20600 Emerald Parkway, Cleveland, Ohio 44135 United States of America

Why Oatey?

Since 1916, Oatey has provided reliable, high-quality products for the residential and commercial plumbing industries, with a commitment to delivering quality, building trust and improving lives. Today, Oatey operates a comprehensive manufacturing and distribution network comprised of industry leading family of companies: Oatey, Cherne, Keeney, Quick Drain, Hercules, Dearborn, Oatey Canada, William H. Harvey, Masters, Contact, Belanger, Lansas, and Durgo.

 

At Oatey, we're doing big things — and by joining us, you'll have the chance to do big things too. You can build a strong career in an innovative, inclusive, high-performance environment, with the confidence that your company cares — about you, our customers and our world. Ready to make an impact in a place where you matter?

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Position Summary:

The Packaging Engineer at Oatey Co. is responsible for designing, developing, testing, and implementing packaging solutions that ensure product protection, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and a best-in-class customer experience. This role collaborates closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement, and Marketing teams to support new product launches, optimize existing packaging systems, and reduce total landed cost through material and process improvements.

Position Responsibilities:

Packaging Design & Development

• Develop innovative packaging systems for new and existing Oatey Co. products, including primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging.

• Identify and implement changes to packaging designs to optimize quality performance and cost.

• Verify that packaging designs are optimized for manufacturing, including pack-out efficiency, ergonomics, and production repeatability.

• Create packaging specifications, drawings, and documentation using CAD tools.

• Evaluate packaging materials (corrugate, plastics, films, foams, etc.) for cost, performance, sustainability, and manufacturability.

• Ensure packaging solutions comply with regulatory requirements regarding materials, labeling, and usage.

Supplier & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with packaging suppliers to enable creative, cost-effective alternatives, support troubleshooting efforts, and provide technical assistance to Oatey’s Logistics and Operations teams.

• Establish supplier quality standards, develop incoming inspection plans, and support supplier audits and performance reviews.

• Partner with Procurement on supplier qualification, cost-reduction initiatives, and material innovation opportunities.

Testing & Validation

• Conduct ISTA, ASTM, and distribution environment testing for packaging validation.

• Analyze test data and implement necessary design modifications to ensure packaging durability and product protection.

• Validate packaging for manufacturability, sustainability, and regulatory compliance.

Manufacturing & Process Support

• Provide technical support to Oatey production teams regarding packaging processes, equipment, and materials.

• Develop and optimize packaging work instructions, pallet patterns, and packaging line efficiencies.

• Lead root-cause investigations for packaging defects, shipping damage, or customer complaints.

Cost Optimization & Sustainability

• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities through material substitutions, structure redesigns, or process improvements.

• Evaluate and integrate sustainable materials or processes that support Oatey’s environmental goals.

• Improve cube utilization and freight efficiency through optimized palletization and secondary packaging design.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate packaging specifications, bills of materials (BOMs), and engineering change documentation.

• Ensure packaging designs meet applicable domestic and international regulations.

• Support continuous improvement efforts within Oatey’s quality systems and documentation standards.

Knowledge and Experience:

Required

• 5+ years of packaging engineering experience, preferably in manufacturing environments.

• Strong understanding of packaging materials, manufacturing processes, and distribution environments.

• Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, ArtiosCAD, AutoCAD, or equivalent).

• Familiarity with regulatory requirements around packaging materials and usage.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Technical aptitude and strong attention to detail

• Effective cross-functional collaboration

• Project management and organizational skills

• Continuous improvement and cost-reduction mindset

• Ability to balance cost, quality, sustainability, and operational needs

Preferred

• Experience in consumer goods, industrial products, or plumbing/HVAC packaging.

• Knowledge of palletization software (TOPS, Cape Pack, etc.).

• Background in sustainability initiatives, recyclability improvements, or circular packaging.

• Experience working with packaging automation equipment and suppliers.

Education and Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience in lieu of degree.

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Compensation Range for the Position:

$73,236.00 - $95,206.50 - $117,177.00 USD

Target Cash Profit Sharing for the Position:

8.00%

Offer amount determined by experience and review of internal talent.

Oatey Total Rewards

• Generous paid time off programs and paid company holidays to support flexibility and work-life balance

• Annual Discretionary Cash Profit Sharing

• Immediate eligibility and vesting in 401(k), including 100% company match, up to 5% of eligible compensation

• Market leading health insurance including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance offerings for associates and qualified dependents

• Significant company contribution to Health Savings Account with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability income protection coverage at no cost to associates

• Paid Maternity and Paid Parental Leave

• Tuition reimbursement

• A strong set of complementary resources to support associate well-being, including resource groups, EAP, and dedicated mental health support.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Oatey family of companies are an equal opportunity employer committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We recruit, employ, promote, and offer competitive pay for all jobs without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.