Packaging Dev Engineer II | KanPak | Penn Yan, NY

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Description

Packaging Engineer

Location: Penn Yan, NY

Company: KanPak

Reports to: KanPak President

About the Role

KanPak is seeking a Packaging Engineer to develop, optimize, and improve packaging systems in a high-speed food manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for ensuring packaging solutions are safe, compliant, cost-effective, and visually appealing while meeting KanPak’s manufacturing, quality, and customer service standards.

The Packaging

Engineer will lead packaging line performance and reliability initiatives using data-driven analysis, root-cause problem solving, and continuous improvement tools to increase throughput, reduce waste, and protect product quality.

Key Responsibilities

  • Evaluate, recommend, and implement new or modified packaging solutions by analyzing requirements, defining specifications and standards, developing cost analyses, and creating implementation plans.

  • Develop and execute packaging concepts and prototypes, including task definition, risk assessment, material selection, parameter setting, and validation of distribution and transport methods.

  • Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, R&D, Procurement, and Project Management to support commercialization, line trials, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.

  • Analyze packaging line performance data to identify bottlenecks, chronic losses, and downtime trends; drive improvements in throughput, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

  • Lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions related to packaging quality, safety, or efficiency issues.

  • Design and execute experiments (DOE) to optimize equipment settings, material usage, and process reliability; apply statistical process control (SPC) as appropriate.

  • Plan and support primary and secondary packaging audits and trials; establish incoming and finished material specifications, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria.

  • Define pallet configurations and packaging standards to meet internal requirements and customer expectations.

  • Support capital projects including line upgrades, new equipment commissioning, layout changes, and ergonomic or material-flow improvements.

  • Support label and artwork processes, including requirements gathering, approvals, and maintenance of approved artwork libraries.

  • Maintain packaging specifications, drawings, and bills of material (BOMs) within internal and external systems.

  • Conduct benchmarking studies of packaging technologies and industry best practices to identify improvement opportunities.

  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Experience

  • 3–6 years of relevant packaging engineering experience in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods, preferably in a manufacturing plant or R&D environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Working knowledge of existing and emerging packaging technologies and packaging material performance.

  • Understanding of food safety principles, GMPs, and sanitation expectations.

  • Experience with high-speed packaging equipment and automated packaging operations.

  • Proficiency in experimental design (DOE), validation methods, SPC, OEE, and data-driven performance metrics.

  • Knowledge of packaging and labeling regulatory requirements.

  • Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM fundamentals.

  • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze data, identify root causes, and implement sustainable solutions.

  • Ability to plan and execute packaging trials; document results; and update specifications, drawings, and BOMs.

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and the ability to learn tools such as Minitab or Power BI.

  • Effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate across functions, work with suppliers and customers, and present findings to groups.

  • Commitment to working in accordance with KanPak’s Values and Creed.

Why Join KanPak

  • Opportunity to work in a dynamic, high-speed food manufacturing environment
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