# Chem Lab Engineering Specialist **Company**: Ford Motor Company **Location**: Sterling Heights, MI **Work arrangement**: onsite **Experience**: senior **Job type**: full-time **Salary**: $84,480-141,360 or $96,720-162,120 **Category**: Manufacturing **Industry**: Automotive **Wikidata**: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44294 **Apply**: https://efds.fa.em5.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/72953?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply **Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/jobs/job_f832a21b-7a4 ## Description We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves? As part of our Manufacturing team, you’ll help build the world-class, state-of-the-art smart vehicles we're known for. In our plants around the world, we’re constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. You'll get the satisfaction of making great products people use and love. In this position, the Sterling Axle Chem Lab Engineering Specialist is a critical dual-function role responsible for leading the plant’s contamination control strategy and managing the daily operations of the Chemical Laboratory. This individual acts as the primary subject matter expert for the Contamination Quality Operating System (QOS), ensuring all production areas meet rigorous Engineering Specifications (ES) through advanced analytical testing and data-driven insights. The successful candidate will blend technical expertise in materials analysis. You will be responsible for driving continuous improvement in contamination controls, managing laboratory budgets, and ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and throughput. ## Responsibilities ### Technical Leadership & Contamination Control - Champion the Contamination Quality Operating System within the plant, proactively identifying and driving continuous improvement opportunities. - Perform and oversee complex analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Automatic Optical Microscopes (AOM), and Microscope Particle Counters. - Utilise technology to identify sources of non-metallic contamination and support root-cause investigations. - Gage R&R and calibration knowledge of lab equipment. Track coolant system, washer health systems, and POU contamination checks and drive QOS around them. - Maintain precise records and monitor data trend charts to identify variations, communicate results and reaction plans to the plant team when failures occur. ### Quality, Audits & Investigation - Schedule and conduct internal contamination and Engineering Specification (ES) audits; support external third-party environmental and quality audits. - Support Internal Quality meetings, warranty investigations, and customer issue resolutions pertaining to contamination analysis. - Present technical data and analytical findings in a clear, concise manner to plant leadership. ### Laboratory Operations & Supervisory Duties - Oversee third party fluid management team that resides in plant. - Hold team members accountable for following standardised processes regarding Safety and Quality. - Ensure all lab equipment is maintained, calibrated, and operational. Manage preventative maintenance, repairs, and spare parts inventory. - Maintain strict 5S standards and workplace organisation. This lab is under transformation from traditional to lean, candidate will lead that transformation to a lean manufacturing model area standard. ## Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related Engineering discipline. - Proven experience operating laboratory analytical equipment, specifically Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) and Optical Microscopes. - Experience working within a manufacturing or industrial laboratory environment with a focus on quality systems. Even better, you may have... - Prior experience supervising hourly personnel, ideally within a unionised (UAW) environment. - Proficiency with FTIR analysis and PAMAS particle counting systems. - Familiarity with ISO standards and conducting internal/external quality audits. - Strong ability to interpret complex data trends and perform root-cause analysis for technical failures. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting technical findings to non-technical leadership. ## Benefits - Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage - Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidised back-up childcare and more - Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, 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. ## Skills ### Required - Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) - Automatic Optical Microscopes (AOM) - Microscope Particle Counters - FTIR analysis - PAMAS particle counting systems - ISO standards ### Nice to have - Leadership - Prior experience supervising hourly personnel - Proficiency with FTIR analysis and PAMAS particle counting systems - Familiarity with ISO standards and conducting internal/external quality audits --- Source: [Apply at efds.fa.em5.oraclecloud.com](https://efds.fa.em5.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/72953?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply)