Packaging Engineer

Florida Crystals is a leading domestic sugar producer and North America’s first fully integrated cane sugar company, guiding our sugar from farm to table.  We are America’s first and only producer of certified organic sugar, grown and harvested in the United States. Our renewable energy facility is the largest of its kind in North America and provides clean energy that powers our sugar operations, which helps us reduce our use of fossil fuels.  Florida Crystals also sustainably farms rice, sweet corn and other vegetables in rotation with our sugarcane.  Our rice mill is the only rice mill in Florida. 

OVERVIEW

The Packaging Engineer is a technical resource for the various packaging departments in the organization He/she will work with dry food packaging operations to include, but not limited to the following packaging equipment: Vertical form fill fillers, baggers, sealers, scales, labelers, case formers/loaders, conveying, palletizing and robotics.  The position will also be responsible for identifying, leading, developing, and executing solutions for quality and performance improvements for the packaging department.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Work with Packaging operations throughout the company and suppliers to troubleshoot packaging issues, maintain packaging quality, and optimize packing line efficiencies.
• Develop and improve procedures and instructions to minimize packing line setup and changeover time/cost.
• Demonstrate strong troubleshooting skills through the use of continuous improvement techniques.
• Show thorough understanding of the interactions between machine, materials, methods, environment, and people to provide robust operating systems.
• Develop/maintain material balances and unit operation capability information to ensure optimal production rates, parameters, and formula.
• Provide key technical support in capital projects and new product and packaging material testing/start-ups.
• Minimize packaging material scrap, product scrap and product giveaway.
• Ensures safety aspects of the equipment meets specifications and requirements to assure employees safe working conditions.
• Conduct capacity studies, enhance system reliability, and identify/implement productivity improvements including new technologies.
• Serve as a technical liaison for all levels of the company including production/maintenance employees, plant technical and management resources, corporate engineering and R&D organizations.
• Develop/deliver technical training for various levels of the organization and serve as a divisional resource in cross-functional platform/technology/product teams.
• Provide packaging operations with technical equipment expertise, standard procedures for operation, change-over and maintenance of packaging equipment, selection of new packaging equipment, equipment improvement, upgrades and documentation, operator and maintenance training and support.
• Travel to various Enterprise sites as needed.

Required Skills                                  

• Recognized technical abilities and practical experience with strong capabilities in the following areas: Theory/functionality of manufacturing systems and unit operations; Continuous improvement; Food science/chemistry or packaging science; Statistics and analytical methods; Process measurement and control; Mechanical aptitude; Troubleshooting; Ability to understand and apply general engineering principles
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects with overlapping tasks and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems, develops solutions, and quickly implements their strategy.
• Strong organization skills, attention to detail and follow through to resolve any outstanding issues.
• Proficient skills specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook are required.
• Fundamental understanding of food standards, safety and sanitary regulations and good manufacturing practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.

Education/Experience

• B.S. degree (or higher) in Engineering, Packaging Science or related field from an accredited college/university.
• 2+ years of experience in packaging engineering, packaging development, quality engineering, or manufacturing.
• A demonstrated ability to select and apply sound engineering practices and principles to the design and development of high volume consumer products packaging.
• Strong background and proven results in Leading Continuous Improvement efforts through the application of Lean Manufacturing and 6 Sigma Activities.
• Prior experience in Packaging Controls.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.  All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.