Product Development Engineer

CKS Packaging, Inc; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Discretionary bonus

401k with match

Job summary

CKS Packaging, Inc. in Atlanta, GA seeks a Project Development Manager to oversee product development projects from concept through production. You will guide design to manufacturing readiness, coordinate with design teams and customers, and manage timelines and budgets to deliver quality results.

The role requires 2–4 years in product development and plastics, with a degree in a related field preferred. On-site position with competitive pay and a discretionary bonus program.

Qualifications

• Requires minimum 2-year degree or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Packaging/Plastics preferred.
• 1–3 years product development/plastics experience encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Leads development projects from design to production, overseeing pilot tools and production molds.
• Translates customer needs into actionable project plans.
• Creates and manages Gantt charts, resolves scheduling constraints.
• Communicates priorities across stakeholders.
• Applies stage-gated project oversight to balance workload.
• Addresses customer concerns across the project lifecycle.
• Maintains records and analyzes data to inform next steps.

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Packaging/Plastics

Job description

(Please note if you are viewing this posting on an external job board, unless specifically stated in the posting, the provided hourly/salary estimates may not be accurate as they are not provided by CKS.)

What’s In it for You?

• Stable, growing organization with opportunity for future advancement of qualified candidates
• Competitive pay based on experience and qualifications
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits at modest employee contributions
• Discretionary Bonus
• 401k participation with Company matching contributions upon completion of first 30 days of service

Main Purpose of the Job:

Manages projects under the guidance and mentorship of the Senior Product Development Manager. Oversees activities throughout the development phase, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and obtaining necessary approvals. Delivers projects to production with expected quality, within established timelines and budget constraints

Responsibilities

• Leads development projects from design to production, including pilot tools, production molds, and manufacturing readiness. Oversees mold, machine, and packaging components for timely delivery.
• Identifies customer needs and translates them into actionable project plans.
• Creates and manages Gantt charts, resolves scheduling constraints, identifies bottlenecks, and collaborates with team members to develop solutions.
• Understands and communicates project priorities, ensuring alignment across key stakeholders.
• Applies stage-gated methodologies for project oversight, balancing project load with effective time management.
• Addresses customer complaints, concerns, and requests across the project lifecycle.
• Conducts regular meetings to track progress, ensuring projects remain on time and within budget.
• Facilitates collaboration between customers and internal design teams.
• Engages effectively with CKS Sales, Product development, operations teams, customers, suppliers, and vendors to clarify requirements, coordinate activities, and provide direction.
• Maintains accurate records of key project information, utilizing established forms and procedures.
• Analyzes and interprets data to draw actionable conclusions, identify risks, and recommend next steps.
• Identifies and resolves technical issues to meet project objectives
• Ensures all health, safety, and legal requirements are met throughout project execution.
• Additional duties as assigned by the manager pursuant to the scope of the role.

Education/Experience:

• Minimum 2 year degree,
• Or, Minimum 4 year Bachelors Degree in Mechanical/Packaging/Plastics or equivalent experience
• 1-3 years of experience in product development & plastics preferred; will consider recent graduates as well
• Project Management experience relating to requirements, planning, cross functional leadership, customer product delivery