Packaging Engineer

The Packaging Engineer is responsible for designing expendable and returnable packaging for raw materials, internal material flow, finished products, and aftermarket parts. This entry-level role works cross-functionally to deliver environmentally sustainable packaging solutions, while ensuring compliance with Cummins Global Packaging Standards and regulatory requirements. The engineer focuses on optimizing vendor relations, material specifications, line efficiencies, and other internal functional group needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Packaging Design: Supports the development of expendable and returnable packaging for raw material components and finished products, ensuring compliance with design specifications.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Works closely with customers, suppliers, and internal teams to deliver packaging solutions that enhance product quality and reduce costs.
• Continuous Improvement: Identifies opportunities for packaging improvements, focusing on quality enhancement, cost reduction, and environmental sustainability.
• Standards Compliance: Ensures compliance with Cummins Global Packaging Standards, including ISPM15 and other regulatory requirements for international shipments.
• Site-Specific Guidelines: Develops site-specific packaging guidelines, taking into account safety, storage, and operational requirements.
• Supplier Relations: Reviews and approves supplier Packaging Data Sheets to ensure alignment with standards.
• Project Management: Plans and prioritizes packaging projects to meet organizational goals and timelines.
• Cost Analysis: Applies business acumen for cost-based analysis and decision-making in packaging solutions.

Competencies:

• Action-Oriented: Takes on new challenges with urgency and enthusiasm.
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness: Reflects on feedback to understand personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Self-Development: Actively seeks growth opportunities through formal and informal channels.
• Data Analytics: Interprets qualitative and quantitative data to drive business decisions.
• Environmentally Sustainable Packaging: Applies sustainable packaging principles focused on reducing, reusing, recycling, or reclaiming materials.
• Industrial Packaging Design: Develops packaging designs to ensure product protection throughout the supply chain.
• Operations Integration: Understands manufacturing processes and incorporates packaging methods that align with operational efficiency.
• Packaging Distribution Knowledge: Identifies environmental and dynamic forces affecting packaging in supply chains.
• Material Knowledge: Demonstrates expertise in packaging materials, considering cost, performance, and environmental impact.
• Packaging Testing: Evaluates packaging performance through testing to ensure compliance with handling and transit requirements.
• Returnable Packaging Management: Analyzes data to develop cost-efficient returnable packaging programs.
• Problem Solving: Applies systematic analysis to solve problems and prevent recurrence.
• Values Differences: Appreciates and leverages diverse perspectives and cultures.

Education, Licenses, Certifications:

• Required: Bachelors degree in engineering or related field.
• Preferred: Packaging Engineering or Packaging Science degree.
• This role may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.

Experience:

• Internship or equivalent experience in a packaging-related field.
• Preferably 3-4 years of experience in the automotive/manufacturing industry, specifically in SPD (Supply, Planning, and Distribution).

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of packaging principles, material properties, and testing standards.
• Experience with automotive or manufacturing packaging processes is a plus.
• Proficient in developing impactful presentations using PowerPoint, effectively communicating complex information to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong expertise in building and managing BI dashboards to monitor performance metrics, identify trends, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis, reporting, and performing comprehensive analytics to support operational improvements and strategic initiatives.
• Skilled in analyzing damaged parts to determine root causes, implementing corrective actions, and enhancing packaging durability. Proven ability to reduce future damage through continuous improvement strategies.