Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Engineer

Robert's Enterprises, S. de R.L. de C.V.; Tijuana; On-site; MXN 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Robert's Enterprises, S. de R.L. de C.V.

in Tijuana, Mexico, is seeking a Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Engineer to lead labor productivity, cost reduction, process optimization, and quality improvements across manufacturing and administrative functions. This role acts as a change agent and guides cross-functional teams to deliver measurable financial results. The successful candidate will develop charters, manage projects, track savings, and sustain improvements using Lean,

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence in manufacturing.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional improvement projects with measurable financial results.
• Experience driving productivity, cost reduction, automation, and process optimization.

Responsibilities

• Identify, prioritize, and lead CI initiatives focused on labor efficiency, productivity, quality, and waste elimination.
• Utilize Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to improve performance and sustainable results.
• Lead Kaizen events, VSMs, workshops, and root cause analysis activities.
• Develop charters, implementation plans, timelines, and financial justifications.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams for timely project execution.
• Facilitate reviews and report progress to leadership.
• Validate and track financial savings from projects.
• Support automation initiatives and manufacturing process enhancements.
• Develop KPIs, dashboards, and reporting to sustain improvements.
• Mentor junior engineers and grow the CI function.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Project Management

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

Excel

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

The Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Engineer is responsible for leading strategic initiatives focused on labor productivity, cost reduction, process optimization, quality improvement, and operational efficiency across manufacturing and administrative functions. This role identifies improvement opportunities, manages projects, coordinates cross-functional teams, and ensures sustainable implementation of solutions that deliver measurable financial results.

This position acts as a change agent within the organization and serves as a future leader within the Continuous Improvement function.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, prioritize, and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on labor efficiency, productivity, quality, lead time reduction, waste elimination, and cost savings.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to improve operational performance and deliver sustainable results.
• Lead Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), process improvement workshops, and root cause analysis activities.
• Develop project charters, implementation plans, timelines, and financial justifications for improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure timely project execution.
• Facilitate project reviews and communicate progress to leadership through presentations and reports.
• Validate, document, and track financial savings and operational improvements from implemented projects.
• Support automation initiatives, equipment optimization, workflow improvements, and manufacturing process enhancements.
• Improve shop floor and administrative processes through data-driven decision-making.
• Develop and maintain KPIs, dashboards, and reporting systems to monitor performance and sustain improvements.
• Train and mentor team members in Lean tools, problem-solving methodologies, and continuous improvement practices.
• Provide leadership to junior engineers and support the growth of the Continuous Improvement function.

Performance Expectations

The successful candidate is expected to generate validated annual savings equal to 2.5-3 times the total annual employment cost (salary, benefits, and associated expenses).

Key Performance Indicators

• Annual validated cost savings.
• Labor productivity and manufacturing efficiency.
• Direct labor, waste, and scrap reduction.
• Project completion and ROI.
• Sustainability of implemented improvements.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Industrial Engineering, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Proven success leading cross-functional improvement projects with measurable financial results.
• Experience driving productivity, cost reduction, automation, and process optimization.
• Manufacturing experience required.

Certifications

Required

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent.

Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and/or PMP certification.

Technical Skills

• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (DMAIC), Kaizen, VSM, SMED, 5S, and Standard Work.
• OEE, Line Balancing, Time Studies, Root Cause Analysis, and Project Management.
• Cost analysis, statistical analysis, and process automation.
• Advanced Excel, Power BI (or equivalent), and ERP/manufacturing reporting systems.

Leadership Competencies

• Leadership and influencing skills.
• Strong communication and presentation abilities.
• Cross-functional collaboration and change management.
• Data-driven decision-making and analytical problem solving.
• Self-motivated with a strong execution focus.

Language Requirements

• Fluent English and Spanish (written and verbal).