Staff Mechanical Engineer II

Packaging Corporation of America; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 96,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range

Annual bonus

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Enrollment in benefits

Job summary

Packaging Corporation of America seeks a Staff Mechanical Engineer II to lead initiatives that improve manufacturing processes, reduce costs, and enhance production quality. This hands-on role collaborates with leaders and skilled teams to implement innovative solutions.

Responsibilities include project engineering, budgeting, CAD design, safety leadership, and clear communication of findings. Requires a mechanical engineering degree, 5+ years in an industrial setting, AutoCAD expertise, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (or substantially similar)
• Ability to travel 80% and reside in Lower 48 states
• 5+ years in industrial paper/corrugating or design-engineering environments
• AutoCAD expertise
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organization and planning skills
• Experience coordinating with engineers, utilities, and authorities
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and AutoCAD (or similar)

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to manufacturing operations.
• Evaluate and apply standard engineering techniques with minor adaptations.
• Lead project engineering: scopes, budgets, vendor specs, and evaluations.
• Make actionable recommendations based on engineering judgment.
• Manage multiple capital and maintenance projects from planning to troubleshooting.
• Create drawings and layouts in AutoCAD.
• Ensure safety during installation and implementation.
• Coordinate with contractors and engineering groups.
• Keep projects on budget and schedule.
• Write reports and present analyses.

Skills

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People

• Customers
• Trust

As a Staff Mechanical Engineer II, you’ll be the technical expert, leading initiatives and projects that improve manufacturing processes, reduce costs, and enhance production quality. You’ll design and implement optimal, cost-effective solutions, and champion transformation efforts through hands‑on leadership and collaboration. This is a hands‑on position where you’ll work side‑by‑side with leaders and skilled teams to bring innovative solutions to life.

Location: Flexible (Lower 48 States) | Travel: 80% | Relocation: Not Required

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to the business and manufacturing operations.
• Evaluate, select, and apply standard engineering techniques, procedures and criteria using judgment in making minor adaptations and modifications.
• Project Engineering – develop, evaluate, and propose solutions, create project scopes and budgets, write vendor/contractor scopes and specifications, evaluate proposals and make recommendations.
• Make actionable recommendations based on sound engineering judgment.
• Manage multiple capital and maintenance projects, including initial planning, design, documenting, budgeting, implementation, and troubleshooting.
• AutoCAD – creating drawings, general arrangements, concept layout, piping schematic/iso, basic civil/structural construction drawings.
• Dedication to ensuring a safe work environment – responsible for managing safety during installation/implementation.
• Coordinates and supervises work scope with outside contractors and engineering groups on various sized projects.
• Maintain projects on budget and on schedule.
• Write reports and give presentations based on analysis of information and written materials.
• Ability to organize, plan and work independently and as part of a team with minimal supervision.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology from an accredited college or university. Other degrees considered with substantial experience.
• Ability to travel 80% of the time and can reside anywhere in lower 48 states with good access to reliable air transportation.
• 5 + years in an industrial paper and/or corrugating environment or design engineering environment.
• AutoCAD expertise.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to influence and persuade others.
• Excellent organization and planning skills.
• Ability to work well with consulting engineers, local utility providers, and local authorities having jurisdiction.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and AutoCAD (or similar).

Compensation And Benefits

• Starting salary range for position: $96,000-$130,000
• Bonus: Annual – Based upon individual contribution and overall, Company performance.
• Paid Vacation: Three (3) weeks per calendar year. Pro-rata Vacation during the initial year of hire based upon start date within the calendar year.
• Paid Holidays.
• Within the first 30 days of employment, an employee (and their dependents) is eligible to enroll in certain benefit coverages -- medical, dental, and vision – and are automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and disability coverages.
• Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401k plan. The plan offers both pre-tax and Roth contribution options along with employer provided matching contributions.
• Disclaimer: The Compensation and Benefits information in this posting represents PCA’s good faith and reasonable estimate of what it may pay for this position. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer