Senior Logistics Packaging Engineer

What to Expect

The Senior Packaging Engineer is responsible for the end-to-end delivery and execution of packaging and material flow solutions within Logistics. The role ensures standards, designs and processes defined at a strategic level are implemented effectively in operations, supporting both current business and new programme launches.

The role acts as the technical authority for packaging execution, owning design governance, budget control and delivery of packaging solutions, while representing Packaging in senior forums when required.

Why This Role Matters:

This role bridges strategy and execution, ensuring packaging solutions are practical, cost-effective and aligned to operational, quality and performance requirements within a fast-paced automotive manufacturing environment.

What You'll Do

• Packaging Design, Standards and Material Flow: Lead the design, validation and implementation of packaging solutions across the full material flow (supplier → 3PL → lineside). Ensure packaging supports part protection, handling efficiency, transport optimisation and effective lineside presentation. Translate defined standards into practical, executable solutions and own cross-functional design approval.
• PFEP Governance and Loop Management: Own the accuracy and governance of packaging data within PFEP. Calculate, validate and implement packaging loop sizes aligned to demand, supplier cadence and operational constraints, ensuring readiness for both operations and new launches.
• Warehouse and Transport Cube Optimisation: Lead initiatives to maximise warehouse space utilisation and trailer fill efficiency, ensuring packaging design and material flow optimise cubic capacity. Work closely with Transport and 3PL teams to improve trailer utilisation, reduce empty space and drive cost and efficiency improvements.
• Continuous Improvement and Operational Delivery: Deliver improvements that reduce waste, handling, cost and inefficiency, supporting one-touch logistics and lineside optimisation. Ensure improvements are practical, embedded and sustainable.

Programme Launch and Readiness: Own packaging readiness for new model programmes, including design validation, loop sizing and supplier/3PL alignment. Represent Packaging in programme governance and gateway reviews, ensuring risks are clearly identified and mitigated.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Governance: Act as the Packaging Engineering representative in cross-functional forums, providing clear recommendations, trade-offs and risk assessments. Build strong relationships to ensure aligned delivery.

Budget Ownership and Cost Control: Own and manage packaging-related budgets, including returnable container investment and improvement activity. Identify and deliver cost-saving opportunities while maintaining operational performance.

Leadership and Capability Development: Provide day-to-day technical leadership and direction to junior packaging engineers. Coach and develop team capability and support workload prioritisation.

Quality, Compliance and Operational Control: Ensure all packaging solutions meet safety, quality and compliance requirements. Maintain strong governance and change control to reduce operational risk.

Performance Monitoring:

• Track packaging performance across cost, loop accuracy, availability and operational efficiency
• Provide structured updates to the Packaging Manager and senior stakeholders
• Monitor launch readiness milestones and risk status
  
  

What You'll Bring

Education:

Degree-level education, or equivalent experience, in Engineering, Logistics, Supply Chain or related discipline

Experience:

• Experience in packaging engineering, material flow or logistics within automotive or manufacturing
• Proven delivery of packaging solutions in live operations and programme environments
• Experience managing budgets and working in cross-functional teams
  
  

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of packaging design, returnable systems and material flow principles
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior forums
  
  

Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint and relevant ERP/WMS systems

What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:

• Structured career development framework
• 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus award
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance benefit
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice
  
  

Who Are We?

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.

McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.