Packaging Engineer

General Summary

The Packaging Engineer is responsible for designing and developing Packaging products and solutions that meet customer’s needs and specifications. Will coordinate customer needs and expectations, with sales strategy and manufacturing operations consistent with cost, profit, and productivity objectives. Will develop and utilize knowledge of materials such as lumber, plywood, foam, corrugated, and metal fabrication to create Packaging products that will be manufactured by UFP and utilized by our customers.

Works under general direction of the Packaging Design Manager; exercises discretion and judgment on work priority on a regular basis; and a wide degree of creativity is expected.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Communicates with customers, vendors and co-workers to develop long-term working relationships.
• Based on customer needs, designs structural packaging suitable for the purpose intended. Offers alternative designs of existing packaging and alternate material solutions.
• Develops drawings and specifications that meet customer requirements. Specifications are used in the manufacturing of the industrial products
• Monitors quality of products being produced to ensure they meet customer expectations while maintaining acceptable margins.
• Costs products, develops bills of materials and ensures that appropriate information is entered into the system and maintained.
• Assists in the new product development process.
• Assist in forecasting inventory requirements within area of responsibility.
• Drive efficiency in product manufacturing through design methods and assist production team in efficiency initiatives where applicable
• Monitors the established efficiencies and quality standards, and assists in corrective action as required.
• Monitors output, cuts/yields, and scrap to ensure efficient resource utilization and initiates corrective action as required within area of responsibility.
• Assists developing source contacts and relationships for packaging raw materials in cooperation with the Purchasing department.
• Prepares various reports as required.
• Performs other duties as required.

Job Specifications

Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or equivalent non-degree experience is required.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing operations; 2 years’ experience in a lumber/plywood/packaging manufacturing environment preferred.
• Working knowledge of panel and lumber grades, etc.
• Working knowledge of lumber math and business math
• Full understanding of cuts and yields
• Proficiency in the use of MS Excel/spreadsheets is required; working knowledge of CAD software SolidWorks is preferred.

Skills and abilities

• Proficiency in the use of the English language in reading, writing and speaking.
• Ability to successfully interact with all organizational levels, customers and the public.
• Ability to apply business math to manufacturing processes.
• Ability to recognize value in various products and use them in manufacturing new products.
• Ability to design and create computer generated prints for production and to use them in sales presentations.
• Ability to physically make product samples based on design
• Requires superior analytical, problem solving and engineering skills/aptitude.
• Ability to review actual performance to plan, identify trends and implement profit generating solutions.
• Ability to manage several activities/projects at once, to organize and prioritize work, to meet deadlines, to prepare plans, goals and budgets.
• Ability to be mobile in the work environment, travel as required.
• Ability to use a computer, and proficiency in the use of MS Office and other business-related software.
• Ability to pass a drug test
• This position is not available for visa sponsorship.

Conduct

• Self-starting and the ability to operate with limited supervision
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic
• Good interpersonal skills, and good listener and communicator
• Process oriented
• Eagerness to learn
• Be a team player and support the Company’s goals