Project Packaging Engineer

Lactalis USA; Murfreesboro (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance contributions

Retirement plans

Paid Time Off from day one

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Midwest Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Project Packaging Engineer based in Murfreesboro, TN. The role leads packaging system installations and capital projects from initial design through start-up and production handover, providing expert technical troubleshooting to the maintenance team.

Education includes a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and 5+ years in manufacturing engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering required.
• 5+ years in a manufacturing engineering environment.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT.
• Strong foundation in process engineering, fluid dynamics, and automated systems.
• Proven ability to manage complex timelines and budgets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Adaptive, proactive leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging projects from scope through FAT, site installation, commissioning, and SAT.
• Direct the project budget and capital approval processes; issue POs and track variances.
• Own the master project timeline and coordinate on-site vendor activities and equipment shipping.
• Synchronize project steps across packaging design, recipes, sampling, testing, ramp-up and punch-list.
• Translate long-term needs into technical requirements; ensure designs align with master plan.
• Engage plant teams across the project lifecycle with a customer-service mindset.
• Prepare supplier bid packages; evaluate bids on technical and professional grounds.
• Plan and conduct packaging trials and tests with suppliers, R&D, and production.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiency and implement improvements.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and floor support to maintenance.
• Ensure milestones: FAT/SAT, PLC validation, tests, commissioning, sign-off.
• Enforce safety protocols and ensure deadlines and quality standards.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation and records.

Skills

Project governance

Budgeting

Timeline planning

Cross-functional coordination

Technical design

Stakeholder management

RFQ procurement

Trials & validation

Continuous improvement

Maintenance support

Safety & compliance

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT

Job description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Midwest Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Project Packaging Engineer based in Murfreesboro, TN.

The Packaging Project Engineer is responsible for the execution of packaging system installations and capital projects as assigned by the Engineering Manager. This role leads packaging initiatives across their full lifecycle—from initial specification design through start-up and production handover—while providing critical technical troubleshooting and expertise to the maintenance team.

From your EXPERTISE to our

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Project Governance: Lead assigned packaging projects from scope definition through Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), site installation, commissioning, and final Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
• Capital Approval & Budgeting: Direct the project budget and capital approval (DA) processes. Issue purchase orders, track actual vs. budgeted variances, report on cash spend/forecasts, and control scope changes via formal change orders.
• Timeline & Vendor Planning: Own the master project timeline and schedule. Coordinate on-site vendor activities, logistics, equipment shipping, and progressive payment milestones in tight alignment with plant operations.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Synchronize project steps across supporting departments, managing packaging design, product recipes, vendor sampling, water/CIP testing, system ramp-up, and punch-list resolution.
• Technical Design: Translate long-term business and capacity needs into technical requirements (sizing, machine flexibility, and component counts). Ensure packaging system designs capture industry best practices and align with the site master plan.
• Stakeholder Mobilization: Actively engage, communicate with, and mobilize plant teams at every phase of the project lifecycle, ensuring a customer-service-oriented approach for production and maintenance departments.
• Procurement & RFQs: Author comprehensive supplier selection bid packages, solicit requests for quotation (RFQs), and perform rigorous technical and professional evaluations of bidding vendors.
• Trials & Validation: Organize and execute all necessary packaging trials and technical tests to guarantee project success alongside suppliers, R&D, and production teams.
• Continuous Improvement: Research, develop, and implement solutions for operational efficiency issues on the packaging floor. Analyze existing machinery to identify optimization opportunities via component and system studies.
• Maintenance & Technical Support: Provide advanced technical troubleshooting and floor support to the maintenance department, elevating the technical depth and skill sets of the plant maintenance technicians.
• Milestone Oversight: Ensure strict compliance with critical technical milestones, including provisional acceptance, PLC programming validation, electrical/water tests, commissioning, and final sign-off.
• Safety & Compliance: Enforce rigorous safety protocols across all project phases, taking immediate responsive action if safety breaches occur, while ensuring execution deadlines and quality standards are met.
• Documentation: Maintain meticulous, up-to-date documentation, blueprints, and records for all executed packaging projects.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• A bachelor's degree is required.
• Majors in mechanical engineering or a similar discipline are favored

Experience

• 5+ years of experience within a manufacturing engineering environment is required.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Software: Proficiency with AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT.
• Technical Expertise: Strong foundation in process engineering principles, fluid dynamics, and automated manufacturing systems.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex timelines, prioritize competing deliverables, and execute budgets.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver technical presentations and write clear operational procedures.
• Adaptability: Resilient and proactive mindset with the ability to lead effectively within a fast-paced, evolving production environment.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affiliation Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.