Packaging Engineer

Ford Motor • Allen Park, MI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

In this position, Packaging Engineering is seeking a highly motivated engineer to support Vehicle Operations Programs across North America. This role will serve as the subject matter expert for returnable packaging solutions, with a primary focus on sheet metal stampings and assemblies, driving packaging performance, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate across cross-functional teams and present technical information to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability and willingness to travel as required, approximately 25%-30%, typically within the United States, Canada, and Mexico, for trips ranging from one to three days in duration.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Teamcenter Engineering and product data management systems.
• Working knowledge of CATIA V5.
• Understanding of fabrication processes and design considerations for steel and aluminum racking systems.
• Experience developing and implementing packaging solutions that interface with automated manufacturing and material handling systems.
• Knowledge of thermoformed (vacuum-formed) and injection-molded dunnage design and application.
• Experience with expendable packaging solutions, including corrugated packaging, wood packaging, and expendable steel racking.

Responsibilities

• Support Vehicle Operations Programs across North America, with a primary focus on returnable packaging solutions for sheet metal stampings and assemblies.
• Collaborate closely with Ford Purchasing to manage the full procurement lifecycle, including supplier sourcing, quotation review, bid analysis, and purchase order placement with packaging fabricators and manufacturers.
• Evaluate supplier quality to ensure compliance with established packaging, quality, and program requirements.
• Coordinate and execute transportation validation testing in partnership with test engineers, defining test protocols, acceptance criteria, and pass/fail requirements while ensuring comprehensive documentation of results.
• Develop and implement corrective action plans to drive resolution and improve packaging performance when issues are identified during testing and validation activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for returnable container systems, including increasing pack density to optimize freight utilization, warehouse efficiency, and labor costs; reducing container and tooling costs through design optimization, standardization, and the adoption of emerging technologies; and enhancing part protection, functionality, durability, and overall packaging performance throughout the supply chain.
• Support campaign and field activities related to container quality concerns, repair requirements, and performance issues.
• Research, evaluate, and implement innovative technologies, materials, processes, and best practices that improve operational efficiency and packaging effectiveness.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of 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
• Career Level: Mid Level