Packaging Engineer

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game. We are solutions-based. We are innovative. We seek out new challenges and conquer them. This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too:
Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how would YOU put our drinks on every table?

Reporting to the Director of Engineering, the Engineer Packaging is responsible for developing, testing, and evaluating new and existing pallet loads, as well as secondary and tertiary packaging systems. This role ensures design compatibility, machinability, and shipping distribution efficiency. The engineer will collaborate with external vendors, engineering, purchasing, commercial, and operations leadership to drive packaging solutions from functional prototype to full operational implementation.

These solutions must meet quality, functionality, manufacturing performance, and cost objectives.

• Participates in weekly project review meetings and delivers technical outputs such as specification evaluations, test protocols, test results, die-line approvals, and specification sign-offs.
• Updates and maintains packaging quality systems and specifications.
• Manages multiple assignments concurrently with moderate supervision.
• Drives projects from initiation to completion, documenting each phase, and ensuring successful closure.
• Serves as the Project Packaging Engineer, primarily focused on primary and secondary packaging.
• Interacts with commercial, manufacturing, product development, equipment engineering, graphics, and shipping/transportation personnel to optimize package design and development efforts.
• Troubleshoot new and existing packaging problems involving designs, materials and processes and provide creative, timely, and cost-effective solutions.
• Initiates cost reduction projects and cost avoidance opportunities that include packaging redesign initiatives, package component consolidation, and production line efficiencies.
• Liaison and communication with Commercial Account Managers, Purchasing Managers and suppliers to obtain an adequate customer packaging brief that can be communicated internally within the business.
• Coordinate packaging qualification tests with program manager, suppliers, plants and quality. Gain cross-functional alignment on project scope, trial requirements, approval, critical paths, budget, and trial results and findings.
• Coordinate with purchasing and Program Managers the procurement of materials to meet the critical path.
• Schedule, support and perform experimental trials and tests as required and document procedures and results.
• Accompany Sale personnel to meet with customer personnel concerning packaging or damage problems.
• Daily support of ACE workflow, packaging inquiries, creating pallet specifications, completing customer packaging data sheets within 48 hours of request or prior agreement. Assists in the development of Bills of Materials, and cost analysis.
• Quarterly validate accuracy of plant capability and packaging specification databases.
• Analyzes packaging engineering drawings and material specifications to assess physical characteristics, handling requirements, and environmental and safety requirements.
• Prototypes packaging and models using appropriate materials: flexible, corrugated and folding carton manufacturing, plastic film and pressure-sensitive labels, and other materials as appropriate.
• Consults with company’s counsel to determine any product patent or liability impact of new designs.
• Interviews suppliers…