Project Packaging Engineer

Description Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose. At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed. As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family‑owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award‑winning dairy products that bring people together. In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go‑Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz. At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued. Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. From your PASSION to ours Midwest Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Project Packaging Engineer based in Murfreesboro, TN. The Packaging Project Engineer is responsible for the execution of packaging system installations and capital projects as assigned by the Engineering Manager. This role leads packaging initiatives across their full lifecycle from initial specification design through start‑up and production handover while providing critical technical troubleshooting and expertise to the maintenance team. From your EXPERTISE to our Key responsibilities for this position include: Project Governance: Lead assigned packaging projects from scope definition through Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), site installation, commissioning, and final Site Acceptance Testing (SAT). Capital Approval & Budgeting: Direct the project budget and capital approval (DA) processes. Issue purchase orders, track actual versus budgeted variances, report on cash spend/forecasts, and control scope changes via formal change orders. Timeline & Vendor Planning: Own the master project timeline and schedule. Coordinate on‑site vendor activities, logistics, equipment shipping, and progressive payment milestones in tight alignment with plant operations. Cross‑Functional Coordination: Synchronize project steps across supporting departments, managing packaging design, product recipes, vendor sampling, water/CIP testing, system ramp‑up, and punch‑list resolution. Technical Design: Translate long‑term business and capacity needs into technical requirements (sizing, machine flexibility, and component counts). Ensure packaging system designs capture industry best practices and align with the site master plan. Stakeholder Mobilization: Actively engage, communicate with, and mobilize plant teams at every phase of the project lifecycle, ensuring a customer‑service‑oriented approach for production and maintenance departments. Procurement & RFQs: Author comprehensive supplier selection bid packages, solicit requests for quotation (RFQs), and perform rigorous technical and professional evaluations of bidding vendors. Trials & Validation: Organize and execute all necessary packaging trials and technical tests to guarantee project success alongside suppliers, R&D, and production teams. Continuous Improvement: Research, develop, and implement solutions for operational efficiency issues on the packaging floor. Analyze existing machinery to identify optimization opportunities via component and system studies. Maintenance & Technical Support: Provide advanced technical troubleshooting and floor support to the maintenance department, elevating the technical depth and skill sets of the plant maintenance technicians. Milestone Oversight: Ensure strict compliance with critical technical milestones, including provisional acceptance, PLC programming validation, electrical/water tests, commissioning, and final sign‑off. Safety & Compliance: Enforce rigorous safety protocols across all project phases, taking immediate responsive action if safety breaches occur, while ensuring execution deadlines and quality standards are met. Documentation: Maintain meticulous, up‑to‑date documentation, blueprints, and records for all executed packaging projects. Requirements From your STORY to ours Qualified applicants will contribute the following: Education A bachelor's degree is required. Majors in mechanical engineering or a similar discipline are favored. Experience 5+ years of experience within a manufacturing engineering environment is required. Certifications and specific knowledge Software: Proficiency with AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT. Technical Expertise: Strong foundation in process engineering principles, fluid dynamics, and automated manufacturing systems. Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex timelines, prioritize competing deliverables, and execute budgets. Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver technical presentations and write clear operational procedures. Adaptability: Resilient and proactive mindset with the ability to lead effectively within a fast‑paced, evolving production environment. At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career. Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally‑recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an affirmative action employer will comply with all related legal obligations.

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