Packaging Engineering Lead

J&J Snack Foods · La Vergne, TN

Level: Manager
Team: Manufacturing
Travel: 25%
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 50+ years
Industry: Food & beverage
Posted: 30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management manufacturing role at J&J Snack Foods (food & beverage) in La Vergne, TN. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

They ask for: 50+ years · degree required
Tools it names: OEE, Root cause, Automation, Packaging lines
Day to day: about 25% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Tennessee: typical posted base $83k–$134k.

Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 34 manufacturing engineer openings in Tennessee, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

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

How this role compares

Against 33 other live manufacturing postings in Tennessee.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: More than usual (50+ vs 8+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Lean 62%
Tooling 59%
New product launch 53%
✓ Automation 44%
Six Sigma 38%
Cost reduction 35%

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

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

It asks for 50+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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 J&J Snack Foods
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 25% 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: J&J Snack Foods in La Vergne

1 other open role at this site.

Process Engineering Lead · Process · Manager

Full description from J&J Snack FoodsAs posted on their careers site.Show

Position summary

Reporting to the VP of Engineering, the Packaging Engineering Lead is responsible for leading the development, commercialization, and optimization of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging systems for the company’s portfolio of pretzels, churros, cookies, and other food products across retail, club, e-commerce, and foodservice channels. Operating in a fast-paced consumer packaged goods environment, this role partners closely with R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing, Procurement, and other cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, cost-effective, sustainable, and automation-ready packaging solutions. These solutions must protect product quality, support shelf-life requirements, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the consumer experience.

Essential functions

◆Provides technical expertise and partner with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to design and develop packaging systems, including flow wrapping, vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS), case and carton forming, case packing, and palletizing systems.
◆Plans, designs, tests, and validates new packaging processes while continuously improving and optimizing existing processes.
◆Designs packaging line processes that support current packaging matrix

requirements

while allowing flexibility for future products and packaging formats.

✓Researches and evaluates emerging packaging technologies, equipment, formats, and innovations.
✓Identifies opportunities for automation and prepare capital expenditure (CapEx) justifications, including return-on-investment analyses, for new equipment and packaging line modifications.
✓Initiates requests for quotation (RFQs) and collaborates with Product Development teams to establish equipment specifications, operating parameters, and performance requirements.
✓Partners with equipment vendors, corporate project managers, and operations teams to support packaging equipment installation, startup, and successful commissioning.
✓Collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements that increase equipment reliability, efficiency, and performance.
✓Leads root cause analysis investigations for recurring equipment or process issues and develop and implement effective corrective actions.
✓Identifies cost-reduction opportunities and develop business plans to achieve and sustain the associated savings.
✓Manages multiple complex projects simultaneously, providing clear status updates, technical recommendations, and risk assessments to cross-functional stakeholders.
✓Performs other duties and special projects assigned by the VP of Engineering.

Education and experience

✓Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field.
✓Experience commercializing packaging across multiple manufacturing sites.
✓Knowledge of secondary packaging equipment and formats.
✓Experience designing packaging for automated, high-speed lines.
✓Proficiency with CAD software.
✓Knowledge of OEE metrics and packaging line optimization.
✓Experience leading capital projects from concept through commissioning and handoff.

responsibilities

that are required of the team member. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Show full description ↓

As a leader and innovator in the snack food industry for over 50 years, J&J Snack Foods provides branded snack foods to foodservice and retail supermarket outlets across the U.S. Its products include such icons as SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, and Dippin’ Dots along with other key brands like LUIGI’S Real Italian Ice, The Funnel Cake Factory Funnel Cakes, and Hola Churros. J&J also has a strong presence in bakery providing cakes, cookies, and pies to some of the largest grocery and convenience retailers in industry. Our company continues to deliver record sales led by a talented team and a commitment to “Fun Served Here”.

Competencies

To succeed in this role, the Packaging Engineering Lead must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities effectively. The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are required:

•Strong project management skills, including planning, budgeting, schedule management, vendor coordination, and cost control.
•Ability to develop and clearly present business cases, including ROI analyses and capital expenditure justifications.
•Ability to influence and collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders, including Operations, Quality, Engineering, and senior leadership.
•Ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance to others.
•Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing deadlines.

Travel

This position is based in La Vergne, TN. Domestic and international travel is required to support projects and initiatives, with an expected travel commitment of approximately 25%, depending on business needs.