{"id":1624388,"url":"https://alion.io/job/packagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca","title":"Plant Optimization Engineer - Mechanical (Kingsburg, CA)","company":{"id":2165358,"name":"Packaging Corporation of America","domain":"packagingcorp.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/packagingcorp","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Dayforce","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":77,"open_postings":64,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.906,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":39,"computed_at":"2026-10-23T05:54:15Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"junior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Kingsburg, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":68000,"max_usd":123000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":4038},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AutoCAD","optional":true},{"name":"Outlook","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-26T05:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-01","last_verified_at":"2026-10-23T16:36:57Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":58,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":58},"description":"PCA is currently recruiting for a Mechanical Engineering majorfor a Plant Optimization Engineer based at the Kingsburg, CA corrugated box plant facility.\nDescription of role: \nThe Plant Optimization Engineer Position (POE) is a developmental program which focuses on hiring recent college graduates with degrees in engineering (0-2 years experience) into a rotational training experience with the goal of developing them into well-rounded employees and future leaders at PCA. This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits. \n\nWhat is PCA’s POE Program?\nThe POE Program is a 2-year rotational training program designed to give recent engineering graduates in depth, hands-on technical training in the Maintenance and Production departments of a corrugated box plant, and a well-rounded understanding of the corrugated packaging industry as a whole. In addition, POEs will complete engineering process optimization projects throughout the box plant, typically in areas of scrap reduction, throughput improvements, downtime reduction, etc., and will provide engineering support to all plant functions as needed.\nUpon successful completion of the program, the Plant Optimization Engineer will transition into a new full-time role in the chosen career path either at their current plant, or another plant or paper mill that has an opening that aligns with their skills and interests. \nTypical career paths for those who have completed the POE Program include box plant leadership/management positions in Production or Maintenance. \n\nPrinciple Accountabilities: \nRotate through all departments at a corrugated plant, completing assigned learning objectives and technical training in each area.\nOrganize and implement moderate to large process improvements, problem elimination and capital/expense projects focusing on asset health and overall improved reliability.\nRecommend and help drive, or implement innovative solutions to improve equipment, facility, and plant operations.\nAttend and participate in POE program conferences and assigned off-site training.\nCollaborate with other Plant Optimization Engineers, the plant leadership team, and machine and maintenance operators to complete projects.\nWork with the POE Mentor/manager to conceptualize a career path to follow the POE program.\nKnow and follow policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers.\nStrive to continually strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectations for customers specifically supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service that involves doing what is right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make. \nBasic Qualifications: \nA Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering is required prior to starting the position.\n0-2 years previous engineering experience, including internships and co-ops, providing technical support in a manufacturing plant or industrial environment.\nAbility to work first, second, or third shift during the production department rotation as needed.\nMust be self-driven and passionate about working in a hands-on, manufacturing environment.\nMust be able to travel as necessary and possess valid documents for travel via air and car. \nPreferred Qualifications: \nA minimum of one Internship or Co-op is preferred, especially in a manufacturing environment.\nExperience with programs such as AutoCAD, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as experience with manufacturing systems like shop floor software, maintenance work order systems, etc. is preferred.\nSix Sigma, Lean Manufacturing or Statistical Process Control (SPC) experience preferred.\nThe successful candidate MUST possess the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:\nSolid interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with production team and management.\nAbility to learn quickly and put new knowledge into practice.\nSolid verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with individuals throughout the company on departmental procedures, policies, practices, and requests for information.\nStrong listening, evaluating, and problem-solving skills. Ability to create alternative solutions and meet deadlines.\nLeadership experience or strong leadership skills with the drive to lead others.\nStrong interpersonal skills with the ability to network and build relationships with individuals of various experiences and professional levels both within and outside of the company.\nPrevious work experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4760,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Urban Planning","Think Tanks & Policy Research"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T20:55:14Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Filed H-1B visas in the last two years","filings_12m":0,"filings_prev_12m":2,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-15T11:24:14+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":19,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.431,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":58,"expected_fill_days":39,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","velocity","win:tail","crowd:junior,brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-23T05:54:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/packagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/packagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-23T18:33:52Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":28287,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-24T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2165358},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2165358"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fpackagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fpackagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fpackagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/packagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fpackagingcorp-plant-optimization-engineer-mechanical-kingsburg-ca"}]}