Product Development Engineer

Product Development Engineer - Onsite | Elgin, IL

We are seeking a hands-on Product Development Engineer to support new product development, materials qualification, and production trials at our Elgin, IL facility. This role is ideal for engineers who thrive at the intersection of manufacturing, packaging technology, and R&D/innovation.

About the Role

As a Product Development Engineer, you will ensure the smooth flow of new products, materials, and customer trials through our Elgin plant. You'll work closely with Product Development, Quality, Procurement, Operations, and Innovation teams to design, test, validate, and commercialize new structures and materials. This is a full-time, onsite role with business-hour scheduling that may flex based on project needs.

You will be a key technical contributor-leading trial plans, troubleshooting on the production floor, analyzing data, and ensuring new materials and product designs meet customer CTQs, regulatory requirements, and ProAmpac's quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage development projects to ensure milestones, trial dates, and deliverables remain on track; communicate updates to leadership.
• Determine structures for new business opportunities and enter specifications into required systems.
• Develop trial plans and testing protocols aligned with customer CTQ parameters.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to design trial runs, identify potential quality risks, and build preventive quality plans.
• Attend production trials, troubleshoot issues, and make real-time technical decisions.
• Prepare post-trial documentation including machine processability, test data analysis, and recommendations for next steps.
• Ensure documentation is complete and accurate for Customer Service to generate timely quotations.
• Maintain ProAmpac systems with new raw materials, processing technologies, and updated specifications.
• Collaborate with Procurement to qualify new and alternate materials.
• Work directly with suppliers to communicate requirements and develop raw material specifications.
• Maintain and update run sheets, Bills of Materials, and site-specific structure documentation.
• Support product and process validations as needed.
• Uphold ProAmpac's Safety, Quality, and Operational standards; stop work when unsafe conditions are observed.
• Identify and record quality issues, recommend corrective actions, and prevent non-conformance.
• Halt manufacturing processes and notify management when safety, material, equipment, or technical issues arise.
• Perform additional assignments as required by ProAmpac Management.

Preferred Experience & Technical Background

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Materials Science, or related technical field preferred.
• Minimum 3+ years of experience in packaging processing (flexible packaging strongly preferred).
• Knowledge of adhesives, barrier materials, lamination processes, and converting technologies.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple technical initiatives.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills; able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work accurately under interruptions and meet deadlines with sound judgment and initiative.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Regular standing, walking, reaching, and manual handling; occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to distinguish colors and maintain close, distance, and depth perception.
• Occasional exposure to non-toxic smells, airborne dust, mechanical parts, high noise, and hot/humid conditions in summer months.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required to support customer trials, visit suppliers, attend industry events, or collaborate with other ProAmpac sites.

Compensation

• Salary Range:$85,000 - $95,000 annually
• Status: Exempt
• Bonus: Eligible for discretionary bonus per ProAmpac's bonus plan

This range reflects the expected compensation for qualified candidates in Illinois and supports compliance with state pay transparency requirements.

Benefits Summary

ProAmpac offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and long-term success. Highlights include:

• Multiple medical plan options, plus dental and vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance and disability benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off, holidays, and wellness programs
• Tuition assistance and professional development opportunities
• Employee assistance programs and additional voluntary benefits

For more info: https://careers.proampac.com/benefits/

Work Authorization

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. ProAmpac does not provide employment sponsorship for this role.

Ready to Join Us?

If you're an engineer who loves solving technical challenges, driving innovation, and working hands-on in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, we'd love to meet you. Join ProAmpac and help us shape the future of flexible packaging.

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