Packaging Dev Engineer II KanPak Penn Yan, NY

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 * High level of cross-functional collaboration and visibility * Ability to make a direct impact on product quality, efficiency, and innovation