Packaging Engineer

Job Title: Packaging Engineer

Job Description

The Packaging Engineer supports an automotive manufacturing operation by driving continuous improvement, resolving quality issues, and supporting new product launches and engineering changes related to parts packaging. This role analyzes and optimizes packaging processes for press and assembly operations, develops robust process controls and documentation, and collaborates with internal teams, suppliers, and customers to implement efficient, cost-effective, and safe packaging solutions.

Responsibilities

• Support automotive manufacturing operations in continuous improvement initiatives, quality issue resolution, new product launches, and engineering changes related to parts packaging.
• Develop and implement process control techniques and procedures for automotive packaging processes.
• Analyze packaging processes for press and assembly operations to improve efficiency, quality, safety, and capability.
• Create, update, and maintain detailed documentation of automotive packaging processes.
• Conduct time studies and perform line balancing to optimize automotive packaging workflows.
• Maintain and restructure Bills of Materials (BOM) related to packaging to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
• Confer with customer engineers and representatives to design and implement effective packaging solutions.
• Conduct root-cause analyses (RCA) to identify process issues, develop resolutions, and implement new or improved packaging processes.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, team members, suppliers, and customers through clear and professional communication.
• Work collaboratively by engaging all relevant stakeholders for each project and ensuring alignment on packaging requirements and solutions.
• Apply automotive manufacturing best practices to packaging processes to enhance efficiency, quality, safety, and operational capability.
• Manage container inventory and reconciliation in accordance with customer requirements.
• Partner with the Materials team and other internal departments to resolve customer container disputes and packaging-related issues.
• Use financial acumen to evaluate, trial, and implement packaging solutions that are cost-effective and beneficial to the business.

Essential Skills

• Experience in automotive manufacturing environments, particularly related to packaging processes for press and assembly operations.
• Demonstrated experience in continuous improvement and quality issue resolution within a manufacturing setting.
• Ability to develop and implement process control techniques and procedures for packaging operations.
• Proficiency in conducting time studies and performing line balancing for packaging processes.
• Experience creating, changing, and maintaining documentation for automotive packaging processes.
• Ability to maintain and restructure Bills of Materials (BOM) for packaging.
• Experience conducting root-cause analyses (RCA) and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional teams, including materials, engineering, and quality.
• Effective communication skills for working with vendors, suppliers, team members, and customers.
• Strong aptitude for problem-solving with sound financial acumen to assess the cost-effectiveness of solutions.
• Ability to manage container inventory and reconciliation in line with customer requirements.
• Capability to apply automotive manufacturing best practices focused on efficiency, quality, safety, and capability.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD or SolidWorks for designing or reviewing packaging-related components and layouts.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with packaging engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Experience supporting new product launches and engineering changes in an automotive environment.
• Exposure to continuous improvement methodologies in manufacturing, such as lean principles or similar approaches.
• Comfort working directly with customer engineers and representatives to develop tailored packaging solutions.
• Ability to engage multiple stakeholders and manage packaging-related projects from concept through implementation.

Work Environment

The role operates in an automotive manufacturing environment that includes press and assembly operations, where the Packaging Engineer works closely with production, materials, and engineering teams. The position involves regular interaction with customer representatives, suppliers, and vendors, as well as collaboration with internal departments to resolve container and packaging issues. Work typically combines time on the production floor, observing and analyzing packaging processes, with office-based tasks such as documentation, BOM maintenance, and design work using AutoCAD or SolidWorks. The environment emphasizes efficiency, quality, safety, and adherence to automotive manufacturing best practices.

This is a Permanent position based out of Athens, TN.

The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $125000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Health, Dental, Vision, 401K

This is a Permanent position based out of Athens, TN.

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Athens,TN.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.