Continuous Improvement Engineer

Rangen LLC; Saint Joseph (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Continuous Improvement Engineer at Rangen Group drives operational excellence across our feed production facilities in the United States. You will partner with plant and senior leadership, operators, and cross‑functional teams to identify waste and standardize best practices using data‑driven Lean methods.

This role requires on‑floor presence, kaizen leadership, and the ability to analyze downtime, scrap, and throughput data while delivering cost savings and sustained improvements across

Qualifications

• Lean and data‑driven problem‑solving experience.
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Comfort on the production floor with operators and supervisors.
• Willingness to travel up to 50–75%.

Responsibilities

• Spend significant time on the production floor engaging operators and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Conduct time studies, process mapping, and bottleneck analysis across feed manufacturing processes.
• Lead and facilitate kaizen events focused on SMED, waste elimination, material flow, and equipment reliability.
• Drive improvements in throughput, labor utilization, equipment uptime and cost performance.
• Support implementation and follow‑up on daily SQDCP boards.
• Identify top SQDCP gaps and convert them into structured CI projects using PDCA, A3s, and root cause analysis.
• Travel to support multi‑site improvement initiatives.
• Document processes and support standardization efforts.

Skills

Lean methodology

Data-driven problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Production floor experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or manufacturing engineering

Tools

ERP/MES familiarity

Job description

Description

Why Join the Rangen Group?

As a newly formed independent global company with a 100-year legacy, we are poised for significant growth and opportunity. You will play a role in shaping our future, strengthening customer trust, and unlocking unlimited growth potential. We are a safety-first organization, and we make our customers and employees priority.

The formal job description is below but first let me ask you a few questions:

• Are you looking to build your career with a rapidly growing pet, livestock & aquaculture nutrient manufacturer where your ideas and contributions can make a real impact from day one? We are a proud American Manufacturer.
• Do you want endless growth opportunities, clear career pathways, and the chance to advance as the company continues to expand? We offer attractive market wages and top tier benefits!
• Are you excited by joining a business on a fast track to becoming an employer of choice, where innovation and ambition are encouraged?
• Would you value working in an environment where passion for quality products, and continuous improvement drive everything we do?
• Are you ready to be part of a dynamic team? In this role, you will have full access and exposure to senior and executive leadership!

Position Summary:

The Continuous Improvement Engineer is responsible for driving operational excellence across Rangen Group’s feed production facilities by improving safety, quality, throughput, and manufacturing efficiency. This role partners with plant & senior leadership, operators, and cross-functional teams to identify waste, stabilize processes, and standardize best practices using data-driven problem solving and Lean methodologies. The role serves as a facilitator and coach—enabling teams to solve problems, sustain improvements, and strengthen Rangen’s culture of continuous improvement across livestock, pet, and aquaculture feed operations.

Requirements

What You'll Do:

• Spend significant time on the production floor engaging operators and identifying improvement opportunities at the source
• Participate in daily Gemba walks with plant leadership to assess SQDCP performance and drive immediate countermeasures
• Model Lean behaviors and drive cultural adoption through hands‑on presence, enthusiasm, and coaching
• Lead and facilitate kaizen events focused on SMED, waste elimination, material flow, and equipment reliability
• Reinforce and support 5S, Standard Work, Problem Solving, Leader Standard Work, and Daily Management routines
• Conduct time studies, process mapping, and bottleneck analysis across feed manufacturing processes
• Drive improvements in throughput, labor utilization, equipment uptime and cost performance
• Support implementation and follow‑up on daily SQDCP boards
• Identify top SQDCP gaps and convert them into structured CI projects using PDCA, A3s, and root cause analysis
• Integrate safety and feed quality into all improvement activities
• Support Quality Engineering, CAPA, and deviation investigations
• Analyze production data including downtime, scrap trends, production variance, and throughput performance
• Track CI actions, verify cost savings, maintain accurate project documentation
• Facilitate CI workshops, process improvement events, and on‑site operator training sessions
• Participate periodically in cross‑plant kaizens and best practices sharing
• Serve as a local technical resource for feed manufacturing processes
• Document processes and support standardization efforts
• Travel to support multi‑site improvement initiatives
• Other role responsibilities and projects assigned

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering or equivalent experience
• Lean and data‑driven problem‑solving experience
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Comfort working on the production floor with operators and supervisors
• Willingness to travel up to 50–70%
• Comfort working on the production floor with operators and supervisors
• Travel required up to 75% in the beginning, will get to a 50% level

What Makes You a Great Fit:

• Feed manufacturing or industrial operations experience
• Lean certification preferred
• ERP/MES familiarity
• Servant‑leader mindset and strong coaching ability
• Advanced analytical skills: ability to collect and analyze data and problem‑solve
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite Products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, etc.)