Senior Engineering Technician

The Visual Pak Companies; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging solutions provider in Waukegan is seeking a Senior Engineering Technician responsible for providing technical expertise in maintaining and optimizing manufacturing equipment. This role includes diagnosing complex issues and implementing improvements to ensure operational efficiency and safety. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field and a minimum of 5 years of experience in a technical role with CPG production equipment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a technical role working with CPG production equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and electrical schematics.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex equipment issues under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering details for customer quote requests including line layouts and production speeds.
• Diagnose and resolve issues related to electrical and mechanical systems.
• Implement modifications to existing equipment to improve performance.

Skills

Mechanical Skills

Electrical Skills

Machine Shop Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechatronics, Industrial Maintenance, or related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

Maintenance management software

Job description

Overview

Reporting to Title: Engineering Manager

Position Purpose/Summary: The Senior Engineering Technician provides technical expertise and hands-on assistance in the maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of manufacturing equipment and processes. This role is responsible for enabling the achievement of operations transformation, delivering operational improvements, sustaining a high-performing Lean & Quality culture, striving for zero defects by utilizing Continuous Improvement processes and tools, and being a catalyst to institute a “culture” of process capabilities and control rather than product inspection.

Knowledge-Skills-Abilities

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechatronics, Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a technical role working with CPG production equipment.
• Mechanical Skills: Pneumatics, Hydraulics, Pumps, Bearings, Chains and Belting, Conveying Systems, Valves, and Mechanical Troubleshooting.
• Electrical Skills: Basic Electricity, Volt Meter and Amp Probe, AC/DC Motors and Control Systems, Basic Schematic Reading, Basic PLC Knowledge, and Electrical Troubleshooting.
• Machine Shop Skills: Welding, Fabrication, and Proficiency with all Standard Maintenance Tools and Shop Equipment.
• Machine Experience: Ronchi, MRM/Elgin, Cozzoli, Kapsall, Oden, and Kalish, Pacific Liquid Fillers, Pace, Hamrick, Pearson Erectors and Sealers, Resina and Kapsall Automatic Cappers and PE. Tronics, and Quadrel Labelers.
• Knowledge of production machinery, processes, and standards related to performance, maintenance, and safety.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and electrical schematics.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex equipment issues and develop effective solutions under pressure.

Technology/Software:

• MS Office Suite: strong competency and use of software
• Experience with maintenance management software a plus.

Communication:

• Effective communication skills (verbal & written). Ability to effectively communicate to both senior management as well as operational associates.
• Sufficient interpersonal and technical skills to earn respect and recognition.
• Demonstrated aptitude to produce effective presentations of technical material to non-technical people, both written and verbal.

Vehicle (own): Must be able to independently travel between the Visual Pak buildings (2 miles) on a regular basis.

Responsibilities

• Provide specific engineering details for the customer quote request process, including line layouts, production speeds, crewing, bottlenecks, capital requirements, etc.
• Evaluate and make informed decisions on packaging specifications and fill requirements to achieve a balance between customer needs and in-house capabilities. Evaluate new packaging and work with in-house and outside technical staff to determine exactly what is needed to run on existing equipment. Provide engineering direction to design and create solutions to optimize and expand current capabilities.
• Provide in-house consultation, support, and direction to production and quality groups as it pertains to the form-fit function of new and existing packaging
• Diagnose and resolve complex issues related to electrical, mechanical, and control systems, including PLCs, robotics, sensors, and other automated systems
• Oversee the installation and commissioning of new production equipment, ensuring compliance with safety standards and operational requirements.
• Implement modifications and upgrades to existing equipment to improve performance, reliability, and efficiency, or to meet new production requirements.
• Develop and communicate preventive maintenance schedules to minimize unplanned downtime and prolong equipment lifespan.
• Maintain accurate records of work performed, including collecting performance and machine qualification data.
• Work closely with production operators, process engineers, and other stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure all work is conducted in compliance with safety regulations and company policies, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Mentor and train junior technicians on equipment operation, maintenance best practices, and troubleshooting techniques.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at optimizing production efficiency, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance.
• Deliver results for a successful lean transformation
• Successful transformation to include increased safety, quality, productivity, and cost reduction

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

On-going outcome that is measurable

• Cost savings delivered to the business through automation by enhancing labor efficiency and reducing defect rates.
• On-time startup of new product launches that meet quality and performance metrics.
• Enhancements in uptime driven by increased Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and improved unit operation efficiency.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Visual Pak Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Visual Pak does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, gender (orientation or identification), sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis covered by federal, state, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, skills, individual performance, and business needs.