Packaging Engineer - Decatur, IL

ADM · Decatur, IL

Level: Engineer
Team: Manufacturing
Travel: 50%
Experience asked: 4+ years
Industry: Food & beverage
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level manufacturing role at ADM (food & beverage) in Decatur, IL. On the liquid side, you’ll support systems involving PET, glass, Jerry cans, aseptic/UHT, bag-in-box, and HDPE containers.

They ask for: 4+ years
Tools it names: Lean, Root cause, Packaging lines
Day to day: about 50% travel · relocation help

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $97k–$134k.

Median of the low and high ends of 40 live postings that list pay, out of 75 manufacturing engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 74 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Root cause 40%
Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 35%
Tooling 32%
Automation 32%
✓ Lean 31%
New product launch 25%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Packaging lines, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 4+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Relocation helpLifts up to 30 lbs

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at ADM
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: ADM in Decatur

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Operations Manager - Decatur, IL · Production · Manager
Reliability Engineer - Decatur, IL · Reliability
Continuous Improvement Manager - Harvard, IL · Lean / CI · Manager

All 18 roles at ADM →

Full description from ADMAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

◆Providing technical leadership on packaging equipment selection, materials, and system optimization across dry and liquid packaging operations
◆Monitoring production processes and troubleshooting packaging equipment — identifying root causes and implementing sustainable corrective actions
◆Supporting capital and non-discretionary expense (NDE) projects, including equipment installation, modifications, and training at startup
◆Developing and deploying packaging best practices, standards, and performance guarantees across your region and globally as applicable
◆Using KPIs and metrics to identify improvement opportunities and track value creation
◆Writing technical reports following plant visits and following up on action items
◆Managing and prioritizing a pipeline of packaging savings and improvement projects aligned with strategic sourcing goals
◆Supporting packaging materials specification, testing, and analysis
◆Partnering with suppliers in coordination with Strategic Sourcing
◆Identifying opportunities to digitalize performance metrics
◆Coaching and developing fellow team members; contributing to a culture of shared accountability and growth

Position

Required

✓B.S. in Engineering, Packaging, or related field
✓4+ years of direct packaging experience in manufacturing
✓Experience working in or closely with plant operations
✓Ability to troubleshoot packaging equipment and implement sustainable corrective actions
✓Experience optimizing and operating packaging equipment
✓Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
✓Organized, detail-focused, and methodical approach to problem solving and execution
✓Hands-on, practical approach with demonstrated technical proficiency
✓Strong interpersonal and communication skills

requirements

This role involves regular presence in plant environments. You should be able to:

✓Lift and carry materials up to 30 lbs frequently, up to 50 lbs occasionally, and up to 55 lbs overhead on a limited basis; assistance is available and encouraged for lifts over 50 lbs
✓Move throughout a facility, including traversing up to 2 miles over the course of a workday
✓Stoop, bend, kneel, or squat as needed; work may include periods of prolonged sitting or standing
✓Work at varying heights, including on ladders or scaffolding, and operate manual and electrically powered tools and test equipment

Relocation assistance is available with this position within North America.

This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

Show full description ↓

Packaging Engineer – (Decatur, IL or ADM Packaging Site)

This is an exempt, salary-level role

This position reports to the Director of Global Packaging.

Travel: 25–50%

Location

This role can be based in Decatur, IL or any ADM U.S. location with packaging operations, with primary support across the Midwest and Eastern regions.

Key packaging facility locations include

Position Overview

The Packaging Engineer is a hands-on, technical support role focused on troubleshooting packaging equipment, optimizing production processes, and improving performance across packaging lines. You’ll support capital projects, quality and safety engagements, equipment installations, and process improvements while leveraging data, KPIs, and Performance Excellence tools to drive efficiency and cost savings.

This role sits within the Packaging Technology Center as part of the Operational Transformation team, serving as a key link between global standards and plant-level execution across ADM’s business units.

In this position, you’ll partner cross-functionally with operations, engineering, procurement, and commercial teams to drive continuous improvement, implement best practices, and deliver measurable value across packaging systems, equipment, and materials.

Success in this role depends on the ability to solve problems in real-time, work closely with plant teams, and implement sustainable solutions across a variety of packaging formats and operations.

ADM’s packaging footprint is highly diverse. On the dry side, you’ll work with multiwall bags, drums, totes, pouches, and boxes. On the liquid side, you’ll support systems involving PET, glass, Jerry cans, aseptic/UHT, bag-in-box, and HDPE containers.