DEN Principal Packaging Engineer

Leprino Foods • Denver, CO

1d • $147,000 - $170,000

About The Position

Within our Corporate Project Engineering team located in Denver – Leprino is seeking a Principal Packaging Engineer to lead the design and execution of large, complex packaging capital projects across our cheese and nutrition manufacturing network. This role carries full accountability for system-level packaging design, technical direction, and execution from concept through commissioning, working directly with plant teams, equipment partners, and general contractors to bring high-speed packaging systems online. At Leprino, starting compensation for this role typically ranges between $147,000 and $170,000. This position has an annual target bonus of 15%. Based on your experience, we may also consider you for our Engineer II or Senior Engineer levels.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Packaging, or closely related discipline).
• 10+ years of experience in food, beverage, or dairy manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated ownership of large packaging capital projects, including responsibility for scope, budget, schedule, and technical outcomes.
• Experience integrating full packaging lines — not just individual machines.
• Strong understanding of conveying systems, indexing, synchronization, and high-speed line performance.
• Comfort operating in 24/7 production facilities.
• Willingness to travel up to 70% in support of project execution.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with tertiary packaging systems such as robotic palletizers, automated case packers, stretch wrapping, labeling, and code dating systems.
• Familiarity with sanitary design principles in food manufacturing.
• Experience working with major packaging OEMs and integrators.
• Background in line OEE optimization, changeover reduction, and throughput improvement.
• Experience commissioning new or expanded packaging lines in operating plants.

Responsibilities

• Focus on tertiary packaging systems — case forming, case packing, palletizing, stretch wrapping, conveying, and line integration in high-throughput, 24/7 food manufacturing environments.
• Own and deliver large, cross-functional packaging capital projects from early design through startup.
• Lead system-level design of tertiary packaging lines, including case packers, palletizers, stretch wrappers, labeling, and integrated conveying systems.
• Define equipment specifications, layouts, line balancing strategies, and commissioning plans.
• Partner with OEMs and system integrators to configure, modify, and optimize high-speed packaging equipment.
• Serve as the technical authority during installation and startup, ensuring packaging systems meet throughput, OEE, food safety, and reliability expectations.
• Identify bottlenecks and design solutions that improve material flow and line synchronization.
• Mentor engineers and provide informal leadership and stability during project execution.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of Leprino’s packaging and construction standards.

Benefits

• A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world.
• Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan.
• Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

What This Job Offers

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