Product Development Engineer
About The Position
ProAmpac is seeking a hands-on Product Development Engineer to support new product development, materials qualification, and production trials at its Elgin, Illinois facility. The engineer will help move new products, materials, and customer trials through the plant, working with Product Development, Quality, Procurement, Operations, and Innovation teams to design, test, validate, and commercialize new structures and materials. This is a full-time, onsite position with business-hour scheduling that may flex based on project needs. The role is a key technical contributor responsible for trial planning, production-floor troubleshooting, data analysis, and ensuring new materials and product designs meet customer CTQs, regulatory requirements, and ProAmpac quality standards. Occasional travel may be required to support customer trials, visit suppliers, attend industry events, or collaborate with other ProAmpac sites.
Requirements
- Minimum 3+ years of experience in packaging processing; flexible packaging experience is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of adhesives, barrier materials, lamination processes, and converting technologies.
- Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple technical initiatives.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Ability to work accurately despite interruptions and meet deadlines using sound judgment and initiative.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States; ProAmpac does not provide employment sponsorship for this role.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Materials Science, or a related technical field is preferred.
- Experience in flexible packaging is strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Manage development projects, keeping milestones, trial dates, and deliverables on track, and communicate updates to leadership.
- Determine structures for new business opportunities and enter specifications into required systems.
- Develop trial plans and testing protocols aligned with customer CTQ parameters.
- Partner with Quality Assurance to design trial runs, identify potential quality risks, and develop preventive quality plans.
- Attend production trials, troubleshoot issues, and make real-time technical decisions.
- Prepare post-trial documentation covering machine processability, test data analysis, and recommendations for next steps.
- Ensure documentation is complete and accurate so Customer Service can generate timely quotations.
- Maintain ProAmpac systems with new raw materials, processing technologies, and updated specifications.
- Collaborate with Procurement to qualify new and alternate materials.
- Work directly with suppliers to communicate requirements and develop raw material specifications.
- Maintain and update run sheets, Bills of Materials, and site-specific structure documentation.
- Support product and process validations as needed.
- Uphold ProAmpac’s Safety, Quality, and Operational standards, and stop work when unsafe conditions are observed.
- Identify and record quality issues, recommend corrective actions, and prevent non-conformance.
- Halt manufacturing processes and notify management when safety, material, equipment, or technical issues arise.
- Perform additional assignments as required by ProAmpac Management.
Benefits
- Multiple medical plan options
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Company-paid life insurance
- Disability benefits
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Wellness programs
- Tuition assistance
- Professional development opportunities
- Employee assistance programs
- Additional voluntary benefits
- Eligible for a discretionary bonus under ProAmpac’s bonus plan
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
