaging innovation and ensure alignment with business priorities.
Design and direct meaningful and robust research projects or experiments both internally and externally through relationships with academic institutions and industry partners.
Foster collaborative research initiatives while mentoring, coaching and guiding junior engineers.
Analyze experimental data to draw meaningful conclusions from research and guide further development.
Ensure robust statistical methods are applied where necessary.
Develop innovative solutions to address technical challenges.
Act as subject matter expert in packaging for FDA regulated products (expert in packaging standards such as CCIT, ISO 11607, USP, USP, etc).
Identify, scope and represent the organization at key conferences, seminars and other professional events.
Stay current and keep stakeholders updated with emerging technologies, regulatory trends, and scientific advancements in packaging.
Innovation and Strategy
Exhibit a proactive mindset in identifying, vetting and implementing new opportunities for innovation and improvement of the organization.
Demonstrate ability to think strategically and influence the organization on key initiatives.
Champion initiatives that deliver quantifiable improvements in product performance, cost efficiency, or regulatory compliance.
Lead cross-functional teams to bring strategic innovations from concept to launch, ensuring accountability at each stage.
Develop and execute innovation strategies aligned with business goals, including new technologies, methods, and IP creation.
Lead the development of new products, technologies, and methods that deliver measurable impact and enhance organizational success.
Assess and take necessary actions to acquire new in-house technologies to improve PDI’s capabilities.
Project Scoping and Ownership
Define, communicate and align project goals and request necessary resources for execution cross functionally.
Hold self and cross-functional teams accountable for meeting project milestones, quality standards, and business objectives.
Ensure post-launch evaluation and continuous improvement based on performance metrics.
Drive initiatives forward and overcome challenges through strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
Ensure accountability to milestones and objectives while demonstrating strong ownership, coordination and leadership in project execution, anticipating risks, and implementing mitigation strategies to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.
Communicate progress updates, status, reports and findings to senior level management with excellent communication skills.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Mechanical Engineering, or related scientific discipline required. Advanced degree preferred.
Required Knowledge: New Product development and leadership in a regulated environment. Packaging development for FDA regulated products.
Experience Required: 8+ years of relevant experience in product development and R&D support, with a demonstrated track record of scientific and packaging development responsibilities.
Skills/Abilities: Strong analytical thinking capabilities and mindset. Strong sense of accountability and commitment to delivering results with excellence and timeliness. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to make sense of, organize and present complex information. Proven ability to work independently and take initiative in ambiguous or evolving environments. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with varying complexity. Initiative taker, ambitious and driven. Resourceful and able to find creative and innovative ways to achieve results. Demonstrated accountability for project outcomes and ability to drive initiatives to successful completion. Proactive leader who takes full ownership of challenges and drives results with urgency and precision.