Process & Product Implementation Engineer - Packaging

Job Description:

Job Title: Process & Product Implementation Engineer – Packaging

Segment / Business Unit: Royal Canin (Mars, Incorporated)

Location / Site: Fremont, Nebraska (On-Site Factory)

Job Function: Research & Development (R&D) / Industrialization

Shift Schedule: Day Shift | 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM | Monday through Friday

Travel Requirements: Occasional travel to other Royal Canin manufacturing sites & vendor locations

Job Purpose & Summary

The Process & Product Implementation (PPI) Engineer – Packaging serves as the factory-level R&D representative at our Royal Canin manufacturing facility in Fremont, Nebraska. This role leads the industrial implementation and qualification of new packaging materials, packaging technologies, equipment modifications, and sustainability initiatives.

Serving as the crucial technical link and "Voice of the Factory" to the broader R&D community, the Packaging PPI Engineer ensures innovative packaging designs are scaled seamlessly into plant operations without adverse impacts on safety, product quality, line efficiency (OEE), or factory waste. This position is central to executing Mars sustainability commitments (e.g., Mono-PE transitions, plastic reduction, paper conversions, SB54 roadmap) through rigorous trial management, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Standard Running Condition (SRC) definitions, and smooth technical handovers.

Key Responsibilities

Packaging Innovation Deployment & Industrial Trials (40%)

• Trial Planning & Execution: Lead site-level packaging trials from protocol preparation, raw material staging, line trial execution, quality sampling, to comprehensive technical reporting.
• Technical Authority: Act as the on-site technical authority during line validations, evaluating film machinability, sealing performance, line throughput, and package integrity.
• Risk Assessment & Escalation: Identify, assess, and mitigate industrial and technical risks prior to full commercial rollout; support Industrial GO / GO-NO GO decision gates.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Fremont Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS), CVS, and Regional R&D Deploy teams.

Packaging Sustainability & Material Transition (25%)

• Sustainability Roadmap: Drive factory execution of sustainable packaging initiatives including Mono-PE structures, plastic reduction, paper transition, and SB54 compliance.
• TRL Progression: Support TRL5/6 development trials, TRL7 saleable soft launches, and TRL8/9 full-scale industrial deployments.
• Supplier Validation: Validate alternative sustainable substrates and new vendor packaging materials to ensure strict barrier, hermetic seal, and shelf-life requirements.

Specifications Management & Statistical Process Control (20%)

• R&D Specifications: Ensure full site compliance with R&D material, equipment, and finished pack technical standards.
• Standard Running Conditions (SRCs): Define, validate, and document optimal process parameter envelopes and standard machine settings.
• Statistical Process Control (SPC): Apply SPC tools to monitor process capability (Cp/Cpk), eliminate line variation, and drive scrap/waste reductions.
• Handover Protocols: Manage Hand Over 1 (HO1) and Hand Over 2 (HO2) operational transfer documentation to ensure production readiness.

Continuous Improvement, Training & Safety (15%)

• Structured Problem Solving: Facilitate Root Cause Analysis (RCA), 5-Why, and DMAIC problem-solving for chronic packaging equipment faults and packaging quality defects.
• Knowledge Transfer & SOPs: Author standard operating procedures, trial playbooks, and training materials; coach operators and maintenance technicians.
• Quality & Safety Compliance: Strictly adhere to Mars Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS), Occupational Safety (HSE), and environmental standards during all trial activities.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Supply Chain, or related technical discipline with 1–3 years of manufacturing/engineering experience; OR High School Diploma/GED with 5+ years of relevant technical/hands-on manufacturing experience.
• Preferred Experience: Experience in food/beverage manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or high-speed packaging operations.
• Certifications: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or related continuous improvement certification is preferred.

Technical Skills & Competencies

• Familiarity with high-speed packaging machinery (form-fill-seal, bagging, robotic palletizing, cartoners, heat sealers, conveyors).
• Proficiency in data analysis, root cause troubleshooting, and statistical methods (SPC).
• Demonstrated ability to write technical trial reports, standard operating procedures, and deliver technical training.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills across cross-functional operations and R&D teams.

Physical & Working Conditions

• Schedule: Standard Day Shift (7:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday) with occasional flexibility required during trial runs.
• Work Environment: Ability to work in a plant environment, navigate stairs, stand for extended periods during trials, and lift up to 35 lbs.
• Hands-on Capability: Ability to use basic mechanical hand tools for trial setups and equipment adjustments.

Military Transferable Skills & Veteran Transition Guide

At Royal Canin and Mars, we actively welcome veterans and transitioning military service members. The discipline, technical aptitude, procedural compliance, and operational leadership forged in military service align directly with the technical demands of this role. Candidates with military backgrounds in maintenance, electro-mechanical systems, logistics operations, and quality control are highly encouraged to apply.

Target Military Occupational Specialties (MOS / Rates / AFSC)

U.S. Army MOS 91A / 91B / 91X / 915A (Mechanical / Maintenance Chiefs & Officers): Extensive experience in preventive maintenance protocols, equipment troubleshooting, root-cause diagnosis, and standard operating procedures.

U.S. Army MOS 88N / 92Y / 92A (Transportation / Logistics / Supply Automation): Material staging, supply chain flow, technical inventory control, and operational staging for large deployments.

U.S. Army MOS 12B / 12N (Combat / Construction Engineers): Rigorous project planning, risk assessment, site setup, and safety governance in dynamic environments.

U.S. Navy Rates MM / GSM / GSE / EN (Machinist’s Mates / Gas Turbine Specialists / Enginemen): Hands-on operation, calibration, and troubleshooting of complex mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and automated drive systems.

U.S. Navy Rates ET / EM (Electronics Technicians / Electrician’s Mates): Control system diagnosis, electrical/sensor troubleshooting, automated instrumentation calibration, and system testing.

U.S. Navy QA / NDT (Quality Assurance & Inspection): Strict specification compliance, technical log documentation, quality auditing, and verification of mechanical standards.

U.S. Air Force AFSC 2A6X1 / 2A6X2 / 2A6X6 (Aerospace Propulsion / AGE / Electrical & Environmental): High-reliability system diagnostics, preventive maintenance execution, mechanical calibration, and strict adherence to technical orders (TOs).

U.S. Air Force AFSC 2S0X1 / 2T0X1 (Materiel Management / Logistics Readiness): Specification verification, material handling, preservation and packaging criteria, and supply chain execution.

U.S. Marine Corps MOS 1316 / 1341 / 0411 (Engineer Mechanics / Maintenance Chiefs): Field equipment maintenance, tooling use, standard operating procedure enforcement, and continuous readiness audits.

Key Military Competencies Mapped to Role

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Direct parallel to defining and maintaining Standard Running Conditions (SRCs) and technical specifications.

Operational Testing & Diagnostics: Direct parallel to planning, executing, and reporting industrial packaging trials and root-cause fault isolation.

Safety & Operational Rigor: Direct alignment with Mars HSE and Quality & Food Safety (Q&FS) zero-defect standards.

Leadership & Training: Direct parallel to cross-functional alignment, coaching operators, and conducting technical handover.

Mars Leadership & Functional Competencies

Key Mars Leadership Competencies

• Communicates Effectively

• Drives Results

• Ensures Accountability

• Manages Complexity

• Optimizes Work Processes

• Plans and Aligns

Functional Competencies

• Functional & Technical Skill (Packaging Materials, Equipment & Machinability)

• Risk Analysis Management & Technical Risk Assessment

• Structured Problem Solving (Six Sigma / Root Cause Analysis)

• Specifications Management (Raw Material, Process, Packaging & Finished Product)

• Project & Activity Management (QuEST / QES / Lean / MSE)