Engineer, Packaging R&D - Military veterans preferred

Description:

Title: R&D Packaging Engineer

Reports To: R&D Lab Manager

Location: Belcamp, MD

FLSA Status: Exempt

Travel Requirements: 5-10%

Job Summary

The Research & Development Packaging Engineer's primary responsibility is creating, prototyping, refining, and testing packaging designs for thermally protective (cold chain) distribution products as well as packaging used for standard distribution, retail, food service, and healthcare customers. This position is based in our R&D Laboratory in Belcamp, MD.

Led by the R&D Lab Manager, the R&D Packaging Engineer will support New Product Development (NPD) through testing, documentation, and analysis as well as managing Lab facility and equipment and select support personnel. The R&D Packaging Engineer will often collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Purchasing and Operations during the NPD process. Focus areas for product innovation by this cross-functional team include packaging design, sustainability, rapid prototyping, advanced insulating materials and manufacturing processes, and phase change materials.

A successful candidate will need excellent communication, collaboration and teamwork skills, as well as a strong engineering foundation.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Operation and upkeep of the thermal testing lab:
• Plan, execute, and document thermal and physical testing consistent with relevant industry and quality standards (such as ISTA, 21CFR Part 11, GMP/GLP, etc.).
• Program, operate, and maintain laboratory testing and fabrication Equipment.
• Collaborate with testing personnel and project teams to create project timelines for development and testing projects.
• Coordinate with Quality team to maintain required certifications of the test lab and all required equipment calibrations.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized testing and working environment.
• Remain current on relevant techniques and technology through research and training.
• Documentation support:
• Collect and analyze test data, organize and present it established formats. Provide input on analysis and presentation methods.
• Prepare test protocols, and both experimental and qualification reports.
• Coordinate with Quality for timely creation, review, and approval of high-quality test planning (Protocol creation) and results documentation (Final Report creation) and delivery.
• Support New Product Development (NPD) and process improvement:
• Execute experiments supporting both cross-functional NPD and existing product improvement projects in both laboratory and production settings and provide feedback to experimental design.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in all innovation and testing process areas as possible.
• Support project prioritization by having excellent awareness of resource and equipment utilization and providing feedback on availability.
• Function as an individual contributor:
• Model and maintain a high standard of initiative and a focus on timeliness.
• Communicate clearly in both verbal and written formats, with the ability to adapt communication style based on audience and situational needs. Communicate well both in person and with remote teammates.
• Can be counted on to execute specified tasks in the determined timeframe. Must be self-motivated and able to prioritize and multi-task.
• Maintain the highest standard of professionalism at all times, with awareness of social, ethical and organizational norms, codes of conduct, and ethical principles. Act in line with Altor corporate values.
• Requires regular attendance to perform all essential tasks.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships within the department, the Corporation and the community; and maintains the professional competence, knowledge and skill necessary for the satisfactory performance of all assigned responsibilities.
• Respond to errors, equipment failures, and other obstacles with transparency and a positive focus on both short- and long-term solutions. Obtain management feedback on customer messaging related to quality and delivery issues.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

· Bachelor's Degree in Package Engineering or related discipline preferred.

· ISTA's CTP I certification within the first 6-months nice to have

· Prior experience in a laboratory or production/operations environment

· Well-Versed in MS programs: Office, Excel, PowerPoint.

· CAD and CAM Experience, particularly SolidWorks a big plus.

· Experience running and maintaining CNC equipment also a plus

· Ability to troubleshoot engineered designs and suggest changes based on data analysis.

· Ability to prepare and execute test protocols in collaboration with QA, Project management, Engineering, Sales/Marketing

· Ability to solve problems in a variety of field and laboratory settings

· Ability to learn, operate, and maintain equipment in a safe and professional manner

· Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written form

· Prior cold chain experience preferred but not required

· Prior experience in R&D testing laboratory preferred

Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

· Productivity - Employee is effective in producing quality products. Employees are efficient and prudent with utilizing resources to meet operational standards, (production, process). Employees have a sense of urgency maximizing time.

· Teamwork - Employee is capable of being approached and easy to work with. Contributes to the success of the team, communicates clearly individually and in group settings while treating others with respect. Employees listen to others and work well within diverse groups. Employees consistently place team needs over individual needs and seek input from people with different experiences and perspectives and recognize the differences of opportunities to learn and gain by working together. Employee values and encourages unique skills and talents.

· Initiative - Ability to assess and initiate things independently with limited supervision required. Has the ability to manage resources to get things done and the ability to perform multiple activities to accomplish goals doing more than required or requested in the job. Plans for upcoming problems or opportunities and takes appropriate action. Is proactive and anticipates events well in advance to ensure successful outcome.

· Problem Solving - Employee considers multiple sides of an issue and weighs consequences before making a final decision. Employees make informed decisions based on available information and recognize issues and determine what actioned is needed to advance the decision-making process. Employee follows-up as necessary and is easily adaptable to not be discouraged by ambiguous situations and is open to new ideas and processes while adjusting to achieve results.

· Job Knowledge - Employee demonstrates relevant job knowledge and essential skills, such as work practices, policies, procedures, quality assurance, and technical abilities. Employee demonstrates self-improvement efforts to enhance skills and knowledge with changes impacting the job while adhering to workplace rules as well as to traditional or socially expected methods of doing business following processes and procedures.

· Safety - Employee demonstrates the ability and willingness to contribute to a safe and environmentally secure work environment for themselves, their coworkers, and our customers by following established safety procedures. Employees demonstrate the willingness to actively report and take action to correct identified safety hazards during the day.

· Quality - Employee demonstrates the ability to produce high quality, accurate results. Possesses and demonstrates attention to detail and produces work that is accurate and complete. Employee can identify problems or potential problems that arise in the course of the day and take the necessary steps to proactively address those issues. Employees had the ability to discover the root causes of issues and respond with corrective action.

· Reliability/Dependability - Employee is responsible and accountable for actions, consistent in meeting deadlines and works well with others to follow through on completing tasks. Employee completes work in a timely, consistent manner and works hours necessary to complete assigned work. The employee is regularly present and punctual and arrives prepared for work.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers; talk and hear. Frequently required to reach, bend, squat, stretch, and twist. Frequently lift and/or carry bulky objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Sitting at workstation approximately 50% of work time. Standing and walking approximately 50% of work time.

Work Environment

The work environment is typical of most manufacturing environments. The noise level in the work environment is usually high with ear protection required. Will work in a dusty and sometimes wet environment as well as cold/hot/humid areas based on the seasons. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by those assigned to a particular position. This document in no way states or implies that this is an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required and personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The Company reserves the right to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from, any section of this document as it deems, in its judgment, to be proper.

PI269314307