Principal Packaging Process Engineer

Schwan's Company•Hopkins, MN

3h•Hybrid

About The Position

At CJ Schwan’s, we create moments that matter through food, with a portfolio including iconic brands like Red Baron®, bibigo®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s®. Our products are enjoyed in homes, schools, restaurants, and everywhere people shop and eat, reflecting a commitment to quality, innovation, and bringing people together. We are hiring a Principal Packaging Process Engineer in our R&D Team to support our Asian Business. This role is responsible for supporting package development projects that meet business unit needs, focusing on the identification, development, improvement, and testing of complex, new, and breakthrough food packaging equipment. The successful candidate will research, develop, document, and test innovative packaging equipment solutions new to CJ/Schwan's or new to the world, working under limited supervision. This position also involves providing project leadership for packaging-led projects and acting as the expert packaging resource on Business Unit-led projects. The role requires 30-50% travel, typically to our Brooklyn, NY, Beaumont, CA, Sioux Falls, SD, and Houston, TX-based Asian foods plants, and is ideally based out of our new Hopkins, MN corporate HQ. We are not currently considering candidates requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Packaging or Electrical Engineering.
10+ years of engineering experience, ideally a majority of which is within an OEM packaging equipment manufacturing setting.
5+ years of engineering experience with OEM of packaging equipment that services the food industry.
Prior OEM experience in highly automated packaging systems: forming, sealing, transferring, structural integrity, robotics, automation, flexible, rigid.
Knowledge of food manufacturing, engineering, quality, and research functions.
Demonstrated compliance with USDA, FDA, OSHA, EPA, City and/or State agencies, etc. for packaging processes.
Working knowledge of R&D product/package development flow from conception to product launch.
Ability to develop Packaging Process Flow Diagrams (PFD) and perform pay-back calculations and sizing of equipment.
Ability to travel 30% to 50% as required.

Responsibilities

Bring packaging engineering functional expertise, leading internal & external engineers to deliver large scale, multi-unit packaging projects ($2MM to $40MM+ capital).
Lead feasibility studies, (i.e. POP - Proof of Principle) and develop and implement solutions that meet or exceed needed requirements.
Provide hands-on leadership in design and execution of next generation packaging lines, taking it from concept to commercialization. Understands LEAN principles and the critical interface points between the materials, machine, and human.
Develop packaging scope including line performance metrics, packaging & process flow diagrams, optimum layout, POP proof of principle testing, lead FMEA, FAT, SAT, and qualification criteria.
Bring together diverse technologies and concepts to create new-to-the-world packages and packaging concepts within CJ/Schwan’s manufacturing and co-packer facilities.
Partner with internal/external resources to assess opportunities for innovative designs, performance improvements, technical advantages, speed to market and capital efficiency.
Interface with manufacturing and operations engineering departments to identify, educate and implement major cost-saving projects or packaging improvements involving new processes, packaging technology, and equipment.
Effectively influence and can obtain buy-in for new and breakthrough technologies.
Develop, present, and communicate preliminary capital proposals of new packaging equipment technology, or cost reduction opportunities including determination of ROI and other benefits, process or equipment specifications, and estimated capital investment and production capacity and attainment.
Document all work according to established procedures and guidelines and prepare various project reports to project personnel and project leader to ensure complete communication of project status, progress, issues, solutions, timeline, and accountability.
Coach and mentor both internal and external Engineers to build technical competence.