Packaging Engineer

ProCaps Labs; Kentucky; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Life Insurance

Short Term Disability coverage

Gym membership reimbursement

Vitamin allowance

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Job summary

ProCaps Labs in Kentucky is seeking a Packaging Engineer to lead packaging projects across new products and line extensions, coordinating with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Product Development. You will own packaging performance, select materials, and ensure designs are manufacturable and compliant in a cGMP environment, traveling to facilities as needed.

The role emphasizes continuous improvement, cost reduction, and collaboration with suppliers to deliver

Qualifications

• Experience leading packaging projects for new products and line extensions.
• Experience with automated packaging equipment.
• Knowledge of packaging materials, specs, testing methods, and supplier quality.
• Familiar with barrier properties and shelf life impact.
• Bachelor’s degree in a packaging/engineering field.
• Minimum 5 years in packaging/manufacturing in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical owner for packaging equipment, materials, processes, and line standards.
• Partner with manufacturing engineers to optimize packaging systems for safety, quality, efficiency, and reliability.
• Evaluate materials/designs for manufacturability, protection, quality and cost.
• Maintain packaging specifications, technical documentation, and engineering standards.
• Lead packaging projects from concept to startup, including trials and validation.
• Plan and execute packaging trials, engineering runs, and line testing.
• Analyze line performance to improve OEE, throughput, and labor efficiency.
• Ensure packaging changes are transferred into routine manufacturing operations.

Skills

Packaging project leadership

Automated packaging equipment

Packaging materials & specs

Barrier properties

Project management

Troubleshooting electromechanical

Manufacturing metrics (OEE)

Technical reading

Engineering degree

5+ years experience

MS Office & reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Packaging/Engineering

Job description

As a key member of the Engineering team, the Packaging Engineer works cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Procurement, Supply Chain, Product Development, Marketing, Process Engineering, and external suppliers to ensure packaging solutions are manufacturable, compliant, cost-effective, and successfully implemented.

The Packaging Engineer leads projects related to the packaging of new products and modifications to existing packaging configurations, materials, components, equipment, and production lines. This position manages packaging projects from initial concept and feasibility assessment through testing, implementation, commissioning, qualification, and production startup. This role provides technical ownership for packaging performance, including equipment capability, package quality, line efficiency, material selection, and compliance within a regulated manufacturing environment. The individual will work directly with suppliers on material selection and sample creation, coordinating efforts internally to meet required timelines

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Experience leading packaging projects for new products, line extensions, packaging modifications, or new packaging formats
• Experience with automated packaging equipment such as fillers, cappers, labelers, cartoners, case packers, conveyors, coding systems, and vision inspection systems
• Working knowledge of packaging materials, components, specifications, testing methods, and supplier quality requirements
• Working knowledge of barrier properties associated with various packaging materials and the impact on shelf life
• Strong project management, analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot electromechanical equipment, determine root cause, and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Understanding of manufacturing performance measures including OEE, cycle time, throughput, downtime, yield, scrap, and labor efficiency
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, equipment layouts, packaging drawings, and technical documentation
• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Minimum of 5+ years of packaging, manufacturing, or process engineering experience in a regulated manufacturing environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing or engineering reporting systems

WHAT YOU’LL DO

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Packaging Engineering & Technical Ownership

• Serve as the technical owner and subject matter expert for packaging equipment, materials, processes, and line standards
• Partner with manufacturing engineers to develop and optimize packaging systems to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and reliability
• Evaluate packaging materials, components, and designs for manufacturability, product protection, quality, and cost
• Maintain packaging specifications, technical documentation, and engineering standards
• Partner with suppliers and Procurement to evaluate alternate materials and reduce packaging costs
• Investigate packaging-related quality issues and implement corrective and preventive actions
• Ensure packaging systems and processes comply with cGMP, FDA, OSHA, and company requirements

Packaging Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Lead packaging projects for new products, line extensions, packaging redesigns, equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and modifications to existing packaging systems
• Translate product and business requirements into packaging, equipment, tooling, automation, utility, and process requirements
• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, risk assessments, technical specifications, and capital justifications
• Evaluate, select, and implement packaging equipment and technologies that improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational capability
• Manage projects through design, procurement, FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning, qualification, validation, and startup
• Plan and execute packaging trials, engineering runs, line testing, and initial production runs
• Analyze packaging line performance and identify opportunities to improve OEE, throughput, changeover time, material utilization, labor efficiency, and reliability
• Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts to reduce downtime, waste, packaging defects, and operating costs
• Partner with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Product Development to implement sustainable process and equipment improvements
• Ensure packaging changes and projects are successfully transferred into routine manufacturing operations and achieve targeted business results

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Support deviations, investigations, CAPAs, change controls, risk assessments, and validation activities
• Develop and maintain packaging-related SOPs, work instructions, specifications, and training materials
• Incorporate safety, ergonomics, machine guarding, and compliance requirements into packaging designs and equipment modifications
• Partner with Quality to establish packaging acceptance criteria, testing protocols, and inspection requirements
• Support internal and external audits and maintain inspection readiness

Collaboration & Additional Responsibilities

• Prepare engineering updates, feasibility studies, cost analyses, and project status reports
• Provide technical training and guidance to operators, maintenance technicians, and other stakeholders
• Support packaging operations and engineering projects at Henderson and Broomfield facilities
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• A large percentage of the time is spent in production and packaging areas where noise levels can be moderate to high
• Duties are performed in a smoke-free office and cGMP-regulated manufacturing environment
• Regular interaction with moving machinery, packaging equipment, and production operations
• Travel between company facilities and to equipment or supplier locations as required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequently required to stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, balance, and reach
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Push/Pull up to 300 lbs

ProCaps provides :

• A competitive salary!
• Top-Tier Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage - $0 when you qualify for the Wellness Program!
• Paid Time Off, Eight (8) Company Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Match – up to 4.5%
• 100% Company Life Coverage
• 100% Short Term Disability Coverage
• Gym Membership Reimbursement
• Vitamin Allowance + Discounts
• Company-Funded Health Savings Account ($1,600/year)
• Cash Reward Employee Referral Program
• Pet Insurance

*** Fantastic work environment that focuses on Safety, Quality, Community, and amazing people. We hire top talent and celebrate the ingenuity and tenacity of our team members and leaders!