Packaging Engineer

Packaging Engineer

Join America’s favorite family bakery since 1934—home of Little Debbie®, Drake’s® Cakes, and Sunbelt Bakery® Granola Bars. Work with legacy brands that bring smiles to faces nationwide, including yours. You’ll experience a culture committed to work-life balance, guaranteed time off, and supportive health and wellness offerings. Enjoy profit sharing, long-term job security, and a range of exciting career paths. When you join McKee Foods, you’ll discover a better way to live and work.

Pay

Salaried Grade 5, 8, or 10 Exempt

$64,077 - $105,951 / year, depending on qualifications and experience.

Actual salaries may vary and in some cases may be higher with extensive experience and strong performance.

Schedule

1st Shift (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

On-site; flexible to work other shifts as needed

Some travel required

Location

272 Patton Farm Road, Stuarts Draft Virginia 24477

Job Summary

McKee Foods is seeking a Project Engineer to join our Plant Engineering team. In this role, you will be

responsible for providing engineering support to our manufacturing facility in Virginia. This includes the design, re-design, specification, procurement, installation, and start-up of packaging equipment and

systems. You will work closely with manufacturing, maintenance, and other engineering disciplines to

ensure that packaging systems are designed and implemented to meet the needs of the business. You will also be responsible for managing capital projects, including budget, schedule, and technical performance.

The successful candidate will lead projects through the full lifecycle:

• Coordinate safety department reviews and SRAs to ensure worker protection, ergonomic access,
• and regulatory compliance
• Design equipment for accessibility and tool-free changeovers to maximize line efficiency and
• support maintenance teams
• Develop SOPs and SOCs to institutionalize theory of operation guides for technical training
• Lead cross-departmental conversations with Production, Manufacturing, Shipping, and
• Transportation to ensure organizational alignment and integrated project work lists
• Apply expertise in servo-driven systems, multi-axis synchronization, and electronic camming for
• high-speed indexing
• Design and re-design modular belt conveyors and accumulation systems
• Implement food-safety engineering principles, selecting appropriate materials and ensuring
• designs meet wash-down standards
• Utilize department dashboards to manage workloads effectively, ensuring internal customers feel
• valued through high-quality project delivery
• Participate in Process Improvement Team (PIT) projects and collaborate with E-Techs and
• Packaging Mechanics to solve cross-departmental technical issues
• Take ownership of projects while collaborating to solve production challenges
• Analyze and validate packaging systems for efficiency and future capabilities
• Design equipment layouts for optimal flow, accessibility, cleanability, and maintainability
• Optimize user experience in areas such as ergonomics, safety, and intuitive use
• Assess and mitigate risks through calculations, simulations, testing, and documentation
• Plan for equipment obsolescence and implement aftermarket modifications
• Build strong relationships with OEMs, integrators, and internal teams to drive innovation
• Stay informed on market trends in packaging and material handling technology
• Integrate multiple equipment pieces into seamless production solutions
• Lead installations, manage startups, and ensure smooth transitions for new or upgraded
• equipment
• Function independently as a project manager or within a larger team
• Support continuous improvement through collaboration, analysis, and problem-solving
• Work with technical professionals to bring ideas to reality

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (or a related engineering field) from an ABET- accredited institution
• High level of initiative, assertiveness, and self-direction
• Demonstrated record of successful project management
• Aptitude for organizing and prioritizing multiple project activities
• Ability to excel in a project team environment
• Strong analytical problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Excellent ability to communicate with people of all backgrounds at various levels

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior CPG or Food/Beverage Manufacturing experience 
• Knowledge and interest of kinematics and machine design
• Interest in robotics and high-level automation
• Interest in sanitary design and ergonomics
• Interest in quantitative methods for system sizing, tolerance evaluation, and robustness 
• Experience engineering capital projects including equipment and product flow design, equipment

• selection, integration and design, equipment installation and commissioning
• Hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment 
• Experience in sanitary design for a food-manufacturing environment
• Lean or six sigma training and/or experience
• Experience using CAD and/or design software (preferably SolidWorks)
• Familiarity with electrical controls (Rockwell/Allen Bradley)
• Knowledge of shop practices (machine and fabrication)

Benefits

• Competitive weekly pay
• Profit-sharing cash bonus program
• 401(k) with matching contributions
• 25 days Paid Time Off (for vacation, holidays, sick time, personal time, etc.)
• Medical insurance, including health, dental, vision and prescription drug plan
• Supplemental plans, including life insurance
• Fully-paid parental leave
• Health Center and Pharmacy
• Mental wellness counseling (on-site in TN, virtual elsewhere)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Credit Union
• Exercise and recreation facility
• Wellness programs with incentives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits (company-paid)

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer