Packaging Engineer

Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom; Greenville (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

Kelly Engineering in Greenville, SC is seeking a hands-on Packaging Engineer to lead design, specification, and procurement of pharmaceutical packaging lines. You will drive FAT/SAT, commissioning, and IQ/OQ/PQ activities, coordinating with vendors to ensure regulatory compliance and high performance.

The role emphasizes hands-on equipment leadership, solids experience with track-and-trace, and collaboration across Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering to improve throughput and

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of packaging equipment experience; liquids experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, packaging, or mechatronics engineering.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP, FDA-regulated environments, and packaging line compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, specification, and procurement of packaging equipment such as blister machines, bottle lines, cartoners, and labelers.
• Develop URS, equipment specs, and design documentation for new or upgraded machinery.
• Manage FAT/SAT, commissioning, and IQ/OQ/PQ activities.
• Coordinate with vendors, system integrators, and maintenance teams to install and qualify equipment.
• Perform root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions for packaging lines.

Skills

Serialization systems

PLCs & HMIs

Robotics

Sensors

Lean Six Sigma

Vendor management

Project management

Packaging equipment

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Electrical/Packaging/Mechatronics

Tools

CAD tools

IQ/OQ/PQ

Job description

Packaging Engineer (Greenville, SC) Our client that develops, manufactures, and distributes generic medicines, is hiring a Packaging Engineer (Direct Hire, ideally start this year! 11/23 would be ideal , however, if the right person needs to start in December, we can make that work).

The person needs to be very hands- on, they will be expected to lead equipment specifications and procurement, FAT/SAT, commissioning, IQ/OQ/PQ, troubleshooting, serialization, vendor coordination, and cGMP documentation. Client has a specialty in oral liquids and unit-dose products for hospitals and other healthcare providers; Experience with liquid is preferred.

Job Summary

The Equipment Packaging Engineer is responsible for specifying, designing, implementing, and optimizing packaging machinery and automated packaging lines used in the production of pharmaceutical and consumer health products. This role focuses on equipment performance, reliability, integration, validation, and continuous improvement to ensure operational efficiency, product quality, and compliance with cGMP and regulatory standards.

Help design, install, and improve automated packaging lines for pharmaceutical and consumer health products. You’ll partner with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and equipment vendors to start up machinery, troubleshoot issues, boost performance, and ensure equipment meets quality and regulatory requirements.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Equipment & Line Design- Lead the design, specification, and procurement of packaging equipment including blister machines, bottle lines, cartoners, labelers, pouching systems, serialization stations, and case packing equipment.
• Develop URS, equipment specifications, functional requirements, and design documentation for new or upgraded machinery.
• Evaluate equipment designs for manufacturability, reliability, and integration with existing systems, utilities, and facility layouts.
• Equipment Installation, Commissioning & Qualification- Manage equipment installation, FAT/SAT, commissioning, and validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Coordinate with vendors, system integrators, and internal maintenance teams to ensure equipment is installed and qualified per project requirements.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and control-system issues during startup and post-launch phases.
• Line Optimization & Performance Improvement - Analyze packaging line performance to identify productivity constraints, material handling challenges, and automation improvement opportunities.
• Implement upgrades that improve throughput, reduce downtime, enhance quality, and support continuous improvement goals.
• Perform root-cause analysis on recurring equipment issues and develop sustainable corrective actions.
• Technical Documentation & Compliance- Develop and maintain technical documentation including equipment validations, specifications, drawings, change controls, SOPs, and preventive maintenance plans.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, FDA/EMA regulations, internal quality systems, and safety standards.
• Support internal audits, regulatory inspections, and technical reviews related to equipment and packaging operations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration- Work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, EHS, and Supply Chain teams to ensure equipment readiness and operational alignment.
• Partner with suppliers, OEMs, and contractors to resolve equipment-related issues and evaluate new technologies.
• Provide technical training to operators, technicians, and maintenance staff.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Experience with serialization systems (track-and-trace, vision systems, coding/printing technologies).
• Familiarity with PLCs, HMIs, robotics, sensors, and line controls.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience leading equipment start-ups and managing vendor relationships.
• Knowledge of materials handling, conveyors, and automated packaging technologies.

Education And Experience

• 5–10 years of experience working with packaging equipment in the pharmaceutical, biotech, food, beverage, or consumer products industry. Liquids experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field preferred.
• Strong knowledge of packaging equipment design, automation, mechanical systems, controls, and integration.
• Experience with FAT/SAT, commissioning, and qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Understanding of cGMP, FDA/regulated environments, and packaging line compliance requirements.
• Proficiency with CAD tools and equipment layout design.
• Strong problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional communication skills.

This is your opportunity to take hands-on ownership of packaging equipment and projects that help deliver essential medicines to hospitals and healthcare providers. You’ll work across engineering, operations, quality, maintenance, and equipment vendors to bring new capabilities online, solve complex challenges, and improve packaging-line performance in a cGMP environment. This is a direct-hire, urgent opening that will be filled this year. An earlier start is preferred; however, a December start may be possible for the right candidate—so if you’re ready to make a move.

Benefits

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work-related resources. Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type.

• Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability.
• As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account.
• In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.

Why Kelly Engineering?

Your engineering skills are in demand, but how do you find the right fit? Easy. At Kelly Engineering, our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world’s most critical challenges. We connect you with leading organizations where you can collaborate on innovative projects, work with cutting-edge technologies and accelerate your growth. Whether you prefer the variety and flexibility of short-term projects or is looking for a long-term opportunity, we’re here to guide you to the next step in your engineering career.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life-just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice.