Graham Packaging is looking for a Product Development Engineer with strong engineering and problem-solving skills.  This individual serves as the technical liaison between Graham Packaging and the customer, the sales force, the plants, and the broader technical organization. The Product Development Engineer is the hub/leader for all aspects of multi-phased plastic bottle development projects from inception, through planning, design, prototyping, and commercial launch for both Graham Packaging and our customer.  This job is located at our Global Technology Center in York, PA.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Will be expected to be the leader/hub/ for the development process with some supervision.
• Translate the voice of the customer and their needs into a bottle design, control plan and product specification to meet functional requirements.
• Integrates thorough technical knowledge while working on simple and moderate complexity projects.
• Develop project management skills, lead teams and take relentless ownership of the project(s).
• Coordinate industrial and engineering design activities to develop a fit for use package design.
• Conduct unit/prototype mold construction and sampling to develop a robust blow molding process and utilize data analysis to develop a product and process that transfers effectively to manufacturing.
• Support capital engineering by providing product requirements for Factory Acceptance Testing to assist in the specification of manufacturing equipment.
• Provide information to tooling engineers for the specification and construction of production molds and tooling.
• Conduct manufacturing start-up activities and deliver efficient manufacturing processes to our plants.
• Conduct customer package validations; obtain required approvals from our customers.
• Support Graham Packaging manufacturing facilities in simple to moderate problem solving and continuous improvement activities providing direction on procedures, equipment, processes, tooling and product testing.
• Create and manage a development plan, using PLM software, including all project timelines, data summaries, approvals and customer correspondence.
• Maintain historical knowledge of development, technology and process best practices and act as an emerging subject matter expert in these areas.
• Research and remain current on packaging trends, packaging technologies, closures and sustainability trends.
• Travel of up to 50% required at times.

Core Proficiencies and Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work well in a team environment, including the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers.
• Ability to assess problems and escalate as appropriate.
• Proficient with MS Office applications and MS Project
• Moderate problem-solving skills utilizing experimentation and data driven decision-making
• Apply judgement in interpreting results and conducting quantitative analysis.
• Basic mold design experience and plastics processing experience strongly desired
• Basic ability to understand and interpret statistics and to work with statistical software
• Working knowledge of plastic materials properties and testing procedures
• Ability to develop and execute product-testing procedures
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and drawings

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements

• BS degree in Engineering (Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Industrial Engineering preferred)
• Experience developing packaging as a supplier, converter or packaging customer or 3+ years GPC plant, technical experience.