Continuous Improvement Engineer

Location: Pleasant View, TN

Reports To: Continuous Improvement Manager

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Engineer is responsible for driving operational excellence initiatives within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role partners cross-functionally with production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and leadership teams to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, improve safety, enhance quality, and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). The CI Engineer will lead Lean initiatives, implement process improvements, and foster a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and root cause analysis activities
• Analyze production data to identify process bottlenecks, waste, and performance gaps
• Implement Lean manufacturing tools including 5S, SMED, Kanban, standard work, and visual management
• Drive improvements in OEE, scrap reduction, cycle time reduction, and labor efficiency
• Partner with Quality to reduce defects and improve first-pass yield
• Support cost reduction initiatives through process optimization and material efficiency
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions
• Train and mentor team members on Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and present findings to leadership
• Support new product launches and process validation efforts
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

Experience:

• 2–7+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience leading Lean or Six Sigma initiatives
• Experience working in high-volume or discrete manufacturing preferred

Certifications (Preferred):

• Lean Certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt