Packaging Engineer
Packaging engineers design packaging materials for food, animal health care and other agricultural products such as chemicals, pesticides and seeds. They evaluate current packaging and develop low-cost improvement strategies for both existing and new package design. To make this packaging, they coordinate with graphic designers, industrial designers, product engineers, global marketing, regional marketing, creative agencies and external vendors.
Future Job Market
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Fair
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Good
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Excellent
Typical Employers:
Food, chemical and seed production companies hire packaging engineers to design packaging for their products. However, they may also be employed by companies that specifically develop product packaging.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations:
- Flexible Packaging Association
- The Association for Packaging and Processing
- Institute of Packaging Professionals
- National Food Processors Association
Salary:
$83,000?
FFA Connections:
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Utilize computer and mechanical design tools to create packaging products
- Create cost-improvement strategies for package designs
- Review preliminary production samples and provide feedback to vendors on improvements
- Communicate and coordinate with creative agencies and vendors
- Have knowledge of packaging and shipping test methods
- Utilize fundamental engineering, math and computer skills
- Execute packaging experiments and plant trials
- Be knowledgeable of packaging equipment and machinery capabilities
- Participate in the equipment selection process and evaluation
- Write finished product packaging specifications
- Have knowledge of food safety and packaging principles
- Inspect packages to determine if packaging meets customer specifications
- Research new, sustainable materials
- Ensure finished product quality
- Find ways to improve efficiency in the packaging process
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education
- art
- physics
- computer skills
- biology
- mathematics
Education/Training Required:
A bachelor’s degree in packaging engineering/science, engineering, logistics, food science, animal science, plant science or a related field is required for a job as a packaging engineer.
