Product Development Engineer - Thermoforming

Amcor Rigid Packaging; Neenah (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Amcor Rigid Packaging is seeking a Product Development Engineer for Thermoforming in Neenah, WI. You will support new product launches for thermoformed products and manage new product introductions from idea to commercialization.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and over 5 years of experience in plastics manufacturing. Strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and attention to detail are essential.

This role involves approximately 30-50% travel to client and manufacturing sites.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience in plastics manufacturing & processing.
• Experience with capital projects and working with OEMs and suppliers.
• Comfortable with 30-50% travel to sites.

Responsibilities

• Support new product launches across different business segments.
• Manage new product introductions from prototype to production.
• Conduct design reviews and optimize manufacturing processes.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Thermoforming experience

Critical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field

Tools

Manufacturing equipment knowledge

Job description

Product Development Engineer - Thermoforming

Job Details

Location: Neenah, US; Deerfield, US

Department: R&D/Innovation Management

Job Type: Employee, Full-time, On site

Role Summary

As a member of AFNA's R&D team, you will support new product launches for thermoformed products across the MPS, GCI, Liquid & Dairy business segments. The purpose of this role is to manage new product introductions from the idea/prototype phase through production tool commercialization. This role works closely with account managers, marketing, product management, external design engineers, external tool engineers & mold shops, process engineers, production team members, and quality in the early phases of product development. This role is customer-facing, providing direct support to the commercial team. This role is accountable for delivering new thermoforming development projects, monitoring progress, communicating internally and externally regarding key deliverables, and proactively addressing issues.

What you will do

• Demonstrate Amcor's values of Safety, Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability and Results & Outperformance in your work.
• Conduct design reviews where you will identify and translate abstract customer needs into defined CTQ's and provide input on part features to improve the manufacturability of the parts.
• Lead new commercial tool introductions and oversee the process from start to finish on schedule through a stage gate process.
• Lead process development of the thermoforming operation through parameter optimization, DOE experiments, and trials that will lead to a robust and repeatable process for new product tools at both Amcor & co‑manufacturing sites.
• Select vendors to fabricate the tooling and sign‑off for acceptance of tooling.
• Work closely with production and quality on initial tool debugging, followed by process validation and establishing the optimal forming/trimming window and setting processing specifications.
• Work closely with engineering, sales, quality, and operations to ensure parts meet customer specifications.
• Provide expertise and recommendations on manufacturing equipment needed to support the current business and enable capability for future growth.
• Originate innovative ideas to support the R&D product innovation and technology strategy.
• Manage competing priorities while working on customer‑specific projects, platforms initiated by Amcor, cost take‑out (CTO) initiatives and long‑term product and process innovations.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field is preferred.
• Thermoforming, part design and/or mold‑making experience is preferred.
• 5+ years of industry experience in plastics manufacturing & processing (i.e., extrusion, thermoforming, and tooling).
• Strong problem‑solving, critical thinking skills & attention to detail.
• 30-50% travel – mostly domestic – to customer, Amcor & co‑manufacturing sites.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment with proven results leading capital projects working with OEMs and suppliers.