Chem Lab Engineering Specialist

Ford Motor • Sterling Heights, MI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Sterling Axle Chem Lab Engineering Specialist is a dual-function role responsible for leading the plant’s contamination control strategy and managing daily Chemical Laboratory operations. The role serves as the plant subject matter expert for the Contamination Quality Operating System (QOS), ensuring production areas meet Engineering Specifications through analytical testing and data-driven insights. It drives continuous improvement in contamination controls, manages laboratory resources, and supports safety, quality, and throughput.

The specialist performs and oversees advanced contamination analysis, monitors plant systems and trends, conducts audits and investigations, and communicates technical findings and reaction plans to plant leadership. The position also oversees a third-party fluid management team based in the plant, maintains laboratory equipment and workplace standards, and leads the laboratory’s transition from a traditional setup to a lean manufacturing model area standard.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related engineering discipline.
• Proven experience operating laboratory analytical equipment, specifically Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) and optical microscopes.
• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial laboratory environment focused on quality systems.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience supervising hourly personnel, ideally in a unionized (UAW) environment.
• Proficiency with FTIR analysis and PAMAS particle counting systems.
• Familiarity with ISO standards and conducting internal or external quality audits.
• Ability to interpret complex data trends and perform root-cause analysis for technical failures.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presenting technical findings to non-technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Champion the plant’s Contamination Quality Operating System and identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities.
• Perform and oversee analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Automatic Optical Microscopes (AOM), and microscope particle counters.
• Identify sources of non-metallic contamination and support root-cause investigations.
• Apply Gage R&R and calibration knowledge to laboratory equipment.
• Track coolant systems, washer health systems, and point-of-use contamination checks, and drive QOS for these systems.
• Maintain records and monitor data trend charts; identify variations and communicate results and reaction plans to the plant team when failures occur.
• Schedule and conduct internal contamination and Engineering Specification audits, and support external third-party environmental and quality audits.
• Support internal quality meetings, warranty investigations, and customer issue resolutions involving contamination analysis.
• Present technical data and analytical findings to plant leadership.
• Oversee the third-party fluid management team located in the plant.
• Hold team members accountable for following standardized safety and quality processes.
• Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained, calibrated, and operational; manage preventive maintenance, repairs, and spare-parts inventory.
• Maintain 5S standards and workplace organization.
• Lead the laboratory’s transformation to a lean manufacturing model area standard.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized back-up childcare
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• Paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time