Project Packaging Engineer

Job Summary

Inspired by passion and driven by purpose, Midwest Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, seeks a Project Packaging Engineer to join our dynamic team in Murfreesboro, TN.

About the Role

Midwest Yogurt is dedicated to providing innovative solutions and fostering a culture of excellence. As a Project Packaging Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the successful execution of packaging system installations and capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Project Governance: Lead assigned packaging projects from scope definition through Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), site installation, commissioning, and final Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).

• Capital Approval & Budgeting: Direct the project budget and capital approval (DA) processes. Issue purchase orders, track actual vs. budgeted variances, report on cash spend/forecasts, and control scope changes via formal change orders.

• Timeline & Vendor Planning: Own the master project timeline and schedule. Coordinate on-site vendor activities, logistics, equipment shipping, and progressive payment milestones in tight alignment with plant operations.

• Cross-Functional Coordination: Synchronize project steps across supporting departments, managing packaging design, product recipes, vendor sampling, water/CIP testing, system ramp-up, and punch-list resolution.

• Technical Design: Translate long-term business and capacity needs into technical requirements (sizing, machine flexibility, and component counts). Ensure packaging system designs capture industry best practices and align with the site master plan.

• Stakeholder Mobilization: Actively engage, communicate with, and mobilize plant teams at every phase of the project lifecycle, ensuring a customer-service-oriented approach for production and maintenance departments.

• Procurement & RFQs: Author comprehensive supplier selection bid packages, solicit requests for quotation (RFQs), and perform rigorous technical and professional evaluations of bidding vendors.

• Trials & Validation: Organize and execute all necessary packaging trials and technical tests to guarantee project success alongside suppliers, R&D, and production teams.

• Continuous Improvement: Research, develop, and implement solutions for operational efficiency issues on the packaging floor. Analyze existing machinery to identify optimization opportunities via component and system studies.

• Maintenance & Technical Support: Provide advanced technical troubleshooting and floor support to the maintenance department, elevating the technical depth and skill sets of the plant maintenance technicians.

• Milestone Oversight: Ensure strict compliance with critical technical milestones, including provisional acceptance, PLC programming validation, electrical/water tests, commissioning, and final sign-off.

• Safety & Compliance: Enforce rigorous safety protocols across all project phases, taking immediate responsive action if safety breaches occur, while ensuring execution deadlines and quality standards are met.

• Documentation: Maintain meticulous, up-to-date documentation, blueprints, and records for all executed packaging projects.

Requirements

• Education: A bachelor's degree is required. Mechanical engineering or a similar discipline is favored.

• Experience: 5+ years of experience within a manufacturing engineering environment is required.

• Technical Expertise: Strong foundation in process engineering principles, fluid dynamics, and automated manufacturing systems.

• Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex timelines, prioritize competing deliverables, and execute budgets.

• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver technical presentations and write clear operational procedures.

• Adaptability: Resilient and proactive mindset with the ability to lead effectively within a fast-paced, evolving production environment.

QualificationsQualified candidates will possess:

• Proficiency with AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT.

• Software: Proficiency with AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT.

Skills

• Software: Proficiency with AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT.

• Technical Expertise: Strong foundation in process engineering principles, fluid dynamics, and automated manufacturing systems.

• Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex timelines, prioritize competing deliverables, and execute budgets.

• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver technical presentations and write clear operational procedures.

• Adaptability: Resilient and proactive mindset with the ability to lead effectively within a fast-paced, evolving production environment.

Benefits

Lactalis offers a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $100,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

This is a full-time position with standard Monday through Friday work hours.