PACKAGING DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

Job description

Effectively support and/or manage multiple projects for new and innovative packaging products in a fast-paced environment. Provide support to plant operations and participate in the development of new or modified products and/or processes through experiments on existing machines and product testing using laboratory equipment specifically designed for this purpose.

Responsibilities

1. Lead complex flexible packaging related research and development projects for new technologies from initial screening through commercialization.
2. Effectively manage or support multiple projects while working with various cross-functional teams from different Winpak businesses and functional areas;
3. Responsible for leading product development through stage gates process;
4. Assist production personnel in the identification of weaknesses and in developing programs to improve efficiency;
5. Proactively identify project candidates that are aligned with unmet or emerging needs of Winpak’s platform products and markets, and effectively communicate these findings to technical and commercial leadership;
6. Participate in the startup of new flexible packaging equipment before turning it to production management;
7. Carry out specialty laboratory analyses to monitor the quality and performance of new products derived from R&D projects;
8. Provide an active role in trouble shooting plant equipment to reduce set up time and material waste;
9. Provide assistance in the evaluation of alternate raw materials such as plastic resins, substrates (including foil, film and paper), additives, adhesives, inks, coatings;
10. Support qualification trials or any kind of technical activity at customer’s facilities.
11. Effectively assist in the coaching and development of other R&D engineers on the team;
12. Execute all other duties assigned by her/his supervisor.

Qualifications 

1. Undergraduate degree required. (Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Polymer Science, Packaging Science preferred), Master’s degree would be value added;
2. 3-15 years technical experience, preferably R&D or process engineering role, in a flexible packaging environment;
3. Ability to work in cross-functional teams;
4. Materials knowledge including plastic packaging resins, foil, plastic thin films and paper;
5. Knowledge of flexible packaging processes such as thin film extrusion, extrusion coating/lamination, adhesive lamination, flexographic/rotogravure printing and downstream package converting processes.
6. Good analytical, presentation and oral/written communication skills
7. Must be bilingual (French/English).