Packaging Engineer

Packaging Engineer

Research Triangle Park, NC

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets to enable a secure and resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resilience, we serve critical industries including defense, aerospace, and automotive—powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence, and Transparency.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and validate packaging solutions for raw materials, work- and finished magnet products, ensuring protection, durability, and cost efficiency.
• Optimize packaging for transportation modes (ground, air, sea) with consideration for weight, cube utilization, and handling requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, including hazardous materials packaging, export requirements, and industry standards where applicable.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Logistics teams to integrate packaging solutions into production and distribution workflows.
• Develop standardized packaging specifications, work instructions, and testing protocols.
• Conduct packaging validation testing (e.g., drop, vibration, compression) to ensure product integrity during transit.
• Identify and implement sustainable packaging solutions, including material reduction, recyclability, and reuse strategies.
• Partner with suppliers and logistics providers to source and qualify packaging materials and components.
• Analyze packaging performance and logistics data to drive continuous improvement in cost, damage reduction, and operational efficiency.
• Support warehouse layout and material handling design to ensure compatibility with packaging systems.
• Establish KPIs related to packaging performance, damage rates, and cost optimization.

Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business.

• 3–7+ years of experience in packaging engineering, logistics engineering, or supply chain operations, preferably in manufacturing environments such as advanced materials, automotive, aerospace, or high-volume production.
• Experience designing and testing packaging for industrial or sensitive products.
• Knowledge of packaging materials, standards, and testing methods (e.g., ISTA, ASTM).
• Familiarity with hazardous materials packaging and shipping requirements is a plus.
• Experience with CAD tools and packaging design software preferred.
• Strong understanding of transportation, warehousing, and material handling systems.
• Analytical mindset with experience using data to drive process improvements.
• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.