Staff Packaging Systems CI Engineer

Hershey Company; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing

Financial Security

Time Off & Flexibility

Growth & Development

Benefits may vary by role

Job summary

The Hershey Company is seeking a Staff Packaging Systems CI Engineer to drive continuous improvement across our packaging platforms. You will lead cross-functional projects from concept to plant handoff, focusing on cost, quality, safety, and supply continuity across the global confectionery and salty portfolios.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, 5+ years packaging-systems experience, and Six Sigma Green Belt; Black Belt is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; master’s degree welcome.
• Minimum 5 years of packaging-systems engineering in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex packaging or manufacturing improvement projects with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of food-manufacturing systems, sanitary design, GMP, and equipment suppliers.
• Six Sigma Green Belt required; Six Sigma Black Belt preferred.
• Strong project planning, technical analysis, and communication skills; MS Office.
• Travel up to 70% and willingness to work in environments with regulated allergens.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging-system CI projects from opportunity identification through design, testing, installation, startup, commissioning and handoff.
• Develop project scopes, specifications, schedules, cost estimates and engineering deliverables for equipment selection and layouts.
• Plan and execute proof-of-principle tests, experiments and scale-up activities; translate results into actionable recommendations.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, TPM and packaging engineering methods to identify root causes and deliver sustainable solutions.
• Manage cost, schedule, resources, risk, suppliers, and cross-functional collaboration across Manufacturing, R&D, Engineering, Quality and Regulatory.
• Mentor engineers and technicians, provide documentation and training, and transfer improvements to plant operations.

Skills

5+ years packaging-systems engineering

Six Sigma Green Belt

Six Sigma Black Belt preferred

GMP knowledge

Lean manufacturing

TPM knowledge

Project planning

MS Office

Strong communication

Travel up to 70%

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree welcome

Job description

Location: Hershey, PA preferred, open to remoteUp to 70% Travel

Why Hershey

At The Hershey Company, we make more moments of goodness through some of the world's most iconic brands, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat®®, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Dot’s Pretzels, Lesser Evil and more. Our team supports a global portfolio of over 90 brands, creating opportunities to shape strategies and drive impact across a breadth of businesses that few companies can offer. While many organizations focus on a handful of brands, Hershey provides exposure to a diverse portfolio of category-leading brands enjoyed by consumers around the world. What truly sets us apart is our legacy. Inspired by Milton Hershey’s belief that business should create opportunity for others, we have been making a positive impact for more than a century through our commitment to communities, philanthropy, and our longstanding partnership with Milton Hershey School.

When you join Hershey, you become part of a company where purpose, growth, and making a difference are woven into how we do business every day.

How will you fit in the big picture?

The Staff Packaging Systems CI Engineer advances Hershey’s multi-year Enterprise Continuous Improvement plan by identifying, developing, and implementing packaging-system improvements across the manufacturing network. Working independently and through cross-functional teams, you will lead complex initiatives from concept through sustainable plant handoff to improve cost, capacity, quality, safety, and supply continuity across Hershey’s Global Confectionery and Salty businesses.

What will you do?

• Lead packaging-system continuous-improvement projects from opportunity identification and loss analysis through design, testing, installation, startup, commissioning, training, and performance stabilization.
• Develop project scopes, specifications, schedules, cost estimates, technical recommendations, and engineering deliverables for equipment selection, modifications, and layouts.
• Plan and execute proof-of-principle tests, designed experiments, scale-up activities, manufacturing trials, and feasibility assessments; translate results into practical technical and financial recommendations.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, packaging engineering, food science, and structured problem-solving methods to identify root causes and deliver sustainable solutions.
• Manage project cost, schedule, resources, risk, suppliers, and communication while partnering with Manufacturing, R&D, Engineering, Finance, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Marketing, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
• Mentor engineers and technicians, provide clear technical documentation and training, and transfer improvements successfully to plant operations and maintenance teams.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline. A master's degree is welcome.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of relevant packaging-systems engineering, process design, project management, troubleshooting, or continuous-improvement experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex packaging or manufacturing improvement projects involving multiple unit operations and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of food-manufacturing systems, sanitary design, Good Manufacturing Practices, manufacturing validation, equipment suppliers, and plant implementation.
• Six Sigma Green Belt required; Six Sigma Black Belt preferred. Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and TPM.
• Strong project planning, technical analysis, written and verbal communication, and Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability to travel up to 70%, support project work outside standard hours when needed, and work in manufacturing environments with regulated food allergens while following all site safety, food-safety, and allergen-control requirements.

Benefits and Perks

• Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health begin on Day 1.
• Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match
• Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable
• Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility
• Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $118,880 to $148,600 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of job‑related factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, education, and training. In addition to a market-competitive base salary, our Total Rewards package includes performance‑based incentives and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical, mental, and financial well‑being (as applicable). Learn more about Hershey’s benefits and all the resources Hershey provides to support our employees’ physical, emotional, and financial well‑being by visiting the Hershey Digital Employee Experience at www.askHRbenefits.hersheys.com.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability. You can request an accommodation via phone or email. To request an accommodation via phone, please call and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also email a request for accommodation to . Please be sure to include "Accommodation Needed" in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.