Analysis Skills, Automotive Manufacturing, Budget Management, Budgeting, Cost Analysis, Cost Control, Cost Estimates, Cost Forecasting, Cost Modeling, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, Data Management, Database Report Tools, Documentation, English Language, Finance, Financial Modeling, Logistics, Manufacturing, Microsoft Excel, Multilingual, Multitasking, Organizational Skills, Partner Sales, Product Packaging, Product Support, Product/Service Launch, Production Support, Project/Program Management, Reimbursement, Return on Investment (ROI), Sales, Spanish Language, Supply Chain, Third-Party Logistics (3PL), Vehicle Fleets, Willing to Travel
Title: Cost Estimator - Packaging
Location: Auburn Hills, MI
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Shift: Monday–Friday (Day Shift)
Compensation: $80-95k
Overview:
Our client is seeking a Packaging Cost Estimator to support new product launches by developing accurate packaging cost estimates, managing packaging budgets, and coordinating returnable and expendable packaging strategies. This role partners closely with Sales, Program Management, Engineering, Logistics, Suppliers, and Manufacturing teams to ensure packaging costs, availability, and logistics are aligned with customer requirements and business objectives. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical skills, financial modeling experience, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver cost-effective packaging solutions that support successful product launches and ongoing production.
Job Duties:
- Develop packaging cost estimates and budgets for new product launches.
- Build and maintain cost models, forecasts, and ROI analyses.
- Support customer quotations and validate packaging cost assumptions.
- Audit actual costs and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Coordinate packaging suppliers, 3PLs, and packaging fleet activities.
- Plan container availability and packaging strategies for new launches and production.
- Manage packaging master data, budgets, and change documentation.
- Support ECNs, production ramp-ups, and customer reimbursement activities.
- Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Manufacturing teams.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 6+ years of experience in packaging, cost estimating, supply chain, logistics, or program management.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial modeling skills.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, and database/reporting tools.
- Experience supporting manufacturing or automotive product launches preferred.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
- Willingness to travel 5–20%.
- Spanish/English bilingual is a MAJOR PLUS!
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
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Sterling Engineering, Inc.
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
500 to 999 employees
Staffing/Employment Agencies
http://www.sterling-engineering.com