Principal Packaging Engineer
About The Position
Principal Packaging Engineer (Sterile Barrier Systems) 📍 Grand Rapids, MI (Travel Required | Up to ~50% at Peak Times) ✈️ At Oliver Healthcare Packaging, we’re not just designing packaging—we’re protecting the integrity of life-saving medical devices around the world 🌍 We’re looking for a Principal Packaging Engineer to serve as a recognized technical authority in sterile barrier systems and flexible packaging. This is a highly visible, customer-facing role where your expertise will directly influence product innovation, regulatory strategy, and customer success. If you thrive on solving complex technical challenges 🧩, influencing across organizations, and shaping the future of healthcare packaging—this is your opportunity.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in packaging engineering (medical device strongly preferred)
- Deep expertise in sterile and flexible packaging design and performance
- Strong knowledge of ISO 11607, ISO 13485, and medical device packaging requirements
- Experience with Thermoform-Fill-Seal and Tray/Lid sealing technologies
- Proficiency in DFMEA, DOE, SPC, Gauge R&R, and statistical analysis tools (Minitab, Excel) 📈
- Strong communicator with the ability to influence and translate complex technical concepts
Nice To Haves
- Experience with CAD (2D/3D) is a plus
Responsibilities
- Act as a subject matter expert in sterile barrier systems, flexible packaging, and performance testing
- Lead complex, high-impact projects across material selection, packaging design, and validation strategy
- Provide technical mentorship to engineers and lab teams 🤝
- Influence product platforms, supplier strategy, and emerging technologies
- Partner directly with customers through consultations, site visits, trials, and troubleshooting
- Support commercial teams with technical insights, data storytelling, and solution positioning
- Lead customer training sessions, workshops, and line trials 🎤
- Represent Oliver at industry forums and technical discussions
- Collaborate with R&D and Product Management to assess and advance new product concepts
- Shape portfolio decisions through deep technical insight and application knowledge
- Support product lifecycle activities including optimization, change management, and documentation
- Lead technical investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
- Partner with Operations and Engineering on process validation and scale-up ⚙️
- Support supplier qualification and performance improvement initiatives
- Provide expert interpretation of test methods, standards, and complex datasets
- Contribute to the evolution of lab systems, tools, and data accessibility
- Perform advanced testing and analysis as needed
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
No Education Listed
