Design Manager

Location:

Harrisburg, Arkansas Company:

Rusken Packaging Industry:

Corrugated Packaging / Structural Design / Manufacturing About the Opportunity Rusken Packaging is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the structural design function at our Harrisburg facility. This role is responsible for overseeing day-to-day design operations, supporting plant manufacturing goals, and ensuring high-quality corrugated packaging solutions are developed efficiently and accurately. The ideal candidate brings strong corrugated industry knowledge with a focus on brown box packaging, manufacturing practicality, customer responsiveness, and team leadership. This position works closely with sales, customer service, estimating, and plant operations to deliver packaging that performs in production and throughout the supply chain. Key Responsibilities Lead and manage the daily workflow of the design department within a single manufacturing facility. Oversee structural design development for corrugated packaging, primarily brown box applications including RSCs, die-cut containers, partitions, pads, wraps, trays, and protective packaging. Ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, and aligned with plant equipment capabilities. Partner closely with production, converting, and scheduling teams to support efficient manufacturing execution. Collaborate with sales and customer service to provide timely design support, samples, and technical recommendations. Manage design priorities, backlog, and turnaround expectations to maintain strong internal service levels. Support prototype development, testing, and packaging validation. Maintain CAD drawing standards, specifications, and accurate documentation. Troubleshoot packaging or production issues tied to structure, board selection, fit, or stacking performance. Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to packaging efficiency, material usage, and plant productivity. Mentor and support designers or design technicians within the facility. Qualifications 5-10+ years of experience in the corrugated packaging industry. Strong background in structural corrugated packaging design with emphasis on brown box applications. Leadership or supervisory experience within a packaging design environment. Advanced proficiency in CAD software such as ArtiosCAD or equivalent packaging design platforms. Strong understanding of corrugated board combinations, flute profiles, ECT requirements, compression performance, and manufacturing limitations. Knowledge of flexographic printing, die cutting, folding/gluing, and converting operations. Ability to interpret customer requirements and translate them into practical manufacturing solutions. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment. Preferred Experience Experience supporting a corrugated sheet plant or integrated box plant. Familiarity with palletization and compression analysis tools such as TOPS or similar software. Knowledge of shipping performance, warehouse stacking, and transit protection requirements. Exposure to cost reduction and packaging optimization initiatives. Ideal Candidate Profile You are a hands-on corrugated packaging leader who understands the realities of plant operations and brown box manufacturing. You balance speed, accuracy, and practicality while supporting customers and internal teams with dependable structural packaging solutions. Pay commensurate with experience

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Experience:

Structural Design:

5 years (Required)

Corrugation:

5 years (Required)

Work Location:

In person