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Packaging Engineer

UFP Industries · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a design you created that looked good on paper but caused problems in production. What did you change?

What they are checking: Designing for manufacturability and learning from the shop floor rather than defending the drawing.

Tell me about a time you worked directly with a customer to figure out what they actually needed.

What they are checking: Customer-facing skill, since this role coordinates directly with customers on requirements.

You'll have a lot of discretion over your own priorities. How do you decide what to work on first with several projects open?

What they are checking: Self-direction and prioritizing by customer impact and deadline, with little supervision.

What would you do

A customer wants to cut packaging cost by 15 percent without more damage claims. How would you approach that?

What they are checking: Creative tradeoffs between material, design and protection, which the posting calls alternative designs.

Sales promised a customer a delivery date, and your design isn't ready. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Managing expectations across sales, customer and operations without overpromising.

How would you help a production team run your design more efficiently?

What they are checking: Partnering with production on efficiency, which the posting lists as part of the role.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd take a new customer's packaging need from first conversation to a finished design in SolidWorks.

What they are checking: Whether they can manage the full development process, not just the CAD work in the middle.

How do you build a bill of materials and costing for a new pallet or crate design?

What they are checking: Ability to price a design accurately, since UFP needs designs that are profitable as well as functional.

What do you consider when choosing between wood, corrugated or other materials for a packaging solution?

What they are checking: Material knowledge and the ability to match strength, weight, cost and customer handling needs.

How do you make sure your drawings and specs can be built by operations with no questions?

What they are checking: Clarity in documentation, because unclear specs lead to bad builds and rework.

How would you handle an engineering change once a product is already in production?

What they are checking: Understanding of change control and corrective action so changes don't confuse the floor.

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The full job description

As published by UFP Industries.

Job Summary As a Packaging Engineer I, you will be responsible for designing and developing packaging products and solutions that meet customers’ needs and specifications with little supervision. You will coordinate with the customer to achieve their needs and expectations, along with sales strategy and manufacturing operations consistent with cost, profit, and productivity objectives. You will work under the general direction of the Packaging Design Manager. You will exercise discretion and judgment on your work priority and training on a regular basis, and a wide degree of creativity is expected. Principle Duties & Responsibilities • Manages new product development processes, based on customer needs, design structural packaging basics, utilizing SolidWorks and other computer design programs suitable for the purpose intended. • Offers alternative designs of existing packaging or alternative material solutions. • Develops drawings and specifications that meet operations’ and customers’ requirements with cost effective production techniques. • Determines the costs of products, develops bills of materials and ensures that appropriate information is entered into the system and maintained. • Drives efficiency in product manufacturing through design methods and assist production team in efficiency initiatives where applicable. • Develops corrective action as required per ECO, DCR and plant production needs. • Prepares various reports as required. • Performs other duties as required. Qualifications • A Packaging Engineering Degree or equivalent is required. In addition, some work experience related to packaging, designing crates, boxes, corrugated fiberboard or foam packaging. • Proficient in the use of the English language in reading, writing and speaking. • Working experience or training in packaging distribution environment. • Working experience or training in ISTA packaging testing, to design efficient packaging based on test. • Working experience or training in designing for production workflow and ergonomics. • Working experience or training presenting to customers, ability to describe product’s benefits and features. • Working experience or training in intermodal packaging requirements. • Working experience with project management role. • Solid understanding of cuts and yields of material. • Proven communication skills with customers, vendors and co-workers and developed long-term working relationships. • Ability to understand customer comments and needs and pivot if our design is not in alignment. • Proficient in the use of MS Office Suites and 3D CAD Modeling is required. • Training will be provided in advanced packaging certifications based on individual needs. The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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