Senior Manager, Packaging Engineering

Power your Thirst for More at DrinkPAK, where we revolutionize beverage manufacturing, driven by automation and sustainability. Together, through grit and innovation, we break new ground in record time by acquiring the most advanced technology and attracting the brightest talent. Our explosive growth and journey through uncharted territories offers unique career opportunities enabling passionate individuals to reach their full potential. To support our teams, we offer enriching lifestyle accounts, comprehensive benefits, formal development programs, and an energizing environment. Drive your success at DrinkPAK, where we refresh, hydrate and nourish the world and our employees alike.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Senior Manager of Packaging Engineering is responsible for leading all packaging engineering activities across DrinkPAK’s full product portfolio—spanning aluminum cans, cartons, trays, pallets, and secondary packaging formats. This role owns packaging standards, format qualification, secondary packaging equipment performance, and the technical interface with contract customers on packaging-related specifications and new product introductions. The leader ensures that all packaging systems deliver industry-leading line efficiency, format flexibility, and product integrity across DrinkPAK’s high-speed, high-volume manufacturing environment. This role is a Packaging Systems & Format Execution Leader.

​BENEFITS

The well-being of our team members and their families is critically important to us. As part of this commitment, we offer: 

• PPO medical, dental, and vision insurance for our employees AND their dependents, 100% paid by the Company 
• A cell phone stipend  
• Annual discretionary bonus 
• 401(k) match program, pet insurance, life insurance, and more.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own packaging engineering across all formats: aluminum cans, lids, cartons, trays, corrugated cases, and pallet configurations—ensuring format standards are documented, maintained, and enforced across all sites.
• Lead packaging qualification activities for new formats, sizes, and secondary packaging configurations; manage validation testing, trials, and launch readiness.
• Serve as the primary technical interface between Operations, Sales, and contract customers on all packaging-related specifications, tolerances, and new product introduction requirements.
• Drive secondary packaging equipment performance—including case packers, wraparound cartons, tray formers, palletizers, and stretch wrappers—through standards development, OEM collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and maintain packaging design specifications, capability matrices, and engineering standards in coordination with Corporate Engineering Services.
• Evaluate and approve packaging material and component submissions from suppliers; manage supplier performance relative to quality, consistency, and lead time.
• Lead engineering input into new product launch (NPL) processes: provide packaging feasibility assessments, format compatibility reviews, and equipment readiness confirmations.
• Partner with Quality and Food Safety teams to ensure all packaging meets regulatory, SQF, GMP, and customer-specific requirements.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives targeting material waste reduction, changeover time, line efficiency, and packaging cost optimization.
• Support capital project teams on packaging equipment selection, layout, and commissioning for new and expanded production lines.
• Manage packaging engineering documentation, format drawings, and technical specifications across Engineering Services.

Key KPIs & Best-in-Class Targets

• Packaging Line Efficiency or qualified formats
• Format Qualification Cycle Time: On-schedule delivery per NPL calendar
• Packaging Material Defect Rate (supplier-attributable)
• Secondary Packaging Equipment Uptime
• Changeover Time Performance: At or below established standard per format
• New Product Introduction Packaging Readiness On Time
• Documentation Accuracy (specifications, format drawings, capability matrices)
• Packaging Cost Reduction: Measurable year-over-year improvement
• Safety Performance: Zero recordable incidents
• Supplier Scorecard Compliance

Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

QUALIFICATIONS

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• Bachelor’s Degree