Packaging Automation Project Engineer

Winpak; South Chicago Heights (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Retirement savings plans

Tuition assistance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Winpak Portion Packaging is seeking a Project Engineer to join the Maintenance team in South Chicago Heights, Illinois. You will lead projects spanning design, development, automation, and improvement of extrusion systems and thermoforming equipment, partnering with production, maintenance, contractors, and vendors.

The role emphasizes managing projects from concept through implementation while ensuring safety, quality, and cost targets are met, with onsite work Monday–Friday and occasional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years of project engineering experience in manufacturing.
• Experience with extrusion and thermoforming processes.
• Proficiency with MS Office, MS Project, and AutoCAD.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and organizational skills.
• Effective communication across levels of the organization.
• Follow safety, GMP, sanitation, and food-packaging quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital and process-improvement projects from concept through installation, commissioning, and closeout.
• Ensure designs meet specs, are manufacturable, safe, and cost-aligned.
• Oversee fabrication, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting of equipment.
• Develop and manage process projects to improve productivity and quality.
• Support equipment automation and manufacturing-engineering initiatives.
• Prepare CAPEX requests, budgets, and monitor spending.
• Coordinate outside contractors at the site and ensure compliance.
• Support plant utilities and HVAC, compressors, chillers, water systems.
• Collaborate with production and maintenance to troubleshoot and improve.
• Promote safety, GMP, sanitation, and food-packaging safety.

Skills

Project management

Analytical thinking

Troubleshooting

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

AutoCAD

Job description

Winpak Portion Packaging is seeking a Project Engineer to join the Maintenance team in South Chicago Heights, Illinois. You will lead projects spanning design, development, automation, and improvement of extrusion systems and thermoforming equipment, partnering with production, maintenance, contractors, and vendors.

The role emphasizes managing projects from concept through implementation while ensuring safety, quality, and cost targets are met, with onsite work Monday–Friday and occasional