Production Technology & Process Specialist

About the role

The Production Technology & Process Specialist contributes to the success of Eagle Flexible Packaging (“Eagle”) by serving as the company’s subject-matter expert for one assigned production discipline: Printing Press, Slitting, Lamination, or Pouching. One specialist is intended for each production department. The role serves both Batavia, IL, and Waupun, WI, as a single-enterprise resource, combining hands-on equipment expertise, process engineering, training development, and continuous improvement leadership.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Eagle’s primary technical subject-matter expert for the assigned production department and its related equipment, tooling, controls, and processes.
• Partner with the Owner and COO to capture, organize, and transfer detailed knowledge of equipment capabilities, operating characteristics, common failure modes, setup practices, and troubleshooting methods.
• Maintain current knowledge of existing equipment and develop practical recommendations for maximizing reliability, capability, and useful life.
• Provide hands-on technical support for complex process, equipment, setup, and quality issues that exceed normal frontline troubleshooting.
• Use structured trials and data to validate proposed equipment settings, materials, tooling, controls, or process changes before standardization.
• Initiate and lead technical discussions with equipment manufacturers, suppliers, integrators, and other outside experts to resolve problems and advance improvement opportunities.
• Evaluate emerging production technologies and recommend applications that support Eagle’s operating and growth objectives.
• Support equipment specification, factory acceptance testing, installation, startup, commissioning, and performance validation when applicable.
• Partner with department leads to define consistent training expectations and qualification standards for operators and production support roles across both locations.
• Create, revise, and control training documents, standard work, setup standards, troubleshooting guides, SOPs, skills assessments, and operator-certification materials for the assigned department.
• Translate technical equipment knowledge into clear, practical, floor-level instruction that can be taught and consistently applied.
• Train and coach department leads, trainers, operators, and support personnel; verify that learning is demonstrated through observation and performance-based certification.
• Help ensure that process changes are reflected promptly in controlled documentation and reinforced through retraining when required.
• Support cross-functional improvement efforts involving Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Safety.
• Travel to equipment-manufacturer facilities and other approved manufacturing locations for advanced training, trials, testing, benchmarking, and technical problem-solving.
• Attend relevant industry trade shows, demonstrations, and technical events to identify new technologies and practices with potential application at Eagle.
• Summarize findings, assess business value and implementation requirements, and present recommendations to the COO and other leaders.
• Ensure that all company food safety and quality assurance procedures are followed at all times. Escalate any issues/concerns to management.

Requirements

• High school degree or equivalent (GED) or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on success operating, setting up, maintaining, troubleshooting, improving, or supporting equipment comparable to the assigned department’s machinery.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and practical engineering mindset, with the ability to understand equipment interactions, controls, tooling, materials, and process variables.
• Proven ability to diagnose complex production problems, conduct effective trials, interpret results, and implement sustainable countermeasures.
• Self-directed work style and demonstrated initiative in contacting manufacturers, suppliers, and technical resources to solve problems or investigate opportunities.
• Ability to create clear SOPs, standard work, training materials, and qualification criteria and to train employees with varying levels of experience.
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability and willingness to work regularly on the production floor in an active manufacturing environment, including ability to sit, stand, and walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently between Batavia and Waupun and periodically to manufacturer locations, testing sites, and industry trade shows.
• Effective people skills and ability to motivate others to enhance team performance.
• Enthusiasm for the Eagle mission of embracing our Guiding Values that focus on developing and empowering our team members to create valued, trusted, and lasting relationships with both customers and suppliers.