Senior Packaging Engineer

generac; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Generac is seeking a Senior Packaging Engineer to lead supplier packaging strategies that protect product quality and optimize total cost of ownership. You will partner with engineering, quality, supply chain, logistics and manufacturing to implement packaging solutions that improve material flow and reduce waste.

You will design tests, establish protocols, and develop SOPs while mentoring teams and driving continuous improvement across sites. Travel ~10% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in packaging or related technical field.
• Minimum 5 years in packaging engineering or related role.
• Experience designing, testing, validating, implementing packaging solutions.
• Working knowledge of SAP, ERP systems, data analysis tools.
• Ability to lead cross-functional problem solving and manage multiple projects.
• Travel up to ~10% to suppliers or sites as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of supplier packaging standards and models for PFEP, cost, and line-side presentation.
• Engage with suppliers and sites to assess inbound requirements and implement solutions.
• Develop metrics, audits, and monitoring tools for supplier adherence and corrective actions.
• Design, test, validate packaging improvements with protocols and SOPs.
• Establish preservation and protection requirements for materials and returns.
• Coordinate with sourcing, project management, supplier quality, and engineering.
• Lead packaging-related continuous improvement to reduce freight and optimize flow.
• Communicate status, risks, savings opportunities, and plans to stakeholders.

Skills

Packaging engineering

Packaging design

Manufacturing engineering

Material flow

Logistics engineering

Cross-functional teamwork

Data analysis

SAP

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering

Engineering degree (Mechanical/Industrial/Manufacturing)

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Packaging documentation systems

Job description

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most.

For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future.

Ready to Power a Smarter World with us?

The Senior Packaging Engineer is responsible for leading the development, validation, implementation, and continuous improvement of supplier packaging and material presentation strategies that support manufacturing operations. This role partners closely with engineering, quality, supply chain, logistics, sourcing, and manufacturing to ensure packaging solutions protect product quality, improve material flow, reduce waste, and optimize total cost of ownership. Supplier packaging is a critical lever in inbound logistics, factory performance, inventory accuracy, and overall supply chain efficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead development of supplier packaging standards and packaging models that support PFEP, total cost of ownership, material flow, storage strategy, transportation efficiency, and line-side presentation.
• Engage directly with suppliers and manufacturing sites to assess inbound material requirements, identify packaging gaps, and implement packaging solutions that improve quality, handling, ergonomics, and cost.
• Develop and maintain metrics, audit processes, and monitoring tools to measure supplier adherence to packaging specifications, escalte noncompliance, and drive corrective actions.
• Design, test, and validate packaging improvements through structured test methods, capability studies, packaging trials, and documented protocols; create or update SOPs, work instructions, and training materials for affected teams.
• Establish preservation and protection requirements for materials, including service parts, long-term storage, environmental exposure, returnable packaging, and damage prevention needs.
• Partner with sourcing, project management, supplier quality, product engineering, and operations to ensure new and existing sourced components have approved packaging specifications before production launch or material flow changes.
• Lead packaging-related continuous improvement projects that reduce freight cost, improve cube utilization, reduce excess handling, improve inventory accuracy, and support lean material flow principles.
• Communicate project status, packaging performance, risks, savings opportunities, and implementation plans to internal stakeholders, suppliers, and leadership

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in packaging engineering, packaging design, manufacturing engineering, material flow, logistics engineering, or a related supply chain engineering role.

Preferred Job Requirements

• Experience designing, testing, validating, and implementing packaging solutions for inbound supplier materials, bulk containers, returnable packaging, expendable packaging, or line-side presentation.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, SAP or equivalent ERP systems, data analysis tools, and packaging documentation systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional problem solving, manage multiple packaging projects, and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience with PFEP, lean manufacturing, material flow optimization, supplier development, cost savings projects, and packaging standardization.
• Experience mentoring engineers, training operations teams, or leading packaging implementation across multiple sites, suppliers, or regions.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong knowledge of packaging materials, container design, supplier packaging specifications, material handling equipment, warehouse storage, and manufacturing line-side delivery requirements.
• Ability to analyze packaging cost drivers, freight impacts, space utilization, damage trends, labor implications, and inventory flow to support total cost of ownership decisions.
• Advanced analytical mindset with the ability to translate data, supplier input, plant feedback, and operational constraints into practical packaging solutions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present recommendations, tradeoffs, standards, and implementation plans to suppliers, plant teams, engineering, sourcing, and leadership.
• Ability to travel approximately 10% to suppliers, manufacturing sites, distribution locations, or packaging trial locations as needed.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical