Senior Packaging Engineer

General Description

• Ensures components are protected during transit from the supplier to the vehicle assembly plant. This role involves designing, developing, and testing packaging solutions that balance cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and the safe delivery of automotive parts. It's a cross-functional position requiring strong collaboration with internal teams, suppliers, and customers.

Responsibilities

• Establish packaging systems with optimal effectiveness.
• Develops and specifies new and revised packaging.
• Develops and implements process improvements.
• Requires advanced knowledge of industry regulatory requirements for packaging components and their related testing and documentation.
• Packaging Design & Development:
  • Leads the design and development of innovative and functional packaging solutions (returnable and expendable) that meet specific requirements for automotive components.
  • Considers factors such as product protection, material flow, logistics, and ergonomic handling within the automotive manufacturing environment.
  • Develops and approves package testing plans and interprets results.
  • Creates detailed technical documentation, including drawings, specifications, and bill of materials.
  • Supplier Collaboration & Management:
  • Partners with external packaging suppliers to ensure packaging solutions meet design specifications and quality standards.
  • May assist in selecting and managing packaging vendors.

• Cost Optimization & Efficiency:
  • Analyzes current packaging processes and designs to identify opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvement.
  • Evaluates expendable vs. returnable container costs to improve quality and reduce costs.
  • Coordinates efforts to minimize material handling and optimize warehouse layouts.

• Compliance & Quality:
  • Ensures packaging designs and processes adhere to relevant industry standards and regulations (e.g., IATF 16949, ISO 9001).
  • May develop and maintain Logistics Management Information (LMI) and Special Packaging Instructions (SPI) in accordance with customer and regulatory requirements.
  • Addresses supplier compliance issues and assists with quality-related investigations.

• Project Management & Leadership:
  • Manages multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to timelines and budgets.
  • Leads cross-functional project teams, providing technical guidance and expertise.
  • May mentor junior packaging professionals.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree may be preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in packaging engineering, preferably in the automotive industry or with a Tier 1 supplier. Experience in manufacturing engineering, supply chain, or warehousing operations is a plus.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of various packaging materials (e.g., corrugate, plastics, foams, molded pulp, steel, aluminum).
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA).
• Familiarity with industry standards such as ASTM and ISTA.
• Understanding of packaging testing and validation methodologies.
• Knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes and component development.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and lead projects independently.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on delivering high-quality result