Mechanical Packaging Engineer, Life Sciences

stress; Mason (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Healthcare

Dental and vision

Job summary

Stress Engineering Services seeks a Mechanical Packaging Engineer focused on life sciences packaging. You will solve complex challenges for medical devices and regulated packaging, applying test strategies, data analysis, and hands‑on validation.

The role spans lab work, root-cause analysis, and cross‑functional collaboration across industries to optimize durability and cost. Based in Mason, OH, this on‑site position emphasizes regulatory alignment (FDA/ISO) and real‑world performance, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant engineering field and strong fundamentals in mechanics and materials.
• Experience in medical device packaging and regulatory environments is required or strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot, analyze data, and communicate technical results clearly.
• Experience with manufacturing processes such as injection molding or thermoforming is beneficial.
• Ability to work in a client-facing consulting environment with multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and interpret packaging validation and performance testing for medical devices and industrial applications.
• Evaluate packaging performance across manufacturing, distribution, and end-use environments.
• Investigate packaging failures using structured root-cause analysis and communicate findings to clients.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams to resolve design or production challenges.
• Develop test strategies, build test setups in the lab, and simulate real-world conditions.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to improve durability, cost, and supply-chain performance.
• Support regulatory alignment with FDA/ISO standards and best practices for packaging.
• Lead or participate in multiple concurrent projects with autonomy and ownership.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a client-facing consulting culture.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Packaging engineering

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Packaging, Plastics Engineering, or related field

Advanced degree in Mechanical, Packaging, Plastics Engineering, or related field

Tools

CAD

Python

Job description

Are you ready to solve problems most engineers will never see?

Do you thrive in hands‑on environments where data, testing, and real-world performance drive decisions?

Are you looking for an engineering role where no two projects and no two industries are the same?

About Stress Engineering Services

Stress Engineering Services (SES) is an elite, one‑of‑a‑kind engineering consulting firm, recognized for tackling some of the most complex and technically demanding challenges across industries. For more than 50 years, we have partnered with clients in energy, consumer products, aerospace, medical, and beyond, delivering trusted expertise in failure analysis, reliability, materials, and performance.

At SES, we stand apart through the depth of our technical knowledge paired with practical engineering judgment. Our teams don’t just develop theories, we deliver solutions that perform in the real world, helping clients mitigate risk, improve reliability, and confidently move forward.

Our Core Values

• We Over Me – We put the mission, our clients, and our team ahead of individual agendas
• Unyielding Pursuit of Excellence – Excellence is the standard. We deliver the right solution, on time, every time
• Own It – We take accountability to earn trust and deliver results

The Role

This role is based in our Mason, Ohio office and requires onsite work five days a week.

As a Mechanical Packaging Engineer – Life Sciences at SES, you will primarily focus on solving complex challenges in medical device and life sciences packaging systems, supporting products used in real‑world environments, from clinical settings to in‑home and self‑care applications.

In addition to regulated medical packaging, you will also contribute to industrial and consumer packaging projects, applying the same engineering rigor to improve packaging performance, durability, manufacturability, and cost efficiency across a broader range of products and distribution environments.

Rather than supporting a single product line, you’ll work across a diverse portfolio of regulated and industrial packaging systems, applying engineering fundamentals, hands‑on testing, and analytical rigor to ensure packaging meets performance, usability, and regulatory expectations.

This role blends mechanical engineering depth with applied packaging engineering. You will evaluate packaging performance, troubleshoot failures, optimize designs, and deliver clear, data‑driven recommendations that directly impact:

• Medical: product integrity, sterility assurance, and patient safety
• Industrial/consumer: durability, cost optimization, and supply chain performance

From concept development through validation and production, you will play a key role in delivering high‑quality engineering solutions in a collaborative consulting environment where your work is visible, impactful, and tied to real‑world outcomes. You may also apply modeling, simulation, and optimization techniques to support predictive performance and risk reduction across both regulated and non‑regulated systems.

A Day in the Life

No two days look the same—and that’s intentional.

You may begin by collaborating with clients and internal teams to define test strategies or evaluate packaging designs for medical devices, ensuring compliance with strict regulatory and performance requirements. Later in the day, you could pivot to industrial or consumer packaging challenges, such as improving distribution durability, reducing material costs, or optimizing packaging for manufacturing efficiency.

Throughout the day, you could:

• Analyze performance data or investigate a packaging failure in a sterile medical system or a high‑volume industrial product
• Evaluate materials ranging from medical‑grade films and sterile barriers to corrugate, plastics, and multi‑material systems
• Execute distribution, transit, and validation testing, supporting both regulated and non‑regulated applications
• Work directly in the lab building test setups, inspecting components, and simulating real‑world conditions
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams to resolve design or production challenges

Some days are focused on deep technical analysis, interpreting data, modeling system behavior, and assessing risk. Others are hands‑on, executing tests and identifying root causes.

Your work ultimately supports the safe delivery of medical products while also improving the performance, reliability, and efficiency of industrial packaging systems across supply chains.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical partner to clients, with a primary focus on medical device and life sciences packaging, while supporting industrial and consumer packaging applications as needed
• Plan, execute, and interpret packaging validation and performance testing (e.g., distribution, integrity, functional testing) across regulated and non‑regulated systems
• Evaluate packaging performance across manufacturing, sterilization (when applicable), distribution, and end‑use environments
• Investigate and resolve packaging failures using structured root cause analysis, spanning both medical and industrial applications
• Apply engineering principles in materials, mechanics, data analysis, and system behavior
• Ensure alignment with regulated product requirements (FDA, ISO) while applying best practices to industrial packaging challenges
• Identify opportunities to optimize packaging designs for cost, manufacturability, and supply chain performance
• Communicate technical findings and recommendations clearly to clients and cross‑functional teams
• Collaborate with suppliers, vendors, and internal stakeholders on packaging development and improvement efforts
• Manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast‑paced, client‑driven consulting environment

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Packaging, Plastics Engineering, or related field
• ~5+ years of experience in medical device, life sciences, or regulated packaging environments (or strong adjacent experience)
• Experience supporting packaging from development through validation and production
• Strong foundation in engineering fundamentals (mechanics, materials, data analysis)
• Experience with packaging materials and performance testing methodologies
• Exposure to regulated environments (FDA or similar)
• Experience with manufacturing processes (injection molding, thermoforming, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability in troubleshooting and failure analysis
• Proficiency with CAD and general engineering tools
• Strong communication skills in a client‑facing environment
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Mechanical, Packaging, Plastics Engineering, or related field
• Experience with medical device packaging validation, regulatory submissions, or standards
• Hands‑on experience with distribution testing, material testing, and package integrity
• Familiarity with sterile barrier systems and healthcare packaging requirements
• Experience with modeling, simulation, or predictive analysis
• Programming or data analysis experience (e.g., Python)
• Cross‑industry experience (life sciences + industrial/consumer packaging)
• Consulting or client‑facing engineering experience
• Demonstrated project ownership or leadership experience
• PE license or progress toward licensure

Why Join SES

• Solve problems that matter – Your work directly impacts product performance, safety, and reliability
• High autonomy + high ownership – You’re trusted to lead and deliver
• Broad technical exposure – Work across industries, materials, and challenges
• Collaborate with experts – Learn from recognized leaders in engineering and failure analysis
• Entrepreneurial environment – Be part of a team that values initiative, curiosity, and innovation
• Employee‑owned culture (ESOP) – Share in the success you help create

What’s in it for you?

At SES, curiosity is not just encouraged—it’s expected. You’ll have the opportunity to grow your technical expertise, expand your industry exposure, and make a measurable impact on real‑world engineering challenges. As an employee‑owned company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, dental and vision coverage, paid time off, holidays, and more. Compensation is competitive and reflects your experience, expertise, and contributions.

Recruitment Process Disclosure

As part of your candidacy and potential future employment, you agree to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, sensitive, and client‑related information obtained through interactions with SES. This obligation applies during and after your engagement.

No Agency Solicitation:

Stress Engineering Services is managing this search directly. We kindly ask that staffing agencies, recruiting firms, and executive search firms do not contact us regarding this position or submit candidate resumes. Any unsolicited resumes submitted without a valid written agreement may become the property of Stress Engineering Services, and no placement fee will be paid.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Stress Engineering Services, Inc. (SES) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.