Packaging Engineer

IFF • Clackamas, OR

82d • $91,744 - $114,680 • Onsite

About The Position

The Packaging Engineer will provide technical leadership for finished format packaging operations, including oversight of equipment, packaging materials, and inputs to contract manufacturing partners. This role ensures optimal performance of packaging processes across internal and external sites, supports capital projects, and drives innovation in packaging formats and materials while maintaining compliance with operational and quality standards.

Requirements

• A legal right to work in the United States
• Must pass pre-employment drug screen and background check
• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in packaging engineering within a manufacturing or contract manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of packaging equipment, material properties, and preventive maintenance strategies.
• Experience supporting capital projects and collaborating with global teams and CMOs.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Continuous improvement mindset with ability to identify opportunities for efficiency and innovation.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with regulatory and quality standards for dietary supplement or food packaging preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert for finished format packaging equipment (bottling, blister, stick pack, sachet, etc.) and packaging materials within the plant.
• Evaluate and select packaging materials (films, laminates, cartons, foils, adhesives) compatible with high-speed equipment.
• Define and maintain critical material specifications (e.g., coefficient of friction, seal strength, thickness tolerance, heat resistance) to ensure consistent line performance.
• Develop strategies for equipment setup and material selection to improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
• Establish material selection approaches aligned to machine capabilities to minimize jams, defects, and variability.
• Optimize material-to-machine interface settings (tension, sealing parameters, forming conditions) to support high-speed throughput.
• Provide technical guidance and troubleshooting support for plant operations and external manufacturing partners (as needed).
• Diagnose and resolve material-related performance issues (e.g., tracking, tearing, seal failures, static, curling).
• Recommend material or supplier specification adjustments to improve reliability and reduce downtime.
• Provide technical input for packaging-related capital projects, including equipment upgrades and new installations.
• Assess and ensure material compatibility with new or modified equipment to enable efficient high-speed operations.
• Partner with engineering, operations, and external partners to ensure successful execution of projects within timelines and budgets.
• Collaborate with teams and suppliers to develop or refine materials that meet equipment and operational requirements.
• Support preventive maintenance planning for packaging lines to maximize uptime and reliability.
• Incorporate material performance considerations (e.g., wear, residue, sealing impacts) into maintenance strategies.
• Manage changes to packaging components and materials, including labels, cartons, foils, sachets, and other printed or structural materials.
• Lead material qualification and change control processes, ensuring machinability, quality, and compliance requirements are met.
• Support label machine application requirements by ensuring label materials, adhesives, and roll specifications are compatible with line equipment and application standards.
• Coordinate trials for new packaging formats and material validations to ensure manufacturability.
• Plan and execute line trials under production conditions to validate material performance at required speeds.
• Analyze results to confirm efficiency, seal integrity, and defect reduction prior to implementation.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Quality, and Production teams to ensure seamless execution of packaging changes and reprints.
• Develop and maintain material specifications and supplier expectations for consistency and performance.
• Balance cost, sustainability, and operational efficiency when selecting and implementing packaging materials.

Benefits

• We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level