What are the responsibilities and job description for the Packaging Optimization Engineer position at Clemens Food Group?
This is not a traditional packaging engineering role. At Clemens Food Group, Packaging Engineers are hands-on problem solvers who work directly with operations, maintenance, purchasing, and R&D teams to improve packaging performance across multiple manufacturing facilities.
You will play a key role in driving cost savings, supporting product launches, improving sustainability, and solving real operational challenges on the plant floor.
What You’ll Do
Clemens Food Group does not accept unsolicited resumes from search or staffing firms. All resumes submitted by search or staffing firms to any employee at Clemens Food Group via email, the Internet, or directly without a valid written search agreement for this role, and without having been asked to participate in this by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Clemens Food Group, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired. Firms not authorized to submit candidates will not be eligible for any fee or ownership claim.
EEO Statement
It is the policy of Clemens Food Group to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. All employees are subject to a pre-employment screening process, including a background check and drug screen. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to your recruiter.
You will play a key role in driving cost savings, supporting product launches, improving sustainability, and solving real operational challenges on the plant floor.
What You’ll Do
- Troubleshoot packaging and production issues directly on the plant floor
- Lead packaging optimization and cost savings initiatives
- Support packaging trials, commercialization projects, and new product launches
- Improve packaging efficiency, pallet utilization, and material usage
- Partner cross-functionally with Operations, QA, Maintenance, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and R&D
- Work with vendors to evaluate packaging materials, equipment, and new technologies
- Enjoy being on the production floor solving problems in real time
- Like working cross-functionally with different teams and personalities
- Have a bias for action and move projects forward without waiting for perfect conditions
- Are comfortable troubleshooting issues hands-on instead of managing from a desk
- Can influence others without direct authority
- Stay resilient and solution-focused when priorities shift quickly
- Want visible impact on operations, cost savings, and product launches
- Prefer highly structured desk-based engineering work
- Want to spend most of their time designing packaging in software programs
- Struggle with fast-paced production environments or shifting priorities
- Prefer working independently with limited cross-functional interaction
- Need constant direction before acting
- Avoid difficult conversations or operational conflict
- Dislike spending significant time on the plant floor
- Experience in manufacturing, packaging, operations, or engineering environments
- Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills
- Comfortable working in fast-paced production settings
- Ability to influence teams and drive change without direct authority
- Bias for action and strong problem-solving mindset
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- High visibility and business impact
- Hands-on operational role, not a desk job
- Opportunity to shape a growing packaging engineering function
- Exposure to multiple facilities and cross-functional teams
- Career growth into technical or operational leadership paths
Clemens Food Group does not accept unsolicited resumes from search or staffing firms. All resumes submitted by search or staffing firms to any employee at Clemens Food Group via email, the Internet, or directly without a valid written search agreement for this role, and without having been asked to participate in this by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Clemens Food Group, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired. Firms not authorized to submit candidates will not be eligible for any fee or ownership claim.
EEO Statement
It is the policy of Clemens Food Group to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. All employees are subject to a pre-employment screening process, including a background check and drug screen. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to your recruiter.