Packaging Engineer

Driving Force; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pension and Life Assurance

Free on-site car parking

25 days annual leave after qualifying

Career development opportunities

Global OEM exposure

Job summary

Hawk 3 is seeking an experienced Packaging Engineer in Derby to lead packaging design, development and optimisation for a Global Aerospace OEM. You will drive packaging concepts, manage projects from concept to validation and collaborate with manufacturing, quality and logistics teams to deliver value and sustainability gains.

The role involves engaging with customers, conducting site visits, and delivering improvements across packaging and supply chain operations within a high-performance

Qualifications

• Proven packaging engineering experience
• Strong understanding of packaging design and logistics processes
• Customer-facing experience and stakeholder management
• Project management experience across multiple priorities
• Experience interpreting 2D drawings and working with CAD software
• Commercial awareness and ability to identify cost and efficiency benefits
• Ability to work independently and represent the business at sites
• Experience in automotive, aerospace, or manufacturing sectors

Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with internal and client stakeholders and key suppliers across the supply chain
• Conduct site visits, packaging assessments, and logistics reviews at customer and supplier locations
• Identify opportunities to improve packaging performance, material flow, transportation efficiency, inventory handling and overall logistics operations
• Present recommendations and business cases to customers, highlighting operational, commercial and sustainability benefits
• Act as a trusted advisor by providing technical expertise and innovative packaging and supply chain solutions
• Lead workshops and improvement initiatives with internal and external stakeholders
• Promote best practices in packaging design, logistics optimisation and supply chain integration

Job description

Job Title: Packaging Engineer

Location: Derby, DE24 9BD

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time

Salary: Up to £65,000 depending on experience, plus benefits

The Opportunity

For an experienced Packaging Engineer to join the principal partner of a Global Aerospace OEM for the management of packaging design, manufacture, and associated services. As part of a high-performing programme team, we are recruiting a Packaging Design Engineer with a proven track record of success—ideally gained in the automotive, aerospace, or manufacturing sectors.

This role is about more than packaging. It’s about delivering fresh thinking, smart engineering, and sustainable innovation to a customer environment that welcomes new ideas and proven expertise from other industries. You’ll have the autonomy to challenge the status quo, backed by a team that values initiative, results, and creativity.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Engagement & Supply Chain Improvement

• Develop strong working relationships with all internal and client stakeholder and key suppliers across the supply chain.
• Conduct site visits, packaging assessments, and logistics reviews at customer and supplier locations.
• Identify opportunities to improve packaging performance, material flow, transportation efficiency, inventory handling, and overall logistics operations.
• Present recommendations and business cases to customers, demonstrating operational, commercial, and sustainability benefits.
• Act as a trusted advisor to customers by providing technical expertise and innovative solutions to complex packaging and supply chain challenges.
• Facilitate workshops and improvement initiatives with both internal and external stakeholders.

Packaging Development & Innovation

• Develop and implement innovative packaging solutions, including returnable systems, sustainable packaging concepts, and simplified single-use packaging.
• Lead packaging projects from concept generation through prototyping, testing, validation, and customer approval.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across packaging and logistics operations.
• Challenge existing packaging methodologies and introduce scalable best-practice solutions drawn from automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, or logistics sectors.
• Ensure packaging functionality, material selection, transportation requirements, and supply chain considerations are fully incorporated into all designs.

Project Management

• Act as Project Lead for packaging development and improvement workstreams.
• Deliver projects to agreed cost, quality, and timing objectives.
• Monitor project performance and communicate progress to customers and management.
• Support programme reviews, customer meetings, and internal governance activities.
• Internal Collaboration & Technical Leadership
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Purchasing, Quality, Logistics, and Supply Chain teams to ensure
• solutions are operationally viable.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior team members.
• Promote best practices in packaging design, logistics optimisation, and supply chain integration.

The Successful Candidate Will Demonstrate

• Proven experience in packaging engineering, logistics engineering, supply chain optimisation, or related industrial environments.
• Strong customer-facing experience with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience conducting operational reviews and identifying improvement opportunities within manufacturing or supply chain environments.
• Demonstrated success delivering packaging and logistics improvements from concept through implementation.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to identify and articulate cost, efficiency, and operational benefits.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong understanding of packaging design, logistics processes, material flow, and supply chain operations.
• Project management experience with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and confidently represent the business at customer and supplier sites.
• Experience interpreting 2D engineering drawings and working with CAD software.

Benefits

• A chance to work with a global OEM on meaningful, high-impact projects.
• Competitive Pension and Life Assurance package.
• Free on-site car parking
• 25 days annual leave after qualifying service.
• Career development in UK and across the Group.

Closing date 12.12.2026