Product Development Engineer

Location: Elgin, IL

Are you an engineering professional who enjoys bringing new packaging solutions from concept to commercialization? Join ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging, where you'll play a critical role in developing innovative products, leading manufacturing trials, and driving successful customer launches.

At ProAmpac, we're more than a packaging company. We're an innovative team committed to sustainability, continuous improvement, and helping our employees grow their careers.

Our Core Values:

• Integrity
• Intensity
• Innovation
• Involvement
• Impact

Compensation: $75,000 - $85,000 base salary plus annual bonus opportunity

About the Role

We are seeking a Project Development Engineer to support the successful development, testing, and commercialization of new products across our Chicagoland manufacturing facilities.

This role serves as a key technical liaison between Innovation, Operations, Quality, Procurement, Customer Service, and customers to ensure new business opportunities are effectively transitioned from concept through production. The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with project management skills and thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

You will lead product trials, support material qualifications, optimize manufacturing processes, and help introduce innovative packaging solutions that meet customer expectations and business objectives.

What You'll Do

• Manage new product development projects and monitor progress against critical milestones and customer delivery timelines.
• Develop and execute trial plans, testing protocols, and validation activities for new business opportunities.
• Determine product structures and specifications and ensure accurate setup within company systems.
• Partner with Quality teams to design trials that identify potential quality risks and establish preventive controls.
• Lead and support production trials, troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, and make technical recommendations during trial execution.
• Analyze trial results and prepare post-trial documentation, including process observations, machine performance, and testing outcomes.
• Ensure technical documentation is complete to support customer quotations and successful product commercialization.
• Maintain and update product specifications, run sheets, bills of materials, and related records.
• Collaborate with Procurement and suppliers to qualify new and alternative raw materials.
• Develop material specifications and communicate processing requirements to suppliers.
• Support product and process validation activities across manufacturing sites.
• Stay current on emerging materials, technologies, and packaging processing advancements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or a related technical field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in packaging manufacturing, processing, or product development.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience leading manufacturing trials, product development projects, or technical process improvements.
• Knowledge of packaging materials, adhesives, barrier technologies, and lamination processes.
• Ability to analyze technical data and make recommendations based on findings.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Proficiency with technical documentation and manufacturing systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet project deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in flexible packaging, converting, or related manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of food packaging, regulatory requirements, and food safety standards.
• Experience working cross-functionally with operations, quality, procurement, and customer-facing teams.
• Familiarity with product validation and commercialization processes.

Travel Requirements

• Occasional travel is required to support customer trials, supplier visits, industry conferences, and other ProAmpac facilities.

Safety, Quality & Food Safety Responsibilities

• Comply with all ProAmpac safety, quality, operational, and employment policies.
• Support and uphold all food safety, quality, and prerequisite program requirements.
• Stop work and report unsafe conditions or practices immediately.
• Remove unsafe equipment from operation and notify management.
• Identify, document, and address quality-related issues and non-conformances.
• Support corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure products, materials, and processes meet regulatory, quality, and food safety requirements.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Career growth and advancement opportunities
• A collaborative, innovation-focused culture where your contributions make an impact
• The opportunity to help develop cutting-edge packaging solutions for leading brands

If you're passionate about engineering, product development, and bringing innovative packaging solutions to market, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape the future of packaging with ProAmpac.

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.