Job Description
Job Description
Job Description – Project Engineer
Field
Details
Job Title
Project Engineer
Department
Technical Services & R&D
Reports To
Director, Technical Services & R&D
FLSA Status
Exempt
Position Summary
The Project Engineer is the single accountable technical owner for Somafina’s packaging platform and the capital and process projects that enable it. Operating at the intersection of engineering, operations, and commercial strategy, the role balances hands‑on packaging development with full life‑cycle project leadership—chartering, funding, executing, and sustaining initiatives that directly influence margin, capacity, and customer experience.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Functional Area
Key Activities
Packaging Engineering (≈ 50 %)
• Translate customer brand, regulatory, and sustainability requirements into robust packaging specifications, BOMs, and inspection standards.• Lead component selection for bottles, pouches, closures, cartons, cases, and tertiary protection; negotiate technical details and commercial terms with converters, printers, and tooling houses.• Direct and document line trials, FAT/SAT, first‑article inspections, and PPAP/validation runs; release qualified components and processes.• Provide expert, on‑call troubleshooting to Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain—driving permanent corrective actions that improve OEE, yield, and compliance.
Capital Project Leadership & Continuous Improvement (≈ 50 %)
• Author charters, ROI/NPV models, schedules, and resource plans for projects ranging from $250 k to $3 MM+; secure executive approval.• Own vendor selection, contract negotiation, and oversight of OEMs, fabricators, and construction trades through installation, commissioning, and IQ/OQ/PQ.• Track scope, spend, risk, and change control with stage‑gate discipline; publish KPI dashboards, escalate barriers, and facilitate rapid resolution.• Capture lessons learned and institutionalize best practices into SOPs and templates.
Additional duties may be assigned as business needs evolve.
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline (advanced degree a plus).
- Experience: 7+ years progressive packaging or process engineering within a cGMP‑regulated food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or CPG environment.
- Technical: Proven ownership of capital projects ≥ $1 MM; expert knowledge of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging, high‑speed automation, and validation (FAT/SAT/IOQ/PQ).
- Tools: CAD (SolidWorks/AutoCAD), project‑tracking (MS Project, Smartsheet), and financial modeling.
- Regulatory: Deep familiarity with 21 CFR 111/117 and statistical process control.
- Certifications: PMP (or ability to achieve within 12 months).
- Soft Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and data‑driven communication; able to influence suppliers and senior leadership.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s in Engineering, Packaging Science, or MBA.
- Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent Lean credential.
- Experience commercializing sticky products (gummy, confectionery) and optimizing lines to > 85 % OEE.
- Record of consolidating/reshoring packaging supply chains to realize ≥ 10 % cost reduction.
- Green‑field facility start‑up or major line expansion (utilities/clean‑room) experience.
Core Competencies
Competency
Demonstrated Behaviors
Customer Focus
Anticipates and translates complex customer & regulatory needs into scalable, cost‑effective solutions.
Leadership & Ownership
Drives projects with full accountability, setting clear priorities and coaching cross‑functional partners.
Financial Acumen
Quantifies benefit, risk, and ROI to guide capital allocation and improvement decisions.
Strategic Thinking
Connects component‑level decisions to broader capacity, margin, and company objectives.
Continuous Improvement
Identifies and implements sustainable gains in OEE, yield, and cost without compromising quality.
Adaptability
Seamlessly shifts between detailed troubleshooting and portfolio‑level planning in a fast‑growing environment.
Physical & Work‑Environment Requirements
- Hybrid mix of office, lab, and manufacturing floor; must be able to stand/walk production areas and occasionally lift ≤ 40 lbs.
- Routine use of standard PPE (safety glasses, hair/beard covering, hearing protection, etc.).
- Domestic travel up to 20 % to suppliers, OEMs, and sister facilities.