Principal Packaging Engineer

DESCRIPTION

Driven by a commitment to research, quality, and service, PDI provides innovative products, educational resources, training, and support to prevent infection transmission and promote health and wellness. Encompassing three areas, our Healthcare, Sani Professional and Contract manufacturing divisions, we develop, manufacture, and distribute leading edge products for North America and the world. We have several locations across the US and are looking for new Associates to join our team! 

POSITION PURPOSE

As the Principal Packaging Engineer, you will serve as the enterprise-wide technical expert and strategic lead in FDA regulated packaging. The position leverage deep knowledge in packaging including but not limited to design, test methods, standards, and industry insights to create and deliver a pipeline of breakthrough innovations and overall organizational improvement.

You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, and lead with accountability projects from concept to commercialization. A proactive approach in identifying opportunity areas and a strong drive for results and overall organizational improvement is essential.

This role requires excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate across functions, influence stakeholders and ensure alignment with organizational goals. The Principal Engineer must take responsibility for technical mentorship and coaching, fostering technical growth and knowledge of junior engineers while strengthening the team’s technical capabilities. As a recognized expert, you will guide internal and external teams on the application of packaging standards (e.g., CCIT, ISO 11607, USP <1207>, USP <661>, etc.), and represent the company in regulatory interactions, technical forums, and industry partnerships.

Success requires exceptional problem-solving skills, strategic influence, and proven ability to align cross-functional teams toward breakthrough innovation.  This role is accountable for delivering measurable outcomes and ensuring that packaging innovations translate into tangible business impact.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

 Technical Leadership, Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Demonstrate strong ownership and leadership on technical strategies and problem solving while driving projects from concept to commercialization.
• Own the technical roadmap for packaging innovation and ensure alignment with business priorities.
• Take responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and impact of technical data used to inform decisions.
• Design and direct meaningful and robust research projects or experiments both internally and externally through relationships with academic institutions and industry partners.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and foster collaborative research initiatives while mentoring, coaching and guiding junior engineers.
• Analyze experimental data to draw meaningful conclusions from research and guide further development.
• Ensure robust statistical methods are applied where necessary.
• Develop innovative solutions to address technical challenges.
• Act as subject matter expert in packaging for FDA regulated products (expert in packaging standards such as CCIT, ISO 11607, USP <1207>, USP <661>, etc).
• Identify, scope and represent the organization at key conferences, seminars and other professional events.
• Stay current and keep stakeholders updated with emerging technologies, regulatory trends, and scientific advancements in packaging.

Innovation and Strategy

• Exhibit a proactive mindset in identifying, vetting and implementing new opportunities for innovation and improvement of the organization.
• Demonstrate ability to think strategically and influence the organization on key initiatives.
• Champion initiatives that deliver quantifiable improvements in product performance, cost efficiency, or regulatory compliance.
• Lead cross-functional teams to bring strategic innovations from concept to launch, ensuring accountability at each stage.
• Develop and execute innovation strategies aligned with business goals, including new technologies, methods, and IP creation.
• Lead the development of new products, technologies, and methods that deliver measurable impact and enhance organizational success.
• Assess and take necessary actions to acquire new in-house technologies to improve PDI’s capabilities.

Project Scoping and Ownership

• Define, communicate and align project goals and request necessary resources for execution cross functionally.
• Hold self and cross-functional teams accountable for meeting project milestones, quality standards, and business objectiv