Principal Packaging Engineer - Packaging Innovation & Technology

Summary

As a Principal Packaging Engineer, you will play a critical role in designing, developing, and implementing innovative packaging solutions. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that packaging meets regulatory requirements and aligns with business objectives. This position offers an exciting opportunity to combine technical expertise with creative problem-solving to drive new product and packaging development, processes and materials.

Responsibilities

• Act as a packaging subject matter expert within the Packaging Innovation & Technology team, support project management, automation maintenance and performance optimization groups.
• Define, develop and test all packaging elements primarily focusing on bottles, closures and beverage packaging technologies.
• Participate in all phases of a project from initial team meetings through pre-award support, proposal generation, installation, commissioning, and start up.   
• Serve as SME for packaging structures and materials on new dairy and associated beverage innovations.
• Provide guidance and expertise to plant operations, project managers and other functions as necessary in the development of packaging related projects.
• Support the Quality organization on bottles & closure related issues.
• Qualify new vendors and/or lines to expand our supplier base.
• Support the R&D, Innovation team, Corporate Quality and Sales & Marketing in the development of packaging systems and solutions for Chobani’s customers and consumers.
• May be assigned as project manager on specific projects as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging, Mechanical, Chemical or Industrial Engineering, or related field. Master's degree preferred.
• The position requires a high degree of responsibility, leadership, decision-making ability, and self-sufficiency. The Principal Packaging Engineer is expected to have a deep technical knowledge of packaging equipment and materials related to the food and beverage industry.  In addition, he / she should have a working knowledge of project life cycle deliverables, contract & schedule.
• Technical depth in injection stretch blow molding, injection molding and extrusion blow molding.
• Proficiency with polyolefins (PE,PP,HDPE,PS), their properties and use as food containers.
• Ability to develop labeling technologies, secondary and tertiary packaging.
• Pro-activity, personal drive, decisiveness, commercial / business acumen, communication skills, excellent teamwork skills, organizational competency, and the ability to prioritize.
• Proficient in the use Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Project, CAPE or TOPS, FreeCad or SolidWorks and Autocad