Packaging Engineer - Remote

Role: Packaging Engineer Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas - Onsite Job Type: Fulltime Salary: $110K to $120K with benefits

1. Project Background
2. Client is planning a brownfield expansion at its Jonesboro, Arkansas facility.
3. The plant operates within the Beauty and Wellbeing division, manufacturing products such as Dove shampoos and conditioners and Vaseline petroleum jelly.
4. The expansion will increase production capacity for premium shampoos and conditioners.

5. The Packaging Engineer will support the project from equipment conceptualization and selection through procurement, FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, ramp-up and production handover.

6. Must-Have Technical Skills

7. The primary requirement is packaging machinery engineering, not packaging material design.
8. Candidates should have hands-on experience with the selection, specification, installation and commissioning of packaging equipment. Relevant equipment includes:
9. Filling machines
10. Capping machines
11. Case packers
12. Bottle and jar unscramblers
13. Palletizers
14. Labeling machines
15. Date and label coders
16. Rigid packaging equipment

17. Exposure to tube and flexible pouch packaging is an added advantage.

18. Industry Background Priority order for sourcing:

19. FMCG / consumer goods — highest preference.
20. Food and beverage manufacturing — highly relevant.
21. Pharmaceutical manufacturing — acceptable if the candidate has relevant packaging machinery experience.

22. Medical devices or other manufacturing industries — can be considered, but only if the candidate has strong, hands-on experience with packaging equipment, qualification and commissioning. Candidates with only packaging material design experience are not suitable.

23. End-to-End Project Responsibilities Project phase Expected experience Equipment conceptualization: Understand production requirements and identify appropriate packaging machinery.

Requirements gathering: Collaborate with Production, Quality, R&D and Engineering teams.

URS preparation: Develop a User Requirement Specification (URS) defining machine functionality, capacity, pack sizes and technical requirements.

OEM coordination: Identify equipment suppliers, communicate requirements and obtain quotations.

Technical evaluation: Compare vendor proposals and assess equipment against project requirements.

Procurement support: Prepare technical and commercial comparisons to support vendor selection and purchase orders.

FAT / SAT: Define acceptance criteria and participate in Factory Acceptance Testing and Site Acceptance Testing.

Installation and commissioning: Coordinate OEMs, contractors, utilities and equipment installation.

Production ramp-up: Support gradual increases in machine speed to reach design capacity.

Handover: Coordinate with Production and Quality for equipment approval and production readiness.

1. Specific Technical Expectations/ Skills required:
2. Experience preparing URS documents for packaging machinery.
3. Understanding of OEM selection and vendor technical evaluations.
4. Experience conducting or supporting FAT and SAT.
5. Knowledge of machine utilities, including compressed air and electrical power requirements.
6. Ability to coordinate equipment installation, commissioning and production ramp-up.
7. Understanding of equipment capacity, operating speed and different bottle/jar pack sizes.
8. Ability to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and external equipment suppliers.

9. Strong communication skills and the ability to manage technical discussions with vendors.

10. What the Client Is NOT Looking For Packaging Material Design Engineers

11. Candidates focused on selecting or designing plastics, bottles, jars, cardboard cases, cartons, blanks or other packaging materials are not the target profile. Civil Engineers
12. Civil expertise is not required. The candidate should be able to obtain equipment load information from the OEM and coordinate with the site's engineering team as needed. Printing Specialists
13. Extensive printing expertise is unnecessary. The relevant scope is limited mainly to date coding and label coding associated with packaging lines.