Continuous Improvement Engineer

Socket.dev; Kentucky; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical, dental & vision insurance

Company-paid life insurance

Short-term & long-term disability

401(k)

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development opportunities

Quarterly bonus program

Job summary

Abrasive Technology is seeking a motivated Continuous Improvement Engineer to partner with Operations leadership in driving Lean Manufacturing and capability optimization across our manufacturing operations. You will lead Kaizen events, analyze data, and implement practical improvements to safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to sustain improvements and support future

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a manufacturing environment and collaborate across functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Kaizen events and cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving and root cause analysis activities.
• Identify and eliminate waste and non-value-added activities throughout manufacturing operations.
• Analyze processes, workflows, capacity utilization, and operational performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Monitor and optimize available capacity across people, equipment, production, materials, and processes to support customer demand and business objectives.
• Identify bottlenecks, constraints, and resource imbalances impacting operational performance.
• Implement practical solutions that improve throughput, productivity, efficiency, flexibility, and overall manufacturing capability.
• Support implementation of Lean tools including 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, and Value Stream Mapping.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to drive sustainable improvements.
• Develop operational metrics, track improvement efforts, and communicate results to leadership.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives that improve operational performance and support future business growth.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Operational Excellence

Continuous Improvement

Analytical

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Manufacturing/Engineering

Tools

5S

Value Stream Mapping

Standard Work

Job description

Join a Team Focused on Growth, Innovation, and Operational Excellence

At Abrasive Technology, we are committed to continuous improvement in everything we do. We are seeking a motivated, action-oriented Continuous Improvement Engineer to partner with Operations leadership in driving Lean Manufacturing, operational excellence, and capability optimization across our manufacturing operations. This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance while developing the skills and experience needed for future operational leadership roles. We're looking for someone who brings enthusiasm for continuous improvement, thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, and is excited to build upon and accelerate the operational excellence initiatives already underway across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support Kaizen events and cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving and root cause analysis activities.
• Identify and eliminate waste and non-value-added activities throughout manufacturing operations.
• Analyze processes, workflows, capacity utilization, and operational performance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Monitor and optimize available capacity across people, equipment, production, materials, and processes to support customer demand and business objectives.
• Identify bottlenecks, constraints, and resource imbalances impacting operational performance.
• Implement practical solutions that improve throughput, productivity, efficiency, flexibility, and overall manufacturing capability.
• Support implementation of Lean tools including 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, and Value Stream Mapping.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to drive sustainable improvements.
• Develop operational metrics, track improvement efforts, and communicate results to leadership.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives that improve operational performance and support future business growth.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a manufacturing environment and collaborate across functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• 0-5 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, operations, or continuous improvement.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Internship, co-op, military, project leadership, or other experiences demonstrating initiative and leadership potential.

What We’re Looking For

We're seeking an action-oriented individual who is energized by continuous improvement, enjoys solving problems, and wants to play a meaningful role in advancing the operational excellence journey already in progress across our manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate is driven by results, enthusiastic about finding better ways to work, and passionate about supporting the continuous improvement initiatives that are helping shape the future of our organization. They are a strong communicator who builds relationships, influences others, and drives accountability while remaining comfortable working directly with associates on the manufacturing floor. Curious, analytical, and eager to make a visible impact, this individual thrives on solving operational challenges and is motivated by the opportunity to develop into a future manufacturing or operations leader.

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Company-matched 401(k)
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• Quarterly bonus opportunity of up to 3% of wages earned during the quarter, based on achievement of company performance goals
• Opportunity to work directly with senior operational leaders
• Visible impact on business performance and growth

Access to our Aerospace facility (and, therefore, employment) is restricted under ITAR/EAR regulations to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, and properly licensed foreign persons.

For aerospace-related positions, drug testing is conducted in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines. These guidelines require testing for the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines.

Abrasive Technology is a substance and drug‑free workplace. Employment offers are contingent upon passing a pre‑employment drug screen. Abrasive Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer.