Packaging Corporation of America

Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer

Packaging Corporation of America  •  $109k - $170k/yr  •  Onsite  •  12 hours ago
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Job Description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People • Customers • Trust

Location: Flexible (Lower 48 States) | Travel: 80% | Relocation: Not Required

Are you ready to take your engineering expertise on the road and make a real difference? As a Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer at PCA, you’ll play a critical role in driving projects that shape the future of our manufacturing plants and papermills. This is a hands-on position where you’ll work side-by-side with leaders and skilled teams to bring innovative solutions to life.

If you thrive on solving complex challenges, collaborating with the best in the industry, and seeing your work make an immediate impact, this is the opportunity for you.

What You’ll Do

  • Project Engineering – develop, evaluate, and propose solutions, create project scopes and budgets, write vendor/contractor scopes and specifications, evaluate proposals and make recommendations.
  • Construction Management – create project schedule, coordinate with the plant or papermill personnel, and supervise contractors.
  • Technical Support – troubleshoot and solve equipment downtime and production issues.
  • Project Management – lead capital and maintenance projects from concept to completion—planning, design, budgeting, implementation, and troubleshooting.
  • AutoCAD – creating drawings, general arrangements, concept layout, piping schematic/iso, basic civil/structural construction drawings.
  • Develop actionable recommendations using sound engineering judgment.
  • Coordinate and supervise contractors and engineering teams on diverse projects.
  • Deliver projects on time and within budget while maintaining high-quality standards.
  • Prepare reports and presentations based on data analysis and project outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related.
  • Experience: 10+ years in industrial paper, corrugating, or design engineering environments.
  • Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence and collaborate.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and AutoCAD (or similar).
  • Ability to travel extensively (80%) – minimum 3 weeks per month.
  • Organized, self-driven, and capable of working independently or as part of a team.

Why Join PCA?

  • Work on high-impact projects that shape the future of our operations.
  • Collaborate with industry leaders and skilled professionals.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • Starting salary range for position: $108,500-$170,000
  • Bonus: Annual – Based upon individual contribution and overall, Company performance.
  • Paid Vacation: Three (3) weeks per calendar year. Pro-rata Vacation during the initial year of hire based upon start date within the calendar year.
  • Paid Holidays.
  • Within the first 30 days of employment, an employee (and their dependents) is eligible to enroll in certain benefit coverages -- medical, dental, and vision – and are automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and disability coverages.
  • Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401k plan. The plan offers both pre-tax and Roth contribution options along with employer provided matching contributions.
  • Disclaimer: The Compensation and Benefits information in this posting represents PCA’s good faith and reasonable estimate of what it may pay for this position. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified Applicants must apply at careers.packagingcorp.com to be considered.

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Packaging Corporation of America

About Packaging Corporation of America

PCA is the third-largest producer of containerboard in the United States and a leading producer of uncoated freesheet in North America.

PCA’s net sales for 2025 were $9 billion. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Lake Forest, Illinois. We have approximately 16,800 employees with operations throughout the United States including ten mills and 91 corrugated product plants & related facilities.

PCA’s Paper segment operates under the trade name Boise Paper, a Division of Packaging Corporation of America. We manufacture and sell white papers, including both commodity and specialty papers.

PCA combines great products with a creative and knowledgeable total-service team to provide ideas and solutions for any packaging need: "When you choose Packaging Corporation of America, you work with people who do the right things for each other and for our customers. We believe in utilizing the power of strong collaborative relationships, bound by the trust we have earned, to deliver innovative packaging solutions and an outstanding service experience."​

Industry
Unknown
Company Size
5,001-10,000 employees
Headquarters
Lake Forest, Illinois
Year Founded
Unknown
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