Packaging Engineer II

  • Full-time
  • Department: R&D
  • Site Location: Minneapolis

Company Description

Running with Sasquatch is more than just a clever marketing campaign. As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we're a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency. Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get… authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side® with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack brand worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 10 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world. The Link Snacks’ family of brands includes Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, World Kitchens, Bifi and Peperami.

Job Description

Come Run with Sasquatch as a Packaging Engineer II to design, develop, and support package systems. This position plays a key role within a cross functional team comprised of functions such as R&D, Marketing, Operations, Food Safety & Regulatory. This includes the development of packaging for retail, club-store, grocery and C-store and POS/POP (point of sale/point of purchase) applications. In this role, you will lead and manage packaging projects from start to completion, across all packaging structures (i.e. film, paperboard, corrugated). Additionally you will participate in and/or lead initiatives to reduce costs, reduce complexity, or increase compatibility with manufacturing/automation or use regarding packaging. In this role, you will work cross-functionally to accomplish great things!

Specifically, you will:

  • Develop packaging solutions for new and existing products, including all packaging structures related to the project.
  • Provide leadership and direction to Packaging Engineer I and Lab Technicians.
  • Develop merchandising displays for new and existing products to support marketing and trade-marketing requests and to help drive additional placement and sales.
  • Work on development of new packaging for promotional ideas.
  • Manage packaging specifications, including die-lines (i.e. CAD drawings), Pallet Patterns, and Retail Assembly and Packing Instructions (etc.) using PLM system.
  • Perform and conduct package evaluation testing to ISTA and ASTM standards and develop reports showing results.
  • Lead and support product start-ups and plant trials.
  • Effectively manage project work following Stage Gate process.
  • Design new retail, club-store, POS/POP displays and transportation packaging in the areas of corrugated, folding cartons and film materials.
  • Evaluate, design and develop packaging materials, designs and processes.
  • Able to select materials to meet optimal performance and cost.
  • Work closely with a cross-functional team, including Product R&D, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Procurement and Finance. 
  • Lead and manage production trial runs to collaborate with the plants to qualify packaging within the manufacturing facilities for new product launches, startups as well as to develop best performance line setups and practices.
  • Provide informational reports and proposals for production optimization, standardized specifications and best practice guidelines to management for decision making.
  • Manage Packaging Engineering process from sample requests and packaging specs through finish good item set up.
  • Product development, as well as other packaging industry insights to Jack Link’s team members.
  • Will be assigned to other duties and projects as required.
  • Travel (domestic and international) required as necessary.

Qualifications

  • B.S. degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Related Science or work experience equivalent (i.e. structural design of packaging and POP display design).
  • 3-5 years related packaging experience
  • Flexible film corrugated and folding carton design experience with packaging manufacturing companies. 

Specific Knowledge and Skills:

  • Ability to understand CAD drawings of packaging materials and machine tooling.  
  • Proficient on Microsoft Office suite, SolidWorks, or other 3D software (experience is a benefit).
  • In depth knowledge of resin and fiber-based materials and packages.
  • Ability to work with cross-functional team for package development and implementation.
  • Knowledge of packaging quality variables and packaging specific quality assurance programs.
  • Understanding of the function of packaging as part of a larger supply chain and environmental optimization initiatives.
  • Basic knowledge of display designs, supplier manufacturing capabilities, assembly/fulfillment process, and styles and types of graphics.
  • Ability to lift 40 pounds and have the ability to work in various environments.
  • General knowledge and understanding of various packaging tests, packaging manufacturing, and packaging distribution systems.

Additional Information

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify
We provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).