Packaging Engineer
Position Purpose The Packaging Automation Engineer provides specialized engineering, commissioning, and lifecycle support for the company’s Clevertech S.p.A. OEM palletizers and integrated end-of-line packaging systems. The position applies mechatronics, controls, robotics, software, and field-service engineering principles to install, validate, troubleshoot, optimize, and sustain automated production equipment at manufacturing sites in the United States. The engineer serves as a technical interface among internal manufacturing teams, the OEM and its authorized support organization, and cross-functional engineering partners.
- Lead installation, site acceptance, commissioning, startup, and performance validation of Clevertech palletizers and related end-of-line equipment, including conveyors, product-routing devices, safety circuits, and line interfaces.
- Develop, review, modify, back up, and troubleshoot PLC and HMI applications used in palletizing systems, with primary emphasis on Siemens TIA Portal / S7 platforms and Rockwell Automation RSLogix 500 / Studio 5000 platforms.
- Diagnose complex equipment and process faults across electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, controls, communications, and software layers; provide on-site, remote, and telephone support and document root cause and corrective action.
- Configure and support robotic and motion-control applications involving Fanuc, ABB, or KUKA robots and related drives, sensors, interlocks, and safety functions where incorporated into palletizing cells.
- Integrate and troubleshoot machine-vision and inspection technologies, including Cognex, Keyence, or Festo devices, for product detection, position verification, quality checks, and automated material handling.
- Engineer line-control and product-routing solutions, including pneumatic actuation, component selection and sizing, sequence development, bill-of-material review, and verification of mechanical and structural constraints.
- Design and maintain interfaces between industrial controls and production data systems using C#, SQL/MariaDB, S7.Net, or comparable technologies for equipment monitoring, reporting, traceability, and automated data collection.
- Plan and execute preventive and corrective maintenance, reliability testing, equipment-centerline verification, and changeover-repeatability improvements for palletizers and connected packaging equipment.
- Analyze machine performance and production data to reduce downtime, product damage, material loss, and process variability; lead Kaizen and other continuous-improvement activities and verify that changes meet safety, quality, and throughput requirements.
- Coordinate multiple automation workstreams and multidisciplinary field teams; manage technical scope, schedules, installation priorities, issue escalation, and status communication in active production environments.
- Create and maintain engineering documentation, including functional descriptions, software revision records, commissioning and validation protocols, test results, fault histories, operating standards, training materials, and service reports.
- Train operators, maintenance personnel, and engineers on safe operation, changeover, troubleshooting, and maintenance of Clevertech palletizing systems and related controls.
- Maintain professional, service-oriented relationships with plant stakeholders, OEM representatives, vendors, and engineering partners, including timely follow-up through final technical resolution.
- Apply company, customer, and applicable industrial safety and quality requirements during design review, field installation, testing, and production support.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics Engineering, or a closely related engineering field.
- At least three years of progressively responsible engineering experience with automated industrial machinery, including installation, commissioning, validation, programming, or field support. Experience supporting palletizers or integrated end-of-line packaging systems is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience applying engineering principles across electrical controls, mechanical systems, pneumatics, industrial networks, and machine-safety interfaces.
- Hands-on PLC programming and troubleshooting experience with Siemens TIA Portal / S7 and Rockwell Automation RSLogix 500 or Studio 5000; HMI configuration experience is required.
- Experience integrating industrial robots, motion systems, machine vision, or database-connected manufacturing equipment.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, pneumatic schematics, mechanical layouts, equipment specifications, and control narratives.
- Professional proficiency in English sufficient to lead technical discussions, prepare engineering documentation, and train plant personnel. Multilingual capability is beneficial for coordination with international OEM and project teams.
- Strong project coordination, technical writing, customer-service, and cross-functional communication skills.
Preferred Technical Qualifications
- Prior project or field-service experience with Clevertech S.p.A. palletizers, conveyor systems, or comparable robotic palletizing equipment.
- Programming or integration experience with C#, SQL or MariaDB, S7.Net, industrial databases, and automated reporting or monitoring tools.
- Experience with Fanuc, ABB, or KUKA robotics and Cognex, Keyence, or Festo vision and sensing technologies.
- Experience in dairy, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, or other regulated, high-throughput manufacturing environments.
- Experience leading machine and process validation, Kaizen events, and multidisciplinary installation teams.
Travel and Work Environment
- Approximately 50% travel to manufacturing locations in the United States, with occasional international travel as business needs require.
- Work may include nonstandard hours during installation, commissioning, production startup, or emergency equipment support.
- The role is performed in active manufacturing environments around automated machinery, conveyors, robotics, forklifts, trucks, and other industrial equipment.
Physical Requirements Must be able to work for extended periods on the plant floor in cool or wet environments, including temperatures of approximately 34–38°F where applicable. The position requires standing, walking, climbing, bending, stooping, reaching, and grasping; frequent lifting of up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds; and safe work in fast-paced production and warehouse areas. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Additional Responsibilities
- Perform other related engineering and technical-support duties consistent with the position’s purpose and level of responsibility.