Applications Engineering Project Manager

Pregis; Sussex (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Pregis is seeking an Applications Engineering Project Manager to bridge customers, sales, and engineering, driving custom packaging machinery from concept to installation. You will translate requirements into reliable, cost-effective automation and guide projects across cross-functional teams to ensure customer satisfaction.

The role requires strong project management, CAD proficiency, and hands-on engineering leadership to deliver innovative solutions while maintaining schedule and budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in packaging machinery, automation, or engineered-to-order manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading technical projects with cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, automation, and machine integration.
• Proficiency with CAD platforms (SolidWorks or Inventor).
• Good communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel for customer meetings and site reviews.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary engineering contact for customer applications and discussions.
• Translate customer needs into manufacturable packaging machinery solutions.
• Lead application reviews, feasibility studies, and solution development.
• Coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, service, and sales teams.
• Support FAT/SAT activities and customer startup as required.

Skills

Project management

Customer interaction

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

5+ years in packaging machinery/automation

Experience leading technical projects

CAD knowledge

Tools

SolidWorks

Inventor

MS Project / Smartsheet

Job description

We're Not Just in the Packaging Business-Were in the \"Wow\" Business

Pregis is Hiring!

Why Join Pregis?

Pregis is in the packaging business to protect what matters. We are committed to providing our customers and employees sustainable growth through purpose-driven innovation and customer-centric packaging solutions. If you are looking for a company that is thriving across various high growth industries and is innovative, customer focused, high integrity, believes in strong teamwork and collaboration, Pregis is the company for you. Check out the Pregis Purpose to learn how sustainability and social responsibility is at the very core of our company DNA.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB

The Applications Engineering Project Manager serves as a primary technical liaison between customers, sales, and engineering, leading the development and execution of custom packaging machinery solutions. This role is responsible for translating customer requirements into innovative, reliable, and cost-effective automation systems while managing projects from concept through installation and acceptance.

The ideal candidate combines applications engineering expertise, project management skills, and creative problem-solving abilities to design elegant solutions for complex packaging challenges. This individual will work closely with customers, sales, engineering, manufacturing, and service teams to ensure successful project execution and exceptional customer satisfaction.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Customer Solutions & Applications Engineering

• Serve as a primary engineering contact for customer applications and technical discussions.
• Partner with sales representatives to understand customer needs, operational challenges, and project objectives.
• Translate customer requirements into innovative, practical, and manufacturable packaging machinery solutions.
• Lead application reviews, feasibility evaluations, and solution development activities.
• Develop machine concepts, system layouts, and integrated automation solutions that meet customer performance expectations.
• Present technical solutions to customers and support proposal development efforts.
• Provide technical guidance throughout the sales and project execution process.
• Perform mechanical design and engineering activities using CAD software (SolidWorks preferred), including machine layouts, assemblies, custom components, and integration concepts.
• Provide hands-on engineering support during solution development, balancing performance, manufacturability, standardization, cost, and project requirements.

Project Management & Execution

• Manage customer application projects from the engineering perspective from order receipt through system acceptance.
• Lead project kickoff meetings, application reviews, engineering reviews, and customer update meetings.
• Monitor project schedules, milestones, risks, and action items to ensure successful execution.
• Maintain project trackers and drive accountability for engineering deliverables.
• Coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, procurement, service, and sales teams.
• Communicate project status, risks, and key decisions to stakeholders.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with customer expectations.

Technical Leadership & Solution Development

• Lead and perform line reviews and cross-functional project design reviews.
• Act as the technical lead for assigned strategic, complex, or high-visibility projects.
• Support system integration planning and equipment configuration decisions.
• Review engineering designs to ensure alignment with customer requirements and project objectives.
• Identify opportunities to standardize designs, improve machine performance, and reduce project risk.
• Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and customer start-up activities as required.

Quoting, Configuration & Engineering Support

• Review and validate technical quotations, project scope, and proposed machine configurations.
• Support sales and engineering teams during proposal development and project handoff activities.
• Serve as a backup resource for solution design, machine integration planning, and technical review activities.
• Maintain and improve product configurators, application tools, and engineering databases.
• Assist with documentation standards, engineering processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechatronics, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in packaging machinery, automation, custom equipment, or engineered-to-order manufacturing.
• Experience leading technical projects and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, automation, machine integration, and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop custom solutions based on customer requirements.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead customer meetings and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management tools such as Smartsheet or Microsoft Project.
• Ability to travel as required for customer meetings, site reviews, and project support/startup.
• PMP certification or formal project management training a plus.
• Experience with CAD platforms such as SolidWorks or Inventor.
• Experience supporting quotation development and technical sales activities.
• Familiarity with machine safety standards and industrial controls.
• Experience conducting FATs, SATs, and equipment commissioning activities.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe in diversity of thought and bringing together other traits and characteristics that make an individual bring a unique experience to Pregis. We strive to foster an inclusive environment where behaviors and social norms ensure people are welcome.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement/Inclusion

We offer equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We support inclusion and believe in welcoming a collective sum of individual differences, thoughts, traits, and characteristics to represent Pregis' culture and achievements.

Visit us at www.pregis.com for more information about Pregis LLC.