Structural Designer Jobs in Pennsylvania

Structural Packaging Designer – Folding Cartons & Paperboard

Bring Packaging Concepts to Life — From Design to Production!

Are you an experienced Structural Packaging Designer who loves turning creative concepts into functional, innovative, and production-ready packaging? Do you understand the science behind folding cartons, the precision of dielines, and the importance of designing packaging that looks great, performs flawlessly, and runs efficiently through manufacturing?

If so, we want to talk to you!

At Grafika, we're looking for a talented, detail-oriented Structural Packaging Designer who combines technical expertise, creativity, and practical manufacturing knowledge.

This is an opportunity to make a real impact by developing custom paperboard packaging solutions, improving manufacturing efficiencies, solving complex design challenges, and collaborating with teams throughout the production process.

This is a highly technical structural packaging design and engineering position, NOT a graphic design role. We're seeking someone with hands-on experience designing folding cartons and other paperboard packaging for commercial manufacturing.

What You'll Do:

As our Structural Packaging Designer, you'll bridge the gap between creative concepts and technical manufacturability. You'll develop functional, cost-effective, and innovative packaging solutions—including folding cartons, trays, sleeves, and inserts—that protect products, support our customers' brands, and perform efficiently in production.

Your responsibilities will include:

Structural Design & Engineering

• Translate 2D design concepts into functional, manufacturable paperboard packaging solutions.
• Develop accurate, production-ready dielines, specifying exact carton dimensions, board grades, material thicknesses, and structural requirements.
• Analyze and modify customer-provided artwork, drawings, and specifications to ensure accuracy, structural integrity, and proper functionality based on product requirements.
• Engineer custom packaging structures, closures, inserts, and other components that meet customer specifications.
• Produce 3D CAD renderings, technical drawings, and detailed specifications to support production and manufacturing vendors.

Prototyping, Tooling & Production Layouts

• Operate digital cutting tables, such as Kongsberg or Zünd, to produce physical prototypes, samples, and mockups for structural testing and customer approval.
• Develop efficient nested layouts, stepping, and imposition to maximize material utilization and minimize production waste.
• Order and coordinate required production tooling, including cutting dies, stripping jigs, blanking tools, and embossing/foiling plates.
• Ensure structural designs are optimized for die-cutting, scoring, folding, gluing, filling, and high-volume manufacturing.

Manufacturing Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Quality Assurance, Prepress, and Manufacturing to ensure designs transition successfully from concept to finished product.
• Ensure artwork and structural die work align accurately throughout the manufacturing process.
• Troubleshoot packaging design, material, and production challenges, developing practical, timely, and cost-effective solutions.
• Identify opportunities to reduce material waste, improve production efficiencies, enhance quality, and streamline manufacturing processes.
• Develop and maintain organized technical documentation and databases supporting packaging specifications, materials, production procedures, and interdepartmental processes.
• Explore and embrace new technologies, design methods, and innovative approaches that improve capabilities, reduce costs, and deliver exceptional results for our customers.

What We're Looking For — Must-Haves

We're looking for someone who brings proven technical expertise, strong problem-solving skills, and a solid understanding of how structural packaging designs perform in a real manufacturing environment.

Required Experience & Technical Skills

• 5+ years of dedicated structural packaging design experience, specifically involving paperboard and folding cartons.
• High proficiency with industry-standard CAD software such as ArtiosCAD, Impact CAD, EngView, or SolidWorks, along with Adobe Illustrator.
• Strong understanding of paperboard materials, including board grades, calipers, grain direction, and finishing treatments.
• Working knowledge of die layouts, including stripping, nicking, and blanking configurations.
• Thorough understanding of folding carton converting processes, including die-cutting, scoring, automatic gluing, and high-speed filling equipment.
• Proven ability to engineer functional packaging structures, including custom closures, dispensing features, and interior components.
• Strong spatial reasoning, technical accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Professional Skills & Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and project management skills.
• Strong analytical thinking, independent decision-making, and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across multiple departments.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where priorities, technology, and business needs continue to evolve.
• Understanding of process improvement and quality improvement concepts.
• Ability to identify root causes, recommend corrective actions, and proactively implement continuous improvement solutions.
• A resourceful, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to think on your feet and develop innovative ideas.

Even Better If You Have — Nice-to-Haves

While not required, we'd love to hear from candidates who also bring:

• A degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• Additional related professional experience in packaging design, engineering, or manufacturing.
• Experience designing patented or proprietary consumer-facing closures and dispensing mechanisms.
• Experience using packaging performance analysis software such as Cape Pack or TOPS for pallet layout optimization.
• Familiarity with 5S, Six Sigma, ISO 9001, and/or Lean Manufacturing tools and methodologies.

Don't Check Every Box? We Still Want to Hear From You!

We know that great candidates don't always check every box on a job description. If you have a strong foundation in structural paperboard packaging design, a passion for problem-solving, and the drive to learn and grow, we encourage you to apply. You might be exactly the person we're looking for!

What Makes This Opportunity Exciting?

At Grafika, structural packaging design is more than creating a dieline. It's about finding the right solution, making it work in production, and delivering a quality product our customers can depend on.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Make a direct impact: Your designs and decisions will influence product quality, manufacturing efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Work on meaningful technical challenges: From new packaging concepts to complex production improvements, no two projects are exactly alike.
• Collaborate across departments: Work alongside experienced professionals in Sales, Quality Assurance, Prepress, and Manufacturing.
• Bring ideas to the table: We value innovative thinking, practical solutions, and people who see opportunities for improvement.
• See your work come to life: Follow your designs from initial concept through physical prototypes and full-scale manufacturing.

Ready to Design Something Great?

If you're passionate about structural packaging design, understand the demands of folding carton manufacturing, and enjoy turning challenging concepts into smart, production-ready solutions, we want to hear from you!

Bring your technical expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills to Grafika Commercial Printing and help us continue delivering innovative, high-quality packaging solutions.

Apply today! We look forward to learning more about you and the experience you'll bring to our team.

Location Requirement: This position is 100% onsite at our Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania facility. Remote and hybrid arrangements are not available. Relocation assistance is not offered, and candidates must currently reside within a reasonable commuting distance to be considered.

Grafika Commercial Printing, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• How many years of professional structural packaging design experience do you have specifically with paperboard and folding cartons?
• Which structural packaging CAD programs have you used professionally?
• Do you have hands-on experience creating production-ready dielines for commercial folding carton manufacturing?
• Are you able to work 100% onsite at our Sinking Spring, PA facility?
• Do you currently reside within a reasonable commuting distance of Sinking Spring, PA?

Work Location: In person