Packaging Engineer

Freshpet, Inc.•Bethlehem, PA

50d•$117,000 - $137,000

About The Position

Freshpet is a family of pet-loving humans guided by a simple mission: to positively impact pets, people and the planet shared by all. Freshpet employees work hard as a team and get rewarded generously for their dedication and effort. From real career growth, mentorship, stock ownership and competitive pay and benefits for employees and their families - and their fur families, too! - Freshpet aims to make work a rewarding, fun and inspiring part of life. Plus, there are so many ways to contribute at Freshpet. Whether it's finance, manufacturing, HR, marketing, engineering, innovation or other functions, the company is rapidly growing and always seeking motivated and passionate people to join the Freshpet family. Come join Freshpet's mission to bring the power of real, fresh food to pets. The Packaging Engineer is responsible for packaging development in support of new products, cost savings projects, process development, and manufacturing/supply chain initiatives. This role combines technical knowledge, project management and cross-functional team communications skills to provide a strong source of packaging capabilities. Required skills paired with a passion for excellence and an entrepreneurial mindset will be important keys to success for the right candidate. The Packaging Engineer will support business needs at both Freshpet Bedminster NJ (Corporate) and Bethlehem, PA (Operations) facilities as required.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Package Engineering or an alternate relevant technical discipline (required)
Minimum 5-7 years of packaging development and project management experience as part of a cross functional team within the Food and Beverage industry
Applied knowledge in areas of corrugated, paperboard cartons, labels, flexibles/laminates, various print methods, and/or thermoforms for wet/refrigerated products
Knowledge of refrigerated distribution, modified atmosphere packaging, SQF
Experience writing packaging specifications and SOPs
Experience with ArtiosCAD and TOPS Pro software
Strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills
Ability to self-direct and take constructive action in ambiguous situations
Ability to prioritize work and manage several projects at a time
Quality-oriented mindset, strong sense of urgency & attention to detail
Proficient in MS Office Suite
Position will share time between Bedminster NJ and Bethlehem PA facilities to support Marketing and Operations initiatives
Potential of 10-20% domestic travel

Responsibilities

Design, develop, coordinate, and commercialize new packaging for product development projects
Interact across all levels & functions and participate in project planning activities
Research package options, manage project time & risk, produce prototypes, conduct tests, integrate manufacturing processes, engage suppliers, and overall communications
Create complete and accurate packaging specifications reflecting materials that can be produced consistently and run efficiently on packaging lines
Formulate and execute experimental design and conduct validation testing to predict package performance, durability, reliability, and consumer function
Stay abreast of relevant market and consumer trends in packaging seeking opportunities to align product portfolios with innovative packaging concepts and methods
Collaborate with suppliers, R&D, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing & Finance, to initiate and execute continuous improvement projects geared towards improving quality, lowering cost and/or increasing capacity
Troubleshoot packaging issues on production lines to assist with identifying and implementing solutions
Communicate implications of material and structure changes to manufacturing plants and co-manufacturers, and ensure appropriate testing and its successful introduction

Benefits

At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!

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