Continuous Improvement Leader

Excelitas Technologies Corp.; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Excelitas Technologies Corp. is seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader in Boulder, CO to drive Lean manufacturing initiatives, optimize quality and efficiency, and lead Kaizen events across functions.

The role requires strong data analysis, problem solving, and change-management skills in a regulated manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will mentor leaders, manage an A3 project portfolio, and develop dashboards using Power BI/Tableau, delivering measurable improvements and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Business, or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years in continuous improvement, operational excellence, Lean manufacturing, quality, or process improvements.
• Data-driven decision making with metrics and dashboards.
• Experience leading structured problem solving (A3, PDCA, 5 Why, RCA).
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or equivalent preferred.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI/Tableau) preferred.
• Experience facilitating Kaizen events and value stream mapping preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Continuous Improvement program to improve quality, productivity, efficiency, cost, and performance.
• Serve as site SME for Lean, 6S, problem solving; drive standardization and cultural adoption.
• Own 6S program standards, audits, scoring, corrective actions, and sustainment.
• Develop and analyze operational metrics, dashboards, yield data, CoPQ, and KPIs.
• Identify systemic issues via data analysis and collaboration with business leaders.
• Lead structured problem solving using A3, PDCA, Root Cause Analysis, Lean tools.
• Manage A3 project portfolio, prioritization, tracking, and action verification.
• Drive Kaizen events and cross-functional process improvements from concept to sustainment.
• Map processes, conduct value stream analysis, identify waste and bottlenecks.
• Establish governance for CI activities and leadership reporting.
• Support new systems, reporting tools, automation, and change initiatives.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decisions.
• Coach leaders and employees on Lean principles and problem solving.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

A3

PDCA

Root Cause Analysis

Data analysis

Power BI

Tableau

Minitab

Kaizen events

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Quality/Manufacturing

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Minitab

Job description

ENABLE your future through light.

Excelitas is a global technology leader with more than 7,500 employees, focused on delivering market-driven solutions to fulfill the illumination, optical, detection and imaging needs of OEMs and end-users across the biomedical, semiconductor, industrial, consumer products, scientific, security, defense and aerospace sectors.

ENGAGE with us today and make your contribution to the future! Join the team that leading technology companies turn to for cutting-edge photonic innovation. At Excelitas Technologies you are how we EXCEL.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader who is passionate about technical manufacturing, focused on the customer, and willing to participate in a variety of challenging projects while quickly learning our products and processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the organization's Continuous Improvement program by identifying, prioritizing, and driving initiatives that improve quality, productivity, efficiency, cost, and overall operational performance.
• Serve as the site subject matter expert for Lean Manufacturing, 6S, and structured problem solving, driving adoption, standardization, sustainment, and continuous maturity of operational excellence practices.
• Own the site's 6S program, including standards, audit processes, scoring methodologies, corrective actions, reporting, and continuous improvement of the program to ensure long-term effectiveness and cultural adoption.
• Develop, maintain, and analyze operational metrics, performance dashboards, yield data, Cost of Poor Quality (CoPQ), and other key business indicators to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Proactively identify systemic issues and strategic improvement opportunities through data analysis, operational assessments, and collaboration with business leaders.
• Lead and facilitate structured problem-solving efforts using methodologies such as A3, PDCA, Root Cause Analysis, and Lean tools to address complex operational challenges and drive sustainable results.
• Manage the organization's A3 project portfolio, including project prioritization, status tracking, action item management, barrier escalation, and verification of sustained results.
• Drive accountability for improvement commitments by routinely following up with project owners, monitoring progress against milestones, and ensuring timely completion of agreed-upon actions.
• Lead Kaizen events, process improvement initiatives, and cross-functional projects from concept through implementation, effectiveness verification, and long-term sustainment.
• Facilitate process mapping, value stream analysis, and workflow assessments to identify waste, bottlenecks, variation, risk, and opportunities for simplification and standardization.
• Establish and maintain governance processes for continuous improvement activities, including project reviews, action tracking, effectiveness monitoring, and leadership reporting.
• Support implementation of new business systems, reporting tools, automation solutions, and organizational change initiatives that improve operational performance and business effectiveness.
• Partner with leaders across the organization to build a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, ownership, and data-driven decision making.
• Coach and mentor leaders, supervisors, and employees on Lean principles, performance metrics, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Business, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience leading continuous improvement, operational excellence, Lean manufacturing, quality, or process improvement initiatives in a manufacturing or operational environment.
• Demonstrated success using data analysis, metrics, and performance dashboards to identify opportunities, drive decisions, and deliver measurable business improvements.
• Strong experience leading structured problem-solving efforts utilizing methodologies such as A3, PDCA, 5 Why, Root Cause Analysis, or similar approaches.
• Experience driving organizational change and influencing cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Proven ability to independently identify problems, prioritize opportunities, develop improvement plans, and drive initiatives to completion with minimal direction.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent Lean certification preferred.
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, Minitab, or similar data visualization and statistical analysis tools preferred.
• Experience facilitating Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and process improvement workshops preferred.
• Experience implementing and sustaining 6S, Lean Manufacturing, and Operational Excellence programs preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing in a regulated industry preferred.

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $120,000 - $135,000.

Please note:

• This position requires the use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
• Visa sponsorship is not available for any position at Excelitas

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Minorities/Females/Disability/Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation

Excelitas is seeking leaders and innovators to join our global team!

Visit: https://jobs.excelitas.com/