Principal Packaging Engineer

POSITION PURPOSE

As the Principal Packaging Engineer, you will serve as the enterprise-wide technical expert and strategic lead in FDA regulated packaging. The position leverage deep knowledge in packaging including but not limited to design, test methods, standards, and industry insights to create and deliver a pipeline of breakthrough innovations and overall organizational improvement.

You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, and lead with accountability projects from concept to commercialization. A proactive approach in identifying opportunity areas and a strong drive for results and overall organizational improvement is essential.

This role requires excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate across functions, influence stakeholders and ensure alignment with organizational goals. The Principal Engineer must take responsibility for technical mentorship and coaching, fostering technical growth and knowledge of junior engineers while strengthening the team’s technical capabilities. As a recognized expert, you will guide internal and external teams on the application of packaging standards (e.g., CCIT, ISO 11607, USP <1207> , USP <661> , etc.), and represent the company in regulatory interactions, technical forums, and industry partnerships.

Success requires exceptional problem-solving skills, strategic influence, and proven ability to align cross-functional teams toward breakthrough innovation. This role is accountable for delivering measurable outcomes and ensuring that packaging innovations translate into tangible business impact.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

Technical Leadership, Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Demonstrate strong ownership and leadership on technical strategies and problem solving while driving projects from concept to commercialization.
• Own the technical roadmap for packaging innovation and ensure alignment with business priorities.
• Take responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and impact of technical data used to inform decisions.
• Design and direct meaningful and robust research projects or experiments both internally and externally through relationships with academic institutions and industry partners.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and foster collaborative research initiatives while mentoring, coaching and guiding junior engineers.
• Analyze experimental data to draw meaningful conclusions from research and guide further development.
• Ensure robust statistical methods are applied where necessary.
• Develop innovative solutions to address technical challenges.
• Act as subject matter expert in packaging for FDA regulated products (expert in packaging standards such as CCIT, ISO 11607, USP <1207> , USP <661> , etc).
• Identify, scope and represent the organization at key conferences, seminars and other professional events.
• Stay current and keep stakeholders updated with emerging technologies, regulatory trends, and scientific advancements in packaging.

Innovation and Strategy

• Exhibit a proactive mindset in identifying, vetting and implementing new opportunities for innovation and improvement of the organization.
• Demonstrate ability to think strategically and influence the organization on key initiatives.
• Champion initiatives that deliver quantifiable improvements in product performance, cost efficiency, or regulatory compliance.
• Lead cross-functional teams to bring strategic innovations from concept to launch, ensuring accountability at each stage.
• Develop and execute innovation strategies aligned with business goals, including new technologies, methods, and IP creation.
• Lead the development of new products, technologies, and methods that deliver measurable impact and enhance organizational success.
• Assess and take necessary actions to acquire new in-house technologies to improve PDI’s capabilities.

Project Scoping and Ownership

• Define, communicate and align project goals and request necessary resources for execution cross functionally.
• Hold self and cross-functional teams accountable for meeting project milestones, quality standards, and business objectives.
• Ensure post-launch evaluation and continuous improvement based on performance metrics.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal and influencing skills to drive initiatives forward and overcome challenges.
• Ensure accountability to milestones and objectives while demonstrating strong ownership, coordination and leadership in project execution, anticipating risks, and implementing mitigation strategies to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills in preparing and presenting progress updates, status, reports and findings to senior level management.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT

• Packaging Leadership and Effectiveness: leads packaging design development that meets intended performance, safety and regulatory requirements
• Project Acceleration and Execution: Demonstrates initiative in shaping project direction, anticipating potential obstacles and proposing solutions to ensure timelines are met or accelerated. Consistently delivers technical work on time, in scope and aligned to evolving business priorities
• Strategic Technical Problem Solving: Anticipates and identifies complex packaging development challenges early, leveraging expertise and leadership to drive resolution paths with minimal rework and high technical rigor.
• Cross-Functional Influence and Alignment: Actively engages and influences cross-functional partners (Regulatory, Marketing, Operations, Quality) to ensure clarity of technical direction, ensure alignment and provide technical strategies, expertise and data to remove barriers impeding project progress
• Pipeline Advancement and Opportunity Identification: Proactively scans internal and external landscapes to identify new opportunities, unmet needs and technology enablers that can strengthen the pipeline and move concepts into development
• Performance will be evaluated based on the ability to deliver projects on time, within scope, and with measurable business impact.
• Expected to take full ownership of assigned initiatives and proactively resolve barriers to success.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Mechanical Engineering, or related scientific discipline required. Advanced degree preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

• New Product development and leadership in a regulated environment.
• Packaging development for FDA regulated products.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• 8+ years of relevant experience in product development and R&D support, with a demonstrated track record of scientific and packaging development responsibilities.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Strong analytical thinking capabilities and mindset
• Strong sense of accountability and commitment to delivering results with excellence and timeliness
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to make sense of, organize and present complex information
• Proven ability to work independently and take initiative in ambiguous or evolving environments
• Ability to set specific goals for self and others and organize/align the resources to help achieve goals
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with varying complexity
• Ability to evolve, learn and implement new systems and programs
• Initiative taker, ambitious and driven
• Resourceful and able to find creative and innovative ways to achieve results
• Demonstrated accountability for project outcomes and ability to drive initiatives to successful completion.
• Proactive leader who takes full ownership of challenges and drives results with urgency and precision.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Mix of lab, manufacturing and office environment

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employer-sponsored visa sponsorship.

SALARY RANGE:

• $140,000 - $165,000 annually

BENEFITS

PDI is pleased to offer comprehensive and affordable benefits for our associates, which includes:

• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Vision
• 401(k) savings plan with company match and profit sharing
• Basic and supplemental Life and AD&D insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Short & long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health Advocacy Program

PDI also offers many voluntary benefits such as: Legal services, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, ID theft and fraud protection, pet insurance and employee discounts.

At PDI, we are also committed to helping our associates maintain a healthy and sustainable work/life balance and are proud to provide associates with paid time off programs including: sick & safe leave, vacation, company & floating holidays, paid parental leave, and depending on the position we also offer summer hours and flex place/flex time options.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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