Job Details

Job Title Packaging Engineer

Location Jonesboro, Arkansas

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite

Candidates must be able to reliably commute to the Jonesboro, AR worksite.

Employment Type Contract – W2 or C2C

Experience Level 7–10 Years

Salary/Rate

W2 Pay Range: $32–$37/hour

C2C Rate Range: $35–$40/hour

These compensation ranges are provided in good faith based on the available rate information. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related qualifications, experience, skills, and applicable assignment terms. The maximum rates will not exceed the stated $37/hour on W2 or $40/hour on C2C.

Work Authorization

Candidates must meet the applicable work authorization requirements for the assignment. The client has indicated a preference for candidates with USC, GC, TN, or H-1B status, subject to applicable employment and work authorization requirements.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Packaging Engineer to support a brownfield expansion project at Unilever's Jonesboro, Arkansas manufacturing facility. The plant operates within the Beauty and Wellbeing division and manufactures products such as Dove shampoos and conditioners and Vaseline petroleum jelly. The expansion will increase production capacity for premium shampoos and conditioners.

The primary focus of this position is packaging machinery engineering, not packaging material design. The engineer will support equipment conceptualization, selection, specification, procurement, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), installation, commissioning, production ramp-up, and final handover.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with packaging lines and equipment used in FMCG, consumer goods, food and beverage, or pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

Packaging Equipment Engineering

• Identify and evaluate packaging machinery based on production requirements, product characteristics, packaging formats, and required line capacity.
• Support the selection and specification of packaging equipment, including:
• Filling machines
• Capping machines
• Case packers
• Bottle and jar unscramblers
• Palletizers
• Labeling machines
• Date and label coding systems
• Rigid packaging equipment
• Evaluate equipment requirements for different bottle and jar sizes, machine speeds, throughput, and operating capacity.
• Review equipment layouts and ensure proposed machinery meets operational and project requirements.
• Consider tube and flexible pouch packaging equipment where applicable.

Requirements Development & Vendor Coordination

• Gather equipment requirements in collaboration with Production, Quality, R&D, and Engineering teams.
• Prepare User Requirement Specifications (URS) defining equipment functionality, operating capacity, pack sizes, machine performance, and technical requirements.
• Identify equipment manufacturers and OEMs, communicate technical requirements, and obtain quotations.
• Review vendor proposals and assess equipment suitability against project specifications.
• Prepare technical and commercial comparisons to support supplier selection, procurement decisions, and purchase orders.
• Coordinate with vendors to resolve technical questions and align equipment specifications with project objectives.
• Review utility requirements, including compressed air and electrical power, and coordinate with the appropriate site engineering teams.

FAT, SAT, Installation & Commissioning

• Develop or review acceptance criteria for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
• Participate in FAT/SAT activities to verify that equipment meets agreed specifications and performance requirements.
• Coordinate OEMs, contractors, site engineering teams, and other stakeholders during equipment installation.
• Support commissioning, equipment testing, troubleshooting, and operational readiness activities.
• Coordinate the resolution of equipment issues identified during testing, installation, and startup.
• Support equipment qualification and acceptance activities as required by the project.

Production Ramp-Up & Handover

• Support production ramp-up by coordinating equipment adjustments and increasing machine speeds toward the required design capacity.
• Work with Production and Quality teams to evaluate equipment performance and production readiness.
• Coordinate resolution of operational issues during startup and initial production.
• Verify that equipment requirements and acceptance criteria have been addressed before handover.
• Support final equipment handover to Production and Quality teams.
• Maintain appropriate project records and equipment documentation throughout implementation.

Required Qualifications

• 7–10 years of relevant packaging engineering or packaging machinery experience.
• Hands-on experience selecting, specifying, installing, commissioning, or qualifying packaging equipment.
• Experience with packaging machinery used in manufacturing or production environments.
• Experience preparing User Requirement Specifications (URS) for packaging equipment.
• Experience coordinating with OEMs and evaluating vendor technical proposals.
• Experience supporting FAT, SAT, equipment installation, commissioning, and production ramp-up.
• Knowledge of packaging line capacity, machine operating speeds, and different bottle and jar pack sizes.
• Understanding of machine utility requirements, including compressed air and electrical power.
• Ability to coordinate with Production, Quality, R&D, Engineering, suppliers, and external equipment vendors.
• Strong technical communication, vendor-management, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work onsite at the Jonesboro, Arkansas facility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG, consumer goods, food and beverage, or personal care manufacturing.
• Experience with pharmaceutical packaging equipment and qualification processes.
• Experience supporting brownfield expansions, capital projects, or manufacturing capacity increases.
• Experience with filling, capping, labeling, coding, case packing, unscrambling, and palletizing systems.
• Experience conducting technical evaluations and supporting equipment procurement.
• Experience with rigid packaging equipment; exposure to tube and flexible pouch packaging is an advantage.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and external equipment suppliers.
• Familiarity with equipment acceptance, production handover, and manufacturing readiness processes.

Work Requirements

• Position is 100% onsite in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
• Ability to support packaging equipment implementation from conceptualization and specification through commissioning and production handover.
• Ability to coordinate with OEMs, contractors, manufacturing teams, and site engineering personnel.
• Ability to participate in equipment testing, installation, commissioning, and production startup activities.
• Ability to travel or support vendor and equipment-related activities as required by the project.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodation available where required by applicable law.
• Employment eligibility and work authorization requirements will be administered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Application

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit an updated resume highlighting packaging machinery engineering, URS preparation, OEM selection, vendor technical evaluations, filling and capping machines, case packers, unscramblers, palletizers, labeling and coding systems, FAT/SAT, equipment installation, commissioning, production ramp-up, and packaging line qualification.

Candidates with hands-on packaging equipment experience in FMCG, consumer goods, food and beverage, personal care, or pharmaceutical manufacturing should clearly highlight their equipment and project implementation experience.

Please note: This position focuses on packaging machinery and equipment engineering. Candidates whose experience is limited to packaging material design, civil engineering, or printing processes without relevant packaging equipment experience are not the target profile.

Benefits: Eligible employees may enroll in and receive benefits offered by Intellectt Inc., subject to applicable plan terms, eligibility criteria, and contribution requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Intellectt Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.