Material Handling & Packaging Designer

About the role

We begin with dreams. Dreams drive our motivation. Dreams are our future. The world's dreams, people's dreams, our dreams. Our passion creates ideas that make dreams come alive. Technology and products that were only dreams become reality.

All for dreams. Dreams challenge and the Nidec-Group will continue to meet the challenge. For the world's and people's tomorrows; the world's first, the world's best technologies and products; we will continue our part in creating a better society.

Job Summary

At Nidec, we are a global leader in electric motors, alternators, and rotating equipment. Our manufacturing operations rely on a highly synchronized and efficient global supply chain. We are seeking a hands-on, execution-focused Material Handling & Packaging Designer to optimize the material pipeline for our heavy industrial manufacturing lines.

This is a 100% on-site role at our Lexington, TN facility. You will work directly on the production floor and partner closely with our on-site Supply Chain Project Manager to track, execute, and deliver continuous cost-savings and logistics improvement projects. Your technical focus will bridge the gap between our domestic and cross-border suppliers, warehouse logistics, and the production floor-ensuring heavy payloads arrive without damage and are presented efficiently to assembly line operators.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Execution & PM Collaboration: Partner directly with the on-site Supply Chain Project Manager to scope, track, and execute packaging and material-handling improvement projects. Drive engineering timelines to ensure milestones are met on time and within budget.
• Cross-Border Supplier Packaging Validation: Evaluate, modify, and approve inbound packaging specifications from domestic and international/cross-border suppliers (e.g., Mexico). Review industrial testing data (vibration, drop, environmental) to guarantee heavy components-including large castings, precision stampings, rotors, and stators-arrive safely without transit damage.
• Corrosion & High-Density Protection: Implement specialized packaging standards-such as Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI) for ocean/long-distance freight, anti-static (ESD) protection, and custom edge protection-to keep high-density components rust-free and free from deformation during handling and extended warehouse storage.
• Warehouse-to-Line Kitting Design: Utilize CAD software to architect custom material-handling layouts, returnable container systems (totes/steel racks), and specialized internal dunnage (thermoformed trays, heavy-duty foam) to kit and sequence parts efficiently from the warehouse to production.
• Lean Lineside Presentation: Optimize how heavy components are presented to assembly line operators. Design gravity-fed flow racks and customized kitting carts that maximize operator ergonomics, optimize part orientation, eliminate unboxing waste, and minimize lineside footprint.

Required Qualifications

• Work Mode: Must be able to work 100% full-time on-site at our Lexington, TN facility. (Remote/Hybrid options are not available).
• Experience: 3+ years of hands-on experience in structural packaging design, material handling, or industrial logistics within an automotive assembly, Tier-1 automotive supply, or heavy machinery manufacturing environment.
• Technical Skills: High proficiency with 3D CAD modeling software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or Artios CAD) for designing kitting layouts, custom heavy-duty skids, and dunnage configurations.
• Lean & Testing Knowledge: Direct experience working in a Lean production environment (JIT flows). Strong familiarity with ISTA packaging compliance testing (e.g., ISTA 1A, 3A, 6-Amazon) for heavy or palletized industrial loads.
• Project Coordination: Demonstrated capability to follow through on logistics project timelines and coordinate effectively across multi-functional teams (Supply Chain, Quality, Production).

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Have)

• Language Skills: Bilingual in English and Spanish is highly preferred to effectively support cross-border supplier communication, validation, and logistics.
• Education: Associate's or bachelor's degree in industrial design, Packaging, Supply Chain Logistics, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent practical field experience).
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.