Sr. Manager of Packaging Design (Plastics/PET & HDPE) - Niagara Bottling

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.

Sr. Manager of Packaging Design (Plastics/PET & HDPE)

The Sr. Manager of Packaging Design is responsible for the development of new product offerings and primary packaging components. This role will utilize Finite Element Analysis (FEA), various CAD software and direct report skillsets to execute critical rigid and semi-rigid packaging projects within the parameters provided by both internal and external customers. This role will lead a diverse team of engineers to ensure Niagara Bottling remains the industry low-cost leader in beverage manufacturing without compromising quality. The Sr. Manager will be required to communicate results of projects to leadership as well as train and mentor team members to grow within the organization. The key emphasis of the role is the ability to lead a highly technical, fast paced design team while simultaneously strategically growing the team’s capabilities via artificial intelligence and alternate strategic visions. Lastly, leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the packaging team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement will be key to the roles success.

Detailed Description

• Lead plastic part design (PET & HDPE) for injection and blowmolding applications in the vertically integrated bottling industry.  
• Mentor and grow design engineers while providing the tools necessary to execute required jobs in an expedient manner.
• Support internal light weight design initiatives, new customer design requests, Innovation and non-packaging specific design projects. 
• Improve process workflow when necessary to create a more effective NPD workflow.
• Improve laboratory testing effectiveness via software tools, artificial intelligence and internally developed software.
• Visit and grow OEM relationships to ensure future designs are applicable for new beverage equipment technologies.
• Grown relationships with manufacturing personnel to ensure feedback loop is constantly progressing and having a positive impact on packaging design. 
• Lead in improving, designing, and optimizing more complex tests, analyzing results, providing recommendations, and developing reports based on engineering principles that translate to innovative products.
• Analyze and evaluate experimental data to create and validate the computational models.
• Work in a cross-functional team environment and collaborate with Innovation, Quality, Packaging Execution, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to meet project objectives.
• Create, review, and release documents within the product lifecycle control systems.
• The position requires up to 20% travel
• 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.

Work Experience/KSA’s

• Required:
  • 7+ years  – Experience in Field
  • 5+ years  – Experience in Position
  • 4+ years  –Experience in Supervising Employees
  • Able to travel to Germany, France, Canada, and China
  • Experience in Finite Element Modeling (FEM), preferably with ABAQUS.
  • Able to plan experiments and validate simulations

             *experience may include a combination of work experience and education

• Preferred:
  • 10+ years  – Experience in Field
  • 7+ years  – Experience in Position                        
  • 7+ years  – Experience in Supervising Employees
  • Fluent in a second language such as German, Chinese, or French
  • Experience with injection molding, compression molding, or blow molding can also help

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Competencies

• Knowledge and understanding of blowmolding and injection molding part design.
• Exposure to vertically integrated beverage manufacturing (pellets to pallets).  
• Ability to interact with suppliers, manufacturing sites, customers and internal colleagues and stakeholders.
• Advanced data analysis and simulation knowledge.
• Ability to clearly communicate both written and orally, complex topics in generic verbiage.
• Problem Solving - identifies and resolves 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
• Managing People - fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services
• Proficient in material science, in particular polymers.
• Skilled in SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, ANSYS, Moldex3D, Blowview and other similar software.

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 Engineers
  • Ph.D. would also be considered for this position

Certification/License:

• Required: N/A  
• Preferred: ANSYS LSDYNA, ANSYS Static Structural, SolidWorks Associate CAD, MoldX3D

Foreign Language

• Required:           None Required
• Preferred:          Full Professional Proficiency, German, Chinese, or French

Typical Compensation Range

$156,991.00 - $219,786.00 / Yearly

Bonus Target: 15% Annual

Benefits

https://careers.niagarawater.com/us/en/benefits

Any employment agency, person or entity that submits a résumé into this career site or to a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant's résumé will become the property of Niagara Bottling, LLC. Niagara Bottling, LLC will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.

Employment agencies that have fee agreements with Niagara Bottling, LLC and have been engaged on a search shall submit résumé to the designated Niagara Bottling, LLC recruiter or, upon authorization, submit résumé into this career site to be eligible for placement fees.