Packaging Engineer / Lab Technician Trainee

UFP Packaging, LLC; Newnan (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

UFP Industries, Inc. is seeking a Packaging Engineer I / Lead Lab Technician to design and develop packaging products while leading daily lab operations, testing activities, and data analysis.

You will be the primary technical resource for packaging, structural, and distribution testing, supporting customers and internal stakeholders through test planning, execution, and reporting. The role involves working under the Packaging Design Manager with opportunities to influence product development,

Qualifications

• Packaging engineering degree or equivalent with related packaging experience.
• Knowledge of ISTA, ASTM, and transportation testing standards.
• Experience operating vibration, compression, impact, environmental testing equipment.
• Experience in packaging testing environments.
• Experience in ISTA packaging testing and production workflow design.
• Proficiency in MS Office and CAD tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily lab operations and testing activities.
• Conduct packaging, structural, distribution, and custom testing per procedures.
• Analyze test data and prepare reports for customers and stakeholders.
• Support continuous improvement of testing processes and equipment utilization.
• Develop drawings and specifications for cost-effective production.
• Maintain calibration and testing records.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Data analysis

Test planning

Collaboration

Education

Packaging engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

3D CAD Modeling

MS Office

Job description

The Packaging Engineer I / Lead Lab Technician is responsible for designing and developing packaging products and solutions that meet customer needs and specifications with minimal supervision, while leading daily laboratory operations and testing activities. This position serves as the primary technical resource for packaging, structural, and distribution testing, supporting customers and internal stakeholders through test planning, execution, data analysis, and reporting while ensuring compliance with applicable industry standards and laboratory safety requirements. Works under general direction of the Packaging Design Manager; who exercises discretion and judgment on work priority and training on a regular basis; a wide degree of creativity is expected.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Proven communication skills with customers, vendors and co-workers and developed long term working relationships.
• Lead and coordinate daily laboratory operations, scheduling, and testing activities to ensure projects are completed safely, accurately, and on time.
• Conduct structural, packaging, distribution, and custom testing in accordance with applicable ASTM, ISTA, and customer-specific test procedures.
• Analyze test data and prepare detailed reports that clearly communicate results, observations, and recommendations to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance testing processes, equipment utilization, and laboratory efficiency.
• Responsible to manage new product development processes, based on customer needs, design structural packaging basics, utilizing SolidWorks and other computer design programs suitable for the purpose intended.
• Offers alternative designs of existing packaging or alternate material solutions.
• Responsible to develop drawings and specifications that meet operations' and customers' requirements with cost effective production techniques.
• Maintain laboratory equipment calibration, preventative maintenance schedules, and testing records to ensure reliable test results and compliance with quality standards.
• Costs products, develops bills of materials and ensures that appropriate information is entered into the system and maintained.
• Drive efficiency in product manufacturing through design methods and assist production team in efficiency initiatives where applicable
• Responsible for corrective action as required per ECO, DCR and plant production needs.
• Prepares various reports as required.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualification

• A person with a Packaging Engineering Degree or equivalent with some work experience related to packaging, designing crates, boxes, corrugated fiberboard or foam packaging.
• Working knowledge of ISTA, ASTM, and transportation testing standards
• Experience operating and maintaining vibration, compression, impact, environmental, and data acquisition equipment.
• Experience in packaging, structural, distribution, or laboratory testing environments.
• Experience or training in packaging distribution environment.
• Experience or training in ISTA packaging testing, to design efficient packaging based on test.
• Experience or training in designing for production workflow and ergonomics.
• Experience or training presenting to customers, ability to describe product's benefits and features.
• Experience or training in intermodal packaging requirements.
• Experience with project management role.
• Full understanding of cuts and yields of material.
• Ability to understand customer comments and needs and pivot if our design is not in alignment.
• Proficiency in the use of MS Office Suites and 3D CAD Modeling is required.
• Training will be provided in advanced packaging certifications based on individual needs.

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.