Structural Designer III

Graphic Packaging Careers•Oroville, CA

About The Position

At Graphic Packaging International, we produce the paper cup that held your coffee this morning, the basket that transported those bottles of craft beer you enjoyed last weekend, and the microwave tray that heated your gourmet meal last night. We’re one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, personal care and pet products. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we are collaborative, diverse, innovative individuals who create inspired packaging while giving back to our communities. With over 25,000 employees working in more than 130 locations worldwide, we strive to be environmentally responsible in our industry and in the communities where we operate. We are committed to workplace diversity and offer compensation and benefits programs that are among the industry’s best to reward the talented people who make our company successful. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you. A World of Difference. Made Possible. Structural Designer III MISSION / SUMMARY The mission of the Innovation and Design (I&D) organization is to bring forth new packaging solutions through creative structural and manufacturing design, working collaboratively with our customer service, sales, internal graphic designers, machinery and systems engineers, business development team members, market and product managers, manufacturing and quality assurance personnel, key supplier partners and ultimately interfacing with customers to understand their unmet needs, consumer unmet needs, and marketing objectives. The Structural Design team, within Innovation and Design, is responsible for the development of, and modification to, both new and existing paperboard carton structure designs. The primary output of the Structural Design team is comprehensive, production-ready one-up drawings, which are ultimately used to design, specify, and procure production tooling for manufacturing of finished paperboard cartons. The secondary output are conceptual one-up drawings that meet and exceed the requirements of the end customer. The overall Structural Design process is accomplished utilizing ArtiosCAD and SAP software applications as well as sample plotter tables for prototypes. POSITION SCOPE: We have an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated self-starter for the position of Structural Designer III. The ideal candidate will have solid working knowledge of paperboard substrates, carton structure design, and paperboard converting processes. This position requires hands-on Structural Design process execution (existing carton structure reverse-engineering activities, conceptual and production-ready one-up drawing development, plotter sample generation, etc.) in a team-based environment. This position’s responsibilities include effectively and efficiently meeting internal and external customer needs, expectations, and requirements; as well as confronting complex processes and technical challenges requiring direct involvement, understanding, and support to reach resolution.

Requirements

Dynamic, flexible, and personable team player with the ability to participate in team activities to achieve desired results
Effective time management and project management skills
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments and meet short deadlines
Ability to effectively communicate at all levels within the organization
Ability to work independently while supporting team goals and objectives
Ability to apply initiative and exercise good judgment when making timely decisions based on data, facts, and experience
Technical and analytical skills
Strong visual (2D and 3D) skills, communications, conceptual skills, attention to detail, design sensitivity as well as mechanical aptitude.
Highly detail-oriented and focused
High geometry and algebra math skills
Willingness to learn and to be trained
Apply initiative and exercise good judgment when making timely decisions based on data, facts, and experience
Solid computer skills
High Proficiency with computer systems: MS-Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
High School Diploma or GED

Nice To Haves

College degree in industrial design, packaging engineering/science or other related field, or equivalent professional experience
High-level of mechanical knowledge and aptitude for die cutting, production tooling design, finishing processes, and graphics layout
Prior demonstrated experience (5+ years) with folding paperboard carton structure design
Working knowledge of paperboard substrates
Working knowledge of carton structural design
Working knowledge of tooling design
Knowledge of filling line machinery
Prior experience with ArtiosCAD and SAP
Any level of LEAN / Six Sigma education and experience

Responsibilities

Actively monitor, maintain, and control work schedule and back-log (design requests, plotter sample requests, conversion request, etc.)
Full understanding and utilization of the Artios CAD system to execute Carton Design tasks to required customer and plant specifications (conceptual designs and production ready).
Fully apply all GPI Design standards and customer and plant specification formats during Carton Design process for responsible product line (customers and platform e.g. Microwave, Zflute, Litho/Micro flute, CPD, Beverage, etc.).
Accurately finalize one-up carton design specifications prior to release for converting and machinery organizations.
Understand and effectively apply test procedures for validating performance of packages and features under development.
Develops pro-active alternative designs for better form & function, on shelf appearance, sustainability, increased production efficiency, cost savings and/or margin improvement.
Uses 2D and 3D conceptualization techniques
Cut qualifying and prototype samples for customer and testing
Attend machinery check-out testing, or other design validation testing events, to assess, modify or approve carton designs as necessary
Complete Quality Checks on designs for Structural Designers I
Coordinate with other designers working on projects
Complete Carton Design projects while fully coordinating with customer, sales, customer service, manufacturing design, and carton converting groups as required
Function as an effective global leader and focal point for design-related detail and general communication. Produce materials to support the communication process when required.
In-depth interaction with customer representatives during the packaging design process.
Identify, develop, and lead Continuous Improvement initiatives
Drive the development and modification of CAD design standards, tools, processes and training materials
Fully develop & apply design related documentation, process detail, specifications, and intellectual property protection processes
Actively participate in, and contribute to, local Culture Development ideas, initiatives, and activities
Search out and implement cost saving initiatives
Train & mentor less experienced designers in Carton Design disciplines and procedures.
Actively participate in employee certification and re-certification activities (must be certified in ArtiosCAD, Plotter Room, Structural Design I-III, and at least 2 specialty product lines (e.g. Microwave, ZFlute, Fluted, QSR, Detergent, etc.)
Other duties as assigned.