What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Packaging Engineer position at Oliver Tolas Healthcare Packaging?
Principal Packaging Engineer (Sterile Barrier Systems)
📍 Grand Rapids, MI (Travel Required | Up to ~50% at Peak Times) ✈️
At Oliver Healthcare Packaging, we’re not just designing packaging—we’re protecting the integrity of life-saving medical devices around the world 🌍
We’re looking for a Principal Packaging Engineer to serve as a recognized technical authority in sterile barrier systems and flexible packaging. This is a highly visible, customer-facing role where your expertise will directly influence product innovation, regulatory strategy, and customer success.
If you thrive on solving complex technical challenges 🧩, influencing across organizations, and shaping the future of healthcare packaging—this is your opportunity.
What You’ll Do
Lead at the Highest Technical Level 🚀
- Act as a subject matter expert in sterile barrier systems, flexible packaging, and performance testing
- Lead complex, high-impact projects across material selection, packaging design, and validation strategy
- Provide technical mentorship to engineers and lab teams 🤝
- Influence product platforms, supplier strategy, and emerging technologies
Be the Face of Engineering to Customers 🤝
- Partner directly with customers through consultations, site visits, trials, and troubleshooting
- Support commercial teams with technical insights, data storytelling, and solution positioning
- Lead customer training sessions, workshops, and line trials 🎤
- Represent Oliver at industry forums and technical discussions
Drive Innovation & Product Strategy 💡
- Collaborate with R&D and Product Management to assess and advance new product concepts
- Shape portfolio decisions through deep technical insight and application knowledge
- Support product lifecycle activities including optimization, change management, and documentation
Solve Complex Problems Across the Business 🔍
- Lead technical investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
- Partner with Operations and Engineering on process validation and scale-up ⚙️
- Support supplier qualification and performance improvement initiatives
Elevate Testing & Data Utilization 📊
- Provide expert interpretation of test methods, standards, and complex datasets
- Contribute to the evolution of lab systems, tools, and data accessibility
- Perform advanced testing and analysis as needed
What You Bring
- 10 years of experience in packaging engineering (medical device strongly preferred)
- Deep expertise in sterile and flexible packaging design and performance
- Strong knowledge of ISO 11607, ISO 13485, and medical device packaging requirements
- Experience with Thermoform-Fill-Seal and Tray/Lid sealing technologies
- Proficiency in DFMEA, DOE, SPC, Gauge R&R, and statistical analysis tools (Minitab, Excel) 📈
- Strong communicator with the ability to influence and translate complex technical concepts
- Experience with CAD (2D/3D) is a plus
Why This Role Matters 🌟
This isn’t a back-room engineering role. You’ll be:
- A trusted advisor to customers
- A technical voice shaping product and industry direction
- A key contributor to Oliver’s reputation as a leader in healthcare packaging
Work Environment & Travel
- Mix of lab, manufacturing, and office environments 🏭
- Travel up to ~50% (customer sites, manufacturing locations, industry events ✈️)
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you’re ready to operate at a principal level—where your expertise drives real-world outcomes in healthcare—we’d love to connect.