Structural Designer II

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At Graphic Packaging International, we produce the paper cup that held your coffee this morning, the basket that transported those bottles of craft beer you enjoyed last weekend, and the microwave tray that heated your gourmet meal last night. We’re one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, personal care and pet products. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we are collaborative, diverse, innovative individuals who create inspired packaging while giving back to our communities.

With over 25,000 employees working in more than 130 locations worldwide, we strive to be environmentally responsible in our industry and in the communities where we operate. We are committed to workplace diversity and offer compensation and benefits programs that are among the industry’s best to reward the talented people who make our company successful.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you.

A World of Difference. Made Possible.

The mission of the Innovation and Design (I&D) organization is to bring forth new packaging solutions through creative structural and manufacturing design, working collaboratively with our customer service, sales, internal graphic designers, machinery and systems engineers, business development team members, market and product managers, manufacturing and quality assurance personnel, key supplier partners and ultimately interfacing with customers to understand their unmet needs, consumer unmet needs, and marketing objectives.

The Structural Design team, within Innovation and Design, is responsible for the development of, and modification to, both new and existing paperboard carton structure designs. The primary output of the Structural Design team is comprehensive, production-ready one-up drawings, which are ultimately used to design, specify, and procure production tooling for manufacturing of finished paperboard cartons. The secondary output are conceptual one-up drawings that meet and exceed the requirements of the end customer. The overall Structural Design process is accomplished utilizing ArtiosCAD and SAP software applications as well as sample plotter tables for prototypes.

POSITION MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES: Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Structural Design And Software Use

• Actively monitor, maintain, and control work schedule and back-log (design requests, plotter sample requests, conversion request, etc.)
• Full understanding and utilization of the Artios CAD system to execute Carton Design tasks to required customer and plant specifications (conceptual designs and production ready).
• Fully apply all GPI Design standards and customer and plant specification formats during Carton Design process for responsible product line (customers and platform e.g. Strength, Beverage, Foodservice, Cooking Solutions etc.).
• Accurately finalize one-up carton design specifications prior to release for converting and machinery organizations.
• Understand and effectively apply test procedures for validating performance of packages and features under development.
• Develops pro-active alternative designs for better form & function, on shelf appearance, sustainability, increased production efficiency, cost savings and/or margin improvement.
• Uses 2D and 3D conceptualization techniques
• Cut qualifying and prototype samples for customer and testing
• Attend machinery check-out testing, or other design validation testing events, to assess, modify or approve carton designs as necessary
  
  

Teamwork And Coordination Of Design Projects

• Coordinate with other designers working on projects
• Complete Carton Design projects while fully coordinating with customer, sales, customer service, manufacturing design, and carton converting groups as required
• Function as an effective global leader and focal point for design-related detail and general communication. Produce materials to support the communication process when required.
• In-depth interaction with customer representatives during the packaging design process.
  
  

Continuous Improvement Project Management

• Identify and Develop Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Drive the development and modification of CAD design standards, tools, processes and training materials
• Fully develop & apply design related documentation, process detail, specifications, and intellectual property protection processes
• Actively participate in, and contribute to, local Culture Development ideas, initiatives, and activities
• Search out and implement cost saving initiatives
  
  

Skill Development and learning

• Train less experienced designers in Carton Design disciplines and procedures.
• Actively participate in employee certification and re-certification activities (must be certified in ArtiosCAD, Plotter Room, Structural Design I-II, and at least 2 specialty product lines (e.g Strength, Beverage, Foodservice, Cooking Solutions etc.)
  
  

Customer

• Have a basic understanding of customer forming equipment.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Strong customer interaction skills
• Strong written communication skills to convey the customer visit details to key stake holders within GPI.
  
  

Other

• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Your skills will be developed through the varied experiences you obtain as well as extensive on-the-job training.

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS: List minimum level of education, special training, certifications, or technical skills/experience required for this position.

• Required
• Dynamic, flexible, and personable team player with the ability to participate in team activities to achieve desired results
• Effective time management and project management skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple assignments and meet short deadlines
• Ability to effectively communicate at all levels within the organization
• Ability to work independently while supporting team goals and objectives
• Ability to apply initiative and exercise good judgment when making timely decisions based on data, facts, and experience
• Technical and analytical skills
• Strong visual (2D and 3D) skills, communications, conceptual skills, attention to detail, design sensitivity as well as mechanical aptitude.
• Highly detail-oriented and focused
• High geometry and algebra math skills
• Willingness to learn and to be trained.
• Willingness to travel to customer locations.
• Apply initiative and exercise good judgment when making timely decisions based on data, facts, and experience.
• Solid computer skills
• High Proficiency with computer systems: MS-Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• High School Diploma or GED

• Highly preferred:
• College degree in industrial design, packaging engineering/science or other related field, or equivalent professional experience
• High-level of mechanical knowledge and aptitude for die cutting, production tooling design, finishing processes, and graphics layout
• Prior demonstrated experience (5+ years) with folding paperboard carton structure design
• Working knowledge of paperboard substrates
• Working knowledge of carton structural design
• Working knowledge of tooling design
• Knowledge of filling line machinery
• Prior experience with ArtiosCAD and SAP
• Any level of LEAN / Six Sigma education and experience
  

Position Scope

We have an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated self-starter for the position of Structural Designer II. The ideal candidate will have solid working knowledge of paperboard substrates, carton structure design, and paperboard converting processes. This position requires hands-on Structural Design process execution (existing carton structure reverse-engineering activities, conceptual and production-ready one-up drawing development, plotter sample generation, etc.) in a team-based environment. This position’s responsibilities include effectively and efficiently meeting internal and external customer needs, expectations, and requirements; as well as confronting complex processes and technical challenges requiring direct involvement, understanding, and support to reach resolution.

POSITION COMPETENCIES: List key competencies for the position. Integrity and Trust and Action Oriented are Core GPI Competencies for all positions.

Integrity and Trust (Core GPI Competency)

Action Oriented (Core GPI Competency)

Priority Setting

Learning on the fly

Creativity

Customer Focus

Drive for Results

Decision Quality

Organizing

Composure

Pay Range: $48,300.00 - $64,400.00

Graphic Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates will be evaluated on the basis of their qualifications for the job in question. We do not base our employment decision on an employee's or applicant's race, color, religion, age, gender or sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic identity, genetic information, disability, veteran/military status or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. Click here to view the Poster, EEO is the Law.