Manager, Packaging Engineer
Ferrara Candy · Chicago, IL
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $102k–$143k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 11 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at Ferrara Candy (food & beverage) in Chicago, IL.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- SAP
- Base pay
- $102k–$143k
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 $96k–$143k. This one lists $102k–$143k.
Median of the low and high ends of 36 live postings that list pay, out of 64 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 63 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 23% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $87k–$112k, from 31 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 41%
- Automation 34%
- Tooling 31%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 31%
- Lean 28%
- ✓ New product launch 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for SAP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
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 Ferrara Candy
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?
- 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: Ferrara Candy in Chicago
3 other open roles at this site.
- Sr Director North America Quality · Quality · Director+
- Expert Packaging Engineer · Manufacturing
- Sr Process Engineer · Process · Senior
Full description from Ferrara CandyAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Experiences that will support your success
- ✓Bachelor's degree in Engineering,
- ✓5+ years of experience in packaging engineering, packaging development, or a related field.
What We Offer
At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Benefits-Resource-Center
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Work Location: Chicago
Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.
Want to make an impact?
The Packaging Manager is responsible for leading and developing a team of Packaging Engineers while driving the design, development, and commercialization of packaging solutions across Ferrara's confection and fruit snack portfolio. This role provides strategic and technical leadership to support innovation, sustainability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to deliver packaging solutions that meet consumer, business, and manufacturing needs.
Ways you will make a difference
- •Lead, coach, and develop a team of Packaging Engineers, fostering a culture of engagement, accountability, and continuous learning.
- •Set team priorities, manage workloads, and provide strategic direction for packaging development and commercialization activities.
- •Oversee the design, testing, qualification, and implementation of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging solutions.
- •Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Marketing, and external suppliers to support new product launches and packaging innovation.
- •Drive packaging innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and consumer experience.
- •Identify and evaluate new packaging technologies, materials, and supplier capabilities to support business objectives.
- •Provide technical expertise and recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders on packaging-related opportunities and challenges.
Skills that will make you successful
- •Strong project management, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
- •Experience with SAP, PLM system
- •Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing technical teams
- •Strong knowledge of packaging materials, manufacturing processes, testing methods, and commercialization activities
- •Experience working in a food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or similar fast-paced environment preferred.