Associate Packaging Engineer

The Associate Packaging Engineer provides hands-on engineering support for automated pharmaceutical packaging equipment, vision-inspection systems, and serialization systems. This position independently troubleshoots complex equipment issues, implements controls and vision-system improvements, and supports new equipment and product projects from design through qualification and production startup.

The position requires strong technical judgment, demonstrated experience troubleshooting and modifying PLC/HMI-controlled equipment, and the ability to communicate technical information clearly to Engineering, Production, Quality, Validation, equipment manufacturers, and other stakeholders. Experience with machine-vision systems is strongly preferred.

Job Responsibilities

• Provides engineering support for automated equipment used in the inspection, pouching, sealing, printing, labeling, cartoning, and serialization of transdermal and orally dissolvable film products.
• Independently troubleshoots electrical, controls, PLC/HMI, sensor, servo-motion, mechanical, pneumatic, vision-system, and equipment-integration issues using PLC logic, alarms, electrical drawings, machine data, equipment manuals, and direct observation to determine root causes.
• Develops, modifies, tests, and documents PLC/HMI, equipment-control, and vision-system programs in accordance with approved procedures and change controls.
• Develops, modifies, or supports the implementation of vision applications, including lighting, image acquisition, inspection tools, triggers, communications, pass/fail criteria, product tracking, and reject logic.
• Supports packaging serialization and Track and Trace systems, including printing, inspection, rejection, aggregation, reconciliation, and system interfaces.
• Develops and implements improvements that increase equipment reliability, inspection accuracy, throughput, and ease of troubleshooting.
• Supports equipment selection, technical requirements, design reviews, FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, qualification, validation, and production startup.
• Provides technical input for equipment acceptance criteria, validation protocols, change controls, deviations, CAPAs, and risk-based engineering assessments.
• Supports formal investigations of equipment downtime, quality defects, and other equipment-related events and communicates findings, root causes, and recommended corrective actions.
• Creates and revises procedures, troubleshooting guides, technical reports, equipment specifications, control-system backups, vision-program backups, and other engineering documentation.
• Coordinates technical activities with Production, Quality, Validation, Maintenance, Procurement, equipment manufacturers, and outside integrators.
• Provides technical guidance and training to operators, mechanics, and Engineering Technicians.
• Operates in accordance with the company’s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and all established regulatory, compliance, and safety requirements.
• Performs all work in support of our Values: Collaboration, Courage, Perseverance, and Passion.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation, or a related engineering discipline, plus a minimum of three years of relevant hands-on experience; or
• Associate degree in a technical or engineering discipline, plus a minimum of five years of relevant hands-on experience; or
• High School diploma or equivalent, plus a minimum of seven years of relevant hands-on experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot PLC-controlled equipment and make controlled modifications to PLC, HMI, or machine-control logic.
• Working knowledge of ladder logic, HMIs, I/O, alarms, interlocks, sensors, drives, servo systems, and industrial communication networks.
• Working knowledge of machine-vision principles is strongly preferred, including lighting, focus, image acquisition, inspection tools, triggers, communications, product tracking, and reject logic
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder-logic diagrams, mechanical drawings, pneumatic diagrams, equipment manuals, and technical specifications.
• Knowledge of packaging serialization, Track and Trace, barcode verification, automated rejection, and aggregation systems is a plus.
• Ability to support equipment-related investigations, change controls, CAPAs, qualification activities, and audit preparation.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple assignments, and respond effectively to changing production priorities.
• Ability to prepare clear technical reports, procedures, troubleshooting guides, and business correspondence and to clearly present technical findings and recommendations to operators, technicians, engineers, management, Quality personnel, equipment manufacturers, and outside integrators.
• Ability to learn and apply current Good Manufacturing Practices, FDA requirements, pharmaceutical manufacturing SOPs, and other applicable regulatory requirements.

Experience

• Hands-on experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled automated equipment and making or supporting PLC, HMI, or machine-control software changes is required.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Yaskawa, ELAU/Schneider, or comparable industrial-control platforms is preferred.
• Experience programming or troubleshooting Cognex vision systems using In-Sight Explorer is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting PLC-controlled equipment and making or supporting controls-software changes.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, FAT/SAT, qualification, validation, and production startup is preferred.
• Experience with pharmaceutical or medical-device manufacturing is helpful but not required. Relevant experience from other highly automated or regulated manufacturing industries will be considered.