Early Career Leadership Development Program – Plant Operations Management

Eaton; Jackson (MI); On-site; USD 82,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton Corporation is seeking high-potential graduates for its Early Career Leadership Development Program in Plant Operations Management. This full-time program places you at diverse Eaton sites across the United States to drive real-world improvements.

You will lead plant-level projects, analyze data, mentor hourly teams, and contribute to cross-functional initiatives that improve quality, lead times, and cost savings while building your leadership toolkit for future roles at Eaton.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution.
• Graduation date before August 2027.
• Minimum of internship/co-op experience or 3 months manufacturing experience.
• Data analysis and data-driven decision making, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement expertise, frontline leadership and team guidance, root cause analysis methods, and strong cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Drive process optimization by leading plant-level projects to improve quality, reduce lead times, and achieve cost savings.
• Analyze operational data, solve complex problems, and make data-driven decisions with measurable results.
• Develop frontline leadership by guiding hourly manufacturing teams and fostering a high-performing, collaborative environment.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives for new product introduction, manufacturing readiness, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure safe, efficient operations through hands-on problem solving and daily management systems, strengthening change leadership.

Skills

Data analysis

Lean manufacturing

Frontline leadership

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Early Career Leadership Development Program: Plant Operations Management | Eaton

The Tone:

This is a full-time Early Career Leadership Development Program role at Eaton, located across various endorsed Eaton sites within the United States. Eaton is a global intelligent power management company solving some of the toughest challenges on the planet. This program offers an exciting opportunity to make an impact, drive innovation, and shape the future of the company by taking on significant assignments and gaining diverse experiences that define and advance your career goals.

The TL;DR

• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Various Eaton sites across the United States
• Pay: $82,000–$90,000 yearly
• Mission: Lead plant-level projects focused on process optimization, quality improvement, cost savings, and exceptional customer value.

What You’ll Actually Do

• Drive Process Optimization: Lead plant-level projects focused on process optimization, improving quality, reducing lead times, and achieving cost savings.
• Analyze Data and Solve Problems: Apply critical thinking to analyze operational data, solve complex problems, and make informed decisions that deliver measurable results.
• Develop Frontline Leadership: Cultivate leadership skills by supporting and guiding hourly manufacturing teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Lead Cross-Functional Initiatives: Contribute to new product introduction, manufacturing readiness, and continuous improvement efforts, applying program and change management principles.
• Ensure Operational Efficiency: Engage in hands-on problem solving and daily management systems to enable safe, efficient operations and strengthen influence and change leadership capabilities.

The Must-Haves

• Background: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution, with a graduation date before August 2027.
• Experience: Minimum of one internship/co-op experience or an equivalent of 3 months of manufacturing experience.
• Skills: Data analysis and data-driven decision making, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement expertise, frontline leadership and team guidance, root cause analysis methods, and strong cross-functional collaboration.
• Bonus: Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Industrial and/or Mechanical Engineering, an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, interest or previous experience in manufacturing, and basic business and financial understanding.