Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Packaging Engineer
A Packaging Engineer is a professional who is responsible for managing technical aspects of the packaging development process. They develop, approve, and control technical specifications for packaging components. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Packaging Engineers.
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Main Responsibilities of Packaging Engineer
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Packaging Engineer:
Advise
Advise and Manage Technical aspects of the packaging development process.
Analyze
Analyze results and applies technical judgment in making substantial adaptions and modifications.
Analyze, revise and develop internal procedures and systems required to ensure GMP compliance.
Assist in / Assist with
Assist in conducting Process FMEAs.
Assist in mentoring of junior engineers.
Assist in the training of personnel required for the operation of equipment.
Assist with line trials of new / transferring components as needed.
Assist with the development of new package components, including specifications.
Assist with the development of package designs from concept through to production.
Author
Author global regulatory content pertinent to packaging.
Author sections of regulatory submissions germane to package design and components.
Author technical documents and processes.
Build
Build high performance teams.
Carry out
Carry out routine maintenance on equipment.
Close
Close cooperation with Engineering, ID, UX, Marketing, Operations and Logistics.
Communicate
Communicate status and escalates complex packaging issues.
Compile
Compile samples, quotes, and specs needed for internal testing and pre-production batches.
Compile
Compile and evaluate test data.
Complete
Complete Technical Profiles and Specification for new and existing products, as needed.
Conduct
Conduct feasibility analysis on designs, manufacturability, costing, and time-to-market.
Conduct review meetings with multiple facilities regarding packaging issues.
Contribute to
Contribute to developing technical skills in organization and builds high performance teams.
Contribute to the development or improvement of company processes.
Coordinate
Coordinate and perform equipment / process qualifications (IQ / OQ / PQ).
Create
Create and manage change requests within the document control system.
Create and update packaging specifications for manufacturing.
Create and updates training presentations with information specific to the target internal audience.
Create a team and environment to ensure equipment and process optimization.
Create development prototypes, engineering drawings, and specifications.
Create new, improve existing, and eliminate waste from products, package and processes.
Define
Define appropriate materials and vendors for all project related packaging components.
Define appropriate testing plan and analyze / interpret results.
Define design process and methodologies to improve project efficiency.
Deliver
Deliver innovative results that support brand strategy.
Design
Design experiments to validate the performance of the mechanical designs.
Determine
Determine label sizes and verify label fit on components liaising with Label Control.
Develop
Develop and assist in conducting FMEAs.
Develop and lead programs that utilize AMD's industry-leading chipset and packaging architecture.
Develop and meet budget plans in accordance with I&A organization.
Develop and specify tooling for all packaging equipment.
Develop, approve, and control technical specifications for all packaging components.
Develop, communicate and maintain supplier packaging requirements.
Develop design guidelines and assembly process techniques for advanced electronic packaging.
Develop in-process sampling strategy for manufacturing process.
Develop line trial protocols and writes trial reports, SOP's and specifications.
Develop new concepts from initial design to market release.
Develop packaging with chosen suppliers.
Develop preventative maintenance programs and recommend spare parts.
Develop processes that lead to shortened cycle time.
Develop specifications for new packaging materials.
Develop standards for packaging quality and durability.
Develop timelines, risk assessment and contingency plans to ensure execution on projects.
Direct
Direct support personnel, coordinates, and reports on project activities.
Direct the development of specifications in PLM.
Document
Document, implement and thoroughly test packaging designs for release to production.
Drive
Drive cost savings opportunities.
Drive external manufacturer on issue resolution.
Drive for supplier engagement.
Drive package reliability execution.
Drive package technology development from initial concept to production phase.
Ensure
Ensure compliance with international and external regulations.
Ensure maintenance of technical best practice and regulatory compliance.
Ensure on time delivery to Project Engineering and R&D schedules and plans.
Ensure safety and quality aspects of packaging equipment and procedures meet company requirements.
Ensure standardization of packaging practices across IPEX.
Ensure that all package testing and validation happens according to protocol and specifications.
Ensure that related projects are executed safely, on time and within Budget estimates.
Ensure their activity is aligned to project milestones.
Escalate
Escalate critical problems to Project Management & Marketing, as necessary, in a timely manner.
Establish
Establish cross-functional relationships with vendors and local functional support teams.
Evaluate
Evaluate and coordinate supplier's activity related to on-going projects.
Evaluate and distribute production standards for all new components to suppliers, fillers, and QA.
Examine
Examine quality issues with packaging and work with suppliers to correct issues.
Execute
Execute and document design reviews as necessary.
Exercise
Exercise authority and judgment within defined limits to determine appropriate action.
Facilitate
Facilitate and coordinate project activities to minimize project timelines.
Follow up
Follow up the action list and rules and regulations.
Foster
Foster close cooperative relationships with external suppliers and manufacturers.
Foster Collaboration and Teamwork.
Give
Give training presentations to various stakeholders.
Guide
Guide and coach others in managing through change and uncertainty.
Hold
Hold and participate in design reviews.
Identify
Identify and implement process improvement opportunities.
Identify Bill of Material components for company products.
Identify departmental needs and assist with recruits / hires / promotes personnel as appropriate.
Identify key quality attributes for packaging components.
Identify needs gaps and opportunities.
Identify and provide creative solutions and opportunities for packaging within the circular economy.
Identify continuous learning opportunities for self.
Identify, develop and evangelize cutting edge package solutions for AMD products.
Identify, develop and productize cutting edge advanced packaging for AMD products.
Identify innovative cost-saving opportunities and continuous packaging improvements.
Implement
Implement both short- and long-term product packaging solutions.
Implement large cost reduction programs.
Improve
Improve and optimize the quality and performance of existing core products.
Influence
Influence exerted at peer level and occasionally at first levels of management.
Interact
Interact with lab technicians to execute DOE and process setup & transfer.
Interface
Interface with contract manufacturers in weekly meetings for projects and routine production.
Investigate
Investigate existing and new technologies.
Investigate and evaluate existing technologies for potential improvement or use.
Issue
Issue a new packaging specification for approval.
Keep
Keep abreast of and identify new developments and technologies in materials and processes.
Lead
Lead a distributed team of development engineers in a fabless environment.
Lead the assessment, qualification and introductions of new vendors and materials.
Lead the day-to-day activities of a team of personnel, which may include people managers.
Lead the day to day R& D Packaging Engineering support across product development Core Teams.
Lead the packaging development for new initiatives.
Leverage
Leverage scientific training while developing business-specific technical depth.
Liaise with
Liaise with other teams to achieve solutions and to resolve issues with existing deployments.
Log
Log all drawings into design database for future reference.
Maintain
Maintain a consistently high level of quality, thoroughness and attention to detail.
Maintain job folders with samples and related information in an organized filing system.
Make
Make major impact decisions.
Make your mark in the fight against cancer.
Manage
Manage budget for pharmaceutical / packaging engineering-related projects and activities.
Manage labeling changes with packaging sites.
Manage, monitor and report on the assigned projects about costs, time, quality and communication.
Manage suppliers and audit suppliers to fulfill all product packaging requirements.
Manage the internal cold chain lab.
Manage the planning and implementation of new site start-ups.
Meet
Meet with client technical team to understand packaging requirements and needs.
Model
Model the stress and thermal interaction between PICs, ASICs and the package assembly.
Monitor
Monitor process data, identify trends, present data, and propose action as necessary.
Operate
Operate as a team and / or independently while demonstrating flexibility to changing requirements.
Operate effectively as a leader of a project, or a key member of multiple small teams.
Operate under and maintain GMP conditions.
Operate various testing apparatus in qualifying packaging changes.
Oversee
Oversee process for creation, content accuracy and maintenance of PIM-generated packaging labels.
Oversee the prototyping and testing of new designs, including the interpretation of test results.
Participate in
Participate in product introduction teams, to deliver new products to market.
Participate in relevant industry forums and aim to influence future standards.
Participate in test method validation for packaging materials.
Perform
Perform cost analysis and develop business cases for implementing packaging improvements.
Perform engineering product verification to ensure compliance to requirements.
Perform FEA / CFD analyses on electrical and photonic packages.
Perform other related duties and responsibilities, on occasion, as assigned.
Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
Perform packaging testing and analyze results to determine if packaging meets standards.
Perform technical troubleshooting and investigations of process issues.
Plan
Plan, organize, and prioritize own daily work routine to meet established schedule.
Review
Review and audit supplier drawings.
Prepare
Prepare documents for Regulatory filings.
Prepare monthly progress reports on projects.
Prepare packaging validation protocols and reports to support packaging changes.
Present
Present periodic project status reports to peers and senior leadership.
Prioritize
Prioritize day to day work of the Packaging Group engineers, scientists and technicians.
Procure
Procure and validate new packaging and containers during pilot phase.
Provide
Provide a brief summary of the environment - team, what they do, and the job.
Provide analysis of test results and partner with ID team to develop viable solutions.
Provide contribution to device packaging architecture.
Provide engineering evaluation of packaging concepts throughout preliminary design stage.
Provide equipment data, records the daily progress of construction, insufficient and defect.
Provide escalated troubleshooting support related to software packages.
Provide guidance and direction to junior scientists.
Provide guidance to less experienced staff.
Provide maintenance technical services.
Provide meaningful explanations and forward actions to appropriate Division / Subsidiary personnel.
Provide on-the-floor oversight of the manufacturing process, as necessary.
Provide packaging engineering technical assistance to operating facilities.
Provide supervisor oversight and day-to-day direction relating to packaging of pharma products.
Provide support to various departments such as R&D regarding packaging issues.
Provide technical specifications and guidance to Procurement in sourcing packaging materials.
Provide technical support for any internal or customer packaging-related inquiries.
Provide technical training as necessary to operators.
Provide work direction to lab technicians as required.
Read
Read, execute & write laboratory Standard Test Procedures and record associated data.
Receive
Receive limited / general guidance and instruction.
Report
Report any issues noticed to a member of the Food Safety Team.
Represent
Represent Intuitive Surgical in internal and external audits in the areas of responsibility.
Research
Research new techniques and products for improving packaging effectiveness.
Review
Review and approve commercial artwork for secondary packaging components.
Review and approve protocols, master batch records, reports, and relevant CMO documents.
Review and revises packaging designs to meet departmental productivity goals.
Review of developed artworks to verify compliance with business requirements.
Review or coordinates vendor activities to support development and use.
Rite
Rite and present technical and business summaries for both technical and non-technical personnel.
Show
Show courage to provide candid, timely and tactful communication and feedback to others.
Sketch
Sketch and participate in value engineering and cost reduction plans.
Solicit
Solicit creative direction from the VB Director in a timely manner.
Solve
Solve technical issues on package reliability, materials and assembly process.
Specify
Specify and recommend efficiency tools and test methods to develop and validate packaging designs.
Support
Support Aliaxis Innovation Model (AIM) teams to determine packaging solutions for new products.
Support and collaborate with business units and customers for product execution and alignments.
Support and implement operational excellence (OPEX) initiatives as necessary.
Support and revises specifications and resolves technical issues with material suppliers.
Support initiatives to develop best practices, test methods and work processes to drive efficiencies.
Support marketing requests for product performance and technical information.
Support packaging and labeling processes for established product lines.
Support packaging processes for established product lines and develop packaging for new products.
Support PCB design review and tape out.
Support product quality investigations, CAPAs, and change control activities.
Support technology transfer to clinical and commercial manufacturing sites.
Support the innovation process by proposing, developing and implementing packaging options.
Take
Take personal responsibility for their own development.
Track
Track packaging quality issues, determine root cause, implement CAPAs, and track in-market response.
Train
Train Packaging Group members and other PDI technical colleagues.
Train new hires on test methods and departmental SOP.
Transfer
Transfer the new product into a high yielding, cost-effective, high-volume manufacturing environment.
Travel
Travel to Contract packaging sites to oversee qualification activities.
Understand
Understand and develop packaging for hazardous materials.
Understand component selection and device design activities.
Understand correlation of final art to package design.
Understand packaging material production processes and systems.
Understand packaging-related business needs and competitive landscape.
Understand project management methodologies and capable to provide technical leadership for projects.
Update
Update a network directory of all design files for read only use by all internal departments.
Utilize
Utilize eCommerce best practices and contribute to and lead process improvements.
Utilize best practices and contributes to and leads process improvements.
Utilize packaging expertise to develop value added solutions to customer needs.
Utilize standard problem-solving techniques to resolve issues highlighted by warranty claims.
Work with
Work closely with company and site procurement teams to identify synergies.
Work closely with global suppliers, engineering, operations, and sourcing.
Work closely with global suppliers, engineering, QA, product management, operations, and sourcing.
Work cross-functionally to influence change in areas with no direct responsibility.
Work with CMs for product packaging related issues, and improve CMs quality and yield.
Work with packaging vendors to create solutions when required.
Work with Suppliers to achieve objectives.
Write
Write and review SOPs related to DDCPE activities, ensuring alignment with other Gilead SOPs.
Write internal procedures required to ensure GMP compliance.
Write technical specifications for packaging components and final package.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Packaging Engineer:
Packaging
Materials
Packaging Science
Packaging Materials
Materials Science
Assembly
GMP
Packaging Development
Medical Device
Continuous Sitting for Prolonged Periods
Manufacturing Processes
Pharmaceutical
Electrical Engineering
Manufacturing Practices
Spreadsheets
Word Processing
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Packaging Engineer:
Written and oral communication skills
Organizational capacity
Problem-solving attitude
Interpersonal skills
Work independently with little direction
Leadership
Presentation
Creative
Analytical ability
Team player
Attention to detail
Innovative
Self-motivated
Work with minimum supervision
Attention to technical details and accuracy
Communicate at multiple levels in the organization
Leverage and / or engage others to accomplish projects
Prioritize multiple responsibilities
Resourceful
