Request Foods · 1 day ago
Packaging Engineer
Holland, MI
Full-time
Onsite
Mid Level
3+ years expRequest Foods is a leading food and co-packing manufacturer seeking a Packaging Engineer expert within the food industry. The Packaging Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and implementing packaging solutions that ensure product integrity, optimize cost, and support sustainability goals.
AgricultureFood and Beverage
Responsibilities
Analyzes technical malfunctions, makes suggestions for improvement, tests and implements the necessary improvements by coordinating the activities of all concerned departments
Optimizes the operation of manufacturing processes by finding the optimum packaging and machine settings with an underlying goal to improve performance and reduce costs
Participates in the analysis of quality problems in research and applicable solutions, handles relations with the maintenance and production departments for optimization purposes and ensures follow-up to solutions
Manages and updates documentation including specifications, test results, and change controls, for all existing packaging used throughout the manufacturing facility
Document and communicate quality issues, work with suppliers to mitigate and/or eliminate specification deviations
Works directly with sales and product development teams for new product/packaging requests coming from customers
Supports new product development and commercialization projects by providing packaging expertise
Organizes and tracks industrial tests and defines the parameters of production of new products in collaboration with the Plant Manager, maintenance, and scheduling
Reports, tests and validates the manufacturing feasibility of new products
Consults with vendors in the development of packaging for components and to source materials. Works directly with packaging suppliers and production to execute appropriate trials to ensure production readiness
Creates Project Plans and harnesses resources to ensure project milestones are met within expectations of timeline, quality and budget
Determines material, equipment, and packaging; to be used for specific projects and ensure it meets the needs of the customer, production, and maintenance while maintaining functionality
Studies product design, customer requirements, and determines performance standards. Conducts tests to ensure safe and satisfactory product performance
Maintains observation of new equipment/packaging/product once implemented until it reaches the expected performance level on a consistent basis
Trained in understanding the mechanics of the production line machines in order to design and optimize new and current packaging formats as well as line efficiency
Support packaging lot traceability where applicable by establishing procedures and monitoring compliance
Ability to troubleshoot packaging issues that are experienced on the production line and offer short and long term solutions with maintenance and manufacturing team
Build relationships with packaging equipment suppliers supporting new products or changes, ensure clear communication to the supplier to determine if change parts, machine modifications or requisition is needed and follows the process through to implementation
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree (B.S) in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field
Minimum of 3 Years of CPG packaging and equipment experience
Strong knowledge of packaging materials (plastics, paperboard, films, etc.)
Familiarity with food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, SQF, BRC), packaging machinery and automation systems
Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, ArtiosCAD) and packaging testing protocols (e.g., ASTM, ISTA)
Self-motivated, hands-on individual with keen interest in quickly learning and applying new skills who can follow written/verbal instructions and meet deadlines with minimal supervision
Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to packaging design challenges supporting CPG customers and ability to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
Knowledge of engineering principles, life cycle analysis and environmental impact assessments
Ability to react quickly to changing business conditions and new process developments and make effective decisions under pressure
Ability to balance needs such as worker safety, process efficiency, and budgetary constraints
Commercialization Design and Execution with current Product Troubleshooting abilities
Familiar with Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies
Understanding of supply chain and logistics considerations in packaging design
Excellent problem-solving, decision-making abilities and communication skills (presentation, written and verbal)
Strong project management skills with experience of managing a portfolio of CI and value improvement projects
Experience with sustainability packaging initiative and standards in the USA
Experience with Cardboard required and poly film preferred
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
401k
Paid Paternity Leave
Wellbeing programs
Immediate Holiday Pay
Paid Time Off
Profit Sharing
Company
Request Foods
With several hundred million dollars in annual sales and more than 900 employees, Request Foods is one of the largest, family-owned and operated, co-manufacturing food companies in the nation.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Menaka Abel - Hunter , CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase