Product Engineer

Socket.dev; Lee's Summit (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

IPL Schoeller seeks a Product Engineer to lead design, development and commercialization of plastic packaging from concept to production. You will work with R&D, manufacturing, quality and commercial teams to deliver high-performing, cost-effective products that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

This role can be based in the United States or Canada, with duties spanning design, testing, validation and cost-reduction initiatives across multiple packaging processes.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of product engineering within plastics packaging.
• Proven experience designing and commercializing plastic packaging products.
• Strong knowledge of polymer science, plastics processing, and packaging design.
• Experience with extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, or blow molding.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards (FDA/ISO) and packaging compliance.
• Proficiency with CAD and PLM systems; cost analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop plastic packaging products using CAD tools.
• Validate performance through testing and analysis.
• Optimize designs for manufacturability across molding processes.
• Lead prototype development and product validation.
• Drive cost reduction and process improvements while maintaining quality.
• Partner with R&D, operations, quality, sales, and customers.
• Support customer-facing technical presentations and solutions.
• Champion recycling and sustainable packaging initiatives.

Skills

CAD proficiency

Plastics knowledge

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Packaging Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

PLM systems

Job description

Who We Are

On July 1, 2025, IPL Plastics merged with Schoeller Allibert to form IPL Schoeller (the ‘company’). The Company’s operations are split across North America (11 manufacturing plants) and Europe (16 manufacturing plants).

The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. IPL Schoeller is a leading manufacturer of sustainable rigid packaging solutions across a range of end market segments including returnable transit packaging, consumer and industrial packaging, environmental containers and agricultural packaging. The company employs c.4,100 employees across North America (1,600 employees) and Europe (2,500 employees.)The role

IPL Schoeller is seeking an experienced Product Engineer to lead the design, development, and commercialization of plastic packaging solutions from concept through production. This role partners closely with R&D, manufacturing, quality, and commercial teams to deliver high-performing, cost-effective products that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

This role can be based in either the United States or Canada

What You’ll Do

• Design and develop plastic packaging products using CAD tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc.).

• Select materials and validate product performance through testing and analysis.

• Optimize designs for manufacturability across injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, and blow molding processes.

• Lead prototype development, product validation, and commercialization efforts.

• Drive cost reduction and process improvement initiatives while maintaining product quality.

• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for product performance issues.

• Ensure compliance with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications.

• Partner cross-functionally with R&D, operations, quality, sales, and customers on product development projects.

• Support customer-facing activities, including technical presentations and customized solutions.

• Champion sustainability initiatives, including recyclable and environmentally responsible packaging solutions.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, or a related field.

• 7-10 years of product engineering or product development experience within the plastics packaging industry.

• Proven success designing, developing, and commercializing plastic packaging products.

• Strong knowledge of polymer science, plastics processing, and packaging design principles.

• Hands-on experience with extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, and/or blow molding.

• Proficiency with CAD software and familiarity with PLM systems.

• Experience with material selection, performance testing, and cost analysis.

• Knowledge of regulatory standards such as FDA, ISO, and packaging compliance requirements.

• Strong project management, problem-solving, and technical documentation skills.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across technical, operational, and commercial teams.