Project Engineer

Inspired to grow with your experience, learn and share with new colleagues?

Huhtamaki is a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, enabling wellbeing and convenience. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-the-shelf food and beverages, ensuring hygiene and safety, and help prevent food waste.

We are committed to protecting food, people and the planet and are on the lookout for passionate and consummate professionals to join our growing team to help us deliver on our ambitious 2030 Strategy. We look for colleagues who Care, Dare and Deliver.

Huhtamaki's North America business segment is a leading manufacturer of consumer goods packaging as well as tableware, cups, folding cartons, containers, trays and service ware for the foodservice industry and retail markets. Our product portfolio includes Chinet, the leading brand of premium tableware. Huhtamaki North America with sales of $1.3B employs approximately 4,200 people in 18 manufacturing locations with its US Headquarters in De Soto, KS. The parent company, Huhtamaki Oyj, has its head office in Espoo, Finland. Huhtamaki Oyj is the #1 globally operating foodservice packaging and molding fiber company in the world.

We're looking for professionals to join our team of approximately 17,000 people in 34 countries. You'll think creatively about making our business and those of our customers' more effective and successful. You'll always be looking for new ways of working. And along the way you'll be making a difference to some of the world's biggest brands, by helping great products reach more people, more easily.

EEO/AA Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Lead Technology and Development projects to advance the sustainability, digitalization, growth, and competitiveness goals of the company. Develop a strong expertise in a diverse range of material and process technologies to provide key technical support of Huhtamaki Paperboard product lines.

CORE JOB RESPONSBILITIES

• Lead the development of sustainable packaging from ideation through commercialization in a way that meets or exceeds customer expectations, meets cost targets, and runs efficiently through the manufacturing process.

• Leverage mechanical aptitude and proficient skills in Pro E, AutoCAD, and Artios CAD, to design packaging and machine tooling to increase efficiency while reducing waste.

• Apply analytical and problem-solving skills to design testing protocols for new product development, qualification of new materials, or to identify root cause of technical issues that may arise.

• Leverage strong project management and interpersonal skills to work with suppliers, customers, internal stakeholders, and operations to ensure project alignment and to execute packaging development in a timely manner.

• Support the qualification of new materials for product improvement, cost saving, supply chain diversification, and sustainability driven initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead paperboard product development and commercialization, machine design, material qualification, and process improvement projects to ensure they are completed within budget in a timely manner and that applicable deadlines are met. Report out on progress and keep key stakeholders informed throughout the life of a project.

• Effectively communicate and present technical project updates, testing results, conclusions, and recommendations to cross functional teams and key stakeholders.

• Utilize full scale testing lab to conduct product testing. Design new testing equipment and protocols to support product development and material qualifications.

• Create mock-ups of new packaging designs and innovation samples for sales and customers.

• Act as the product and material expert to support product converting and customer trials.

• Develop capability to operate and conduct basic troubleshooting of T&D converting equipment. Gain a fundamental expertise in a diverse range of process technologies including printing, slitting, sheeting, die cutting, and forming.

• Work with cross-functional teams including Sales, Customer, Tech Service, Quality and Operations to support the resolution of product issues that may arise with paperboard packaging materials or equipment by implementing root cause analysis and corrective action plans.

• Develop a fundamental knowledge of product stewardship and sustainability as it pertains to packaging, including food safety compliance, sustainable materials, market interests, industry challenges, life-cycle analysis, recyclability and composability testing and certification standards, and end of life claims.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD software and Microsoft Office products.

• High mechanical aptitude, creative design ability, and analytical approach to problem solving.

• Strong project management and organization skills, self-driven with the ability to work independently and in a team environment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Paper, Packaging, Chemical, or Industrial Engineering
• 0-4 years of related project work in Packaging development industry.

Join us to shape the future together!