Staff Packaging Design Engineer

At Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.
Consider applying here, if you want to:
Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.
Develop lasting relationships with great people.
Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.
We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.
Staff Packaging Design Engineer
The Staff Design Engineer serves as a technical and people leader responsible for the design, development, and validation of new packaging solutions, including closures, preforms, and bottles. The position utilizes CAD, 2D/3D modeling, rendering, and simulation tools to drive product development and design validation. This role manages a minimum of 2 and up to 5 direct reports, with responsibility for setting technical direction, prioritizing work, developing team capabilities, coaching performance, and providing ongoing mentorship. The Staff Design Engineer also provides technical leadership to less experienced staff, supports cross-functional design initiatives, and partners with manufacturing plants to address design and technical needs.
Essential Functions
Lead engineering teams and provide technical assistance.
Oversee project direction, including planning, prioritizing tasks, and managing implementation.
Coordinate multiple projects with varying levels of complexity
Solve complex engineering problems and provide solutions.
Ensure compliance with industry standards and safety regulations.
Mentor junior engineers and collaborate with other teams.
Responsible for designing primary packaging components for the leading, lightweight bottle producer in the world.
Work with Product Development team to understand needs of customer, design to specific requests and provide requested documents by customer deadline
Project manage new product design projects from design to testing validation
Perform line trials to approve designs for production
Manage and maintain library of designs to be referenced for future projects
Monitor vendor progress on projects and ensure proper prioritization is communicated
Utilize simulation to project design outcomes and reduce time to market
Develop new software tools and support general laboratory testing
Visit new suppliers and learn new technologies
Travel up to 33%
Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
6 Years – Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
6 Years – Experience in Position
6 Years – Experience in Standardized CAD software
6 Years – Experience in New Product Development (NPD) work, concept creation and prototyping
6 Years – Experience in rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
Ability to travel domestically
6 Years – Experience in Finite Element Modeling (FEM) preferably with ANSYS.
*experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Preferred Qualifications:
10+ Years– Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
10+ Years – Experience working in Position
10+ Years – Experience in Standardized CAD software
10+ Years – Experience in New Product Development (NPD) work, concept creation and prototyping
10+ Years – Experience n rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
Ability to travel domestically
*experience may include a combination of work experience and education
Competencies
Complete Finite Element Analysis (FEA) on new bottle designs
Complete Injection Mold Simulations
Complete blow-molded bottle designs, preform designs and calculations to ensure compatibility
Design and implement new software to decrease new product implementation timelines
Analyze and provide solutions for plant resolution requests
Develop 3D print files for internal customer use
Support contract manufacturing team in design alteration recommendations to meet customers’ needs at the lowest cost
Perform lab tests on PET and HDPE products/samples
Working with rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing technology
Advanced data analysis and simulation capabilities
Publication quality communication skills (documents and presentations)
Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
Detail oriented and accurate - minimizes mistakes, follows every step in a process and follows through with all tasks
Oral Communication - speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; demonstrates presentation skills.
Written Communication - writes clearly and informatively; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
Experience leading cross functional teams
This position embodies the values of Niagara’s LIFE competency model, focusing on the following key drivers of success:
Lead Like an Owner
Makes safety the number one priority
Keeps alert for safety issues and escalates immediately
Effectively prioritizes tasks based on department goals
Shows respect to others and confronts interpersonal issues directly
Prioritizes resolution of customer issues effectively
Responds promptly and honors commitments to internal and external customers
InnovACT
Makes recommendations to continuously improve policies, methods, procedures, and/or products
Demonstrates adaptability by reacting appropriately to unexpected changes in situations or circumstances
Increases performance through greater efficiency
Find a Way
Seeks to develop technical knowledge through learning from other experts
Understands interdepartmental impact of individual decisions and actions
Seeks solutions rather than placing blame
Empowered to be Great
Consistently looks for ways to improve one’s self through growth and development opportunities
Communicates clearly and promptly up, down, and across
Communicates effectively to manage expectations
Education
Minimum Required:
Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or other related fields or equivalent experience
Preferred:
Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
Certification/License:
Required: N/A
Preferred: CAD Design, Injection Molding or Blow Molding
Foreign Language
Required: None Required
Preferred: Elementary Proficiency
German, Chinese or French
Typical Compensation Range
Pay Rate Type: Salary
$127,448.59 - $181,614.27 / Yearly
Bonus Target: 10% Annual
Benefits
Our Total Rewards package is thoughtfully designed to support both you and your family:
Regular full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package, while part-time, intern, and seasonal team members are offered a limited benefits package.
Paid Time Off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time
Paid parental and caregiver leaves
Medical, including virtual care options
Dental
Vision
401(k) with company match
Health Savings Account with company match
Flexible Spending Accounts
Expanded mental wellbeing benefits including free counseling sessions for all team members and household family members
Family Building Benefits including enhanced fertility benefits for IVF and fertility preservation plus adoption, surrogacy, and Doula reimbursements
Income protection including Life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, critical illness and an accident plan
Specia