Director, Packaging Technology (Filling & Blow Molding)

The role

The Director of Packaging Technology leads engineering and technical aspects of packaging equipment across multiple facilities. The role focuses on low-acid aseptic bottle blowing and filling, including procurement, installation, and continuous improvement.

What you will do

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for packaging systems in high-speed low-acid aseptic manufacturing.
• Lead packaging design strategy for new facilities, expansions, and capital projects.
• Develop packaging concepts, equipment requirements, and capability roadmaps.
• Establish and maintain packaging engineering standards, specifications, and governance.
• Serve as the technical authority for packaging system design.
• Own packaging system design through execution, including procurement, installation, and commissioning.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, and Project Management.
• Develop URS documents, technical specifications, and lead supplier evaluations.
• Support capital project execution by managing technical risk and equipment integration.
• Drive continuous improvement through operational data and root-cause analysis.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline
• 10+ years of experience in engineering, maintenance, or operations leadership roles within the food & beverage or manufacturing sector
• Extensive hands-on experience with low-acid aseptic bottling processes and blow molding equipment
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional projects including procurement, installation, commissioning, and validation
• In-depth knowledge of aseptic filling technologies, blow molding equipment, and relevant regulatory standards (FDA, USDA, etc.)
• Strong project management skills including budgeting, scheduling, and resource planning
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Familiarity with validation protocols (IQ, OQ, PQ), sanitary design, clean-in-place (CIP), and sterilization-in-place (SIP) procedures
• Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software, engineering analysis tools, and maintenance management systems (CMMS)
• Ability to analyze and assess training and development needs and manage performance
• Working knowledge of information technology and information systems such as ERP, MRP, MES, SCADA and business analytics
• Knowledge of packaging automation, signal exchange, robotics, and autonomous guided vehicles

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs

About the company

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates dairy products. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company.