Industrial Engineer - Continuous Improvement

FreshDirect; New York (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Free employee shuttle service

Employee discount on FreshDirect

Training & leadership development

Tuition discount at local colleges

Medical, Vision, Dental coverage

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

FreshDirect is seeking an Industrial Engineer - Continuous Improvement to analyze and optimize operational processes on the production floor, driving efficiency, quality, and cost reductions. You’ll observe processes, translate data into practical solutions, and influence stakeholders across functions.

This hands-on role requires flexibility for night/weekend work during peak periods and deployments. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Industrial Engineering and 1+ year of relevant

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 1+ year of experience in industrial engineering, continuous improvement, operations, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, or related field.
• Working knowledge of SQL and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to work well with cross-functional teams and influence individuals who are not direct reports.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to work on the production floor, including freezer and chilled environments.
• Comfortable juggling and coordinating multiple projects across several channels.

Responsibilities

• Utilize data analytics, SQL, and modeling techniques to analyze operational, merchandising, forecasting, and other business data to identify opportunities for process optimization, productivity improvement, and cost reduction.
• Spend significant time on the production floor observing processes, identifying inefficiencies, conducting process analysis, and developing data-driven solutions.
• Apply industrial engineering and continuous improvement methodologies to improve capacity, productivity, quality, service, and efficiency.
• Develop and implement scheduling algorithms and methodologies to optimize distribution schedules and operational resources.
• Develop, document, and ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and standard work.
• Support plant, transportation, and cross-functional improvement initiatives, partnering with subject matter experts to identify and resolve process and system issues.
• Lead and drive change management, influencing stakeholders and supporting the adoption and sustainability of new processes and systems.
• Serve as the operations representative for system changes, partnering with technology teams and business stakeholders to ensure solutions meet operational needs.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to quantify and validate process improvements and measure results.
• Manage projects from start to finish, including cost justification, planning, execution, training, implementation, and go-live support.
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving, initiative, observation, and communication skills, with the ability to influence employees and leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Remain flexible and available during critical operational periods and project rollouts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and peak periods as required.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Problem solving

Project juggling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

SQL

Data analytics

WMS

SAP

BI tools

Job description

About Us

At FreshDirect, we are reinventing the grocery experience. Since day one, our mission has been simple: bring the best, freshest food directly from the farm to people’s homes — faster, fresher, and smarter than anyone else. We’re not just a food company. We’re a technology-powered, customer-obsessed team building one of the most innovative end-to-end food supply chains in the industry. From proprietary routing systems to our state-of-the-art fulfillment center, every part of our business is designed to deliver unmatched quality, convenience, and care. We partner directly with farmers, fishermen, and artisans to source the highest quality ingredients — then use smart data, automation, and logistics to deliver them at peak freshness. It’s grocery shopping reimagined — and we’re just getting started. If you’re passionate about innovation, care deeply about what people eat, and want to help build the future of food, we’d love to meet you.

The Role

An Industrial Engineer - Continuous Improvement is responsible for analyzing, optimizing, and enhancing operational processes to improve efficiency, productivity, quality, service, and cost. This role is highly hands‑on, spending significant time on the production floor observing processes, identifying opportunities, analyzing operational data, and implementing sustainable improvements. The ideal candidate is a strong problem solver and change agent who can work across functions, influence stakeholders at all levels, and translate data and observations into practical solutions. This role also requires the flexibility to support project deployments and operational needs outside of a traditional 9-5 schedule, including nights, weekends, holidays, and peak periods.

What You’ll Do

• Utilize data analytics, SQL, and modeling techniques to analyze operational, merchandising, forecasting, and other business data to identify opportunities for process optimization, productivity improvement, and cost reduction.
• Spend significant time on the production floor observing processes, identifying inefficiencies, conducting process analysis, and developing data‑driven solutions.
• Apply industrial engineering and continuous improvement methodologies to improve capacity, productivity, quality, service, and efficiency.
• Develop and implement scheduling algorithms and methodologies to optimize distribution schedules and operational resources.
• Develop, document, and ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and standard work.
• Support plant, transportation, and cross‑functional improvement initiatives, partnering with subject matter experts to identify and resolve process and system issues.
• Lead and drive change management, influencing stakeholders and supporting the adoption and sustainability of new processes and systems.
• Serve as the operations representative for system changes, partnering with technology teams and business stakeholders to ensure solutions meet operational needs.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data to quantify and validate process improvements and measure results.
• Manage projects from start to finish, including cost justification, planning, execution, training, implementation, and go‑live support.
• Demonstrate strong problem‑solving, initiative, observation, and communication skills, with the ability to influence employees and leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Remain flexible and available during critical operational periods and project rollouts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and peak periods as required.

What You’ll Bring

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or a related field.
• 1+ year of experience in industrial engineering, continuous improvement, operations, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, or a related field; relevant internship or co‑op experience will be considered.
• Working knowledge of SQL and data analysis, with the ability to query databases and extract information for analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and critical‑thinking skills, with the ability to approach challenges from multiple perspectives.
• Ability to work well with cross‑functional teams and influence individuals who are not direct reports.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with audiences ranging from front‑line employees to senior executives.
• Comfortable juggling and coordinating multiple projects across several channels simultaneously.
• Enjoy operating in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment under time constraints.
• Willingness to work on the production floor, including freezer and chilled environments, and adapt to operational schedules when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering or a related field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in industrial engineering, continuous improvement, operations, logistics, warehousing, or manufacturing.
• Experience working in a union environment or with automated systems.
• Experience with WMS, SAP, SQL, and data analytics/BI tools.
• Experience with change management, project implementation, and process improvement.
• Experience using AI-powered productivity and analytics tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude) to support process improvement, data analysis, documentation, and workflow automation.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills are a plus.

Our Values at FreshDirect

A Passion for our customers

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We listen, innovate, and act quickly to exceed expectations with every order and interaction.

One team, one mission

Everyone contributes & every role matters. We break silos, lift each other up, and share a relentless focus on delivering results. That way, we win together.

Delivering excellence, every time

We take pride in the quality of our food, service, and the experience we create. Our team goes above and beyond to earn trust and guarantee 100% freshness.

Act with integrity

We operate with honesty, respect, and accountability in how we treat our customers, teammates, and partners. We own our outcomes and always do what’s right, even when no one is watching.

Make fast, bold decisions

We challenge the status quo, embrace technology, and take smart risks to build a better future. At the same time, we stay true to our NYC roots and care for our community.

We love food. Yes, literally all of us.

What You’ll Love About Working Here

• A fast‑paced, innovative environment where ideas turn into action
• Opportunities for growth — many of our leaders have risen through the ranks
• Direct impact on how thousands of customers experience food every day

Salary

$68,000-75,000

Total Rewards & Benefits

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• PTO, Safe & Sick Time, and Paid Holidays
• Medical, Vision, Dental, and Voluntary Disability coverage
• 401(k) with employer match and Life Insurance
• State‑of‑the‑art Bronx campus with on‑site basketball court, cafeteria, and employee market
• Onsite FREE parking
• FREE employee shuttle bus service from nearby Subway station
• Training, leadership development, and tuition discount at local colleges
• 20% employee discount on FreshDirect online orders and Brooklyn wine store
• Minimum 50% employee discount at our onsite employee market
• Mobile phone discounts through partnerships with T-Mobile and Verizon
• Gym membership discounts through NYSC

Our Culture

We embrace an in‑office culture, composed of individuals who thrive on the collaboration and energy that comes from working together in a shared space. We are looking for people who excel in this environment, where physical presence enhances connections and engagement. At FreshDirect, we’ve created an environment that thrives on teamwork, where associates can innovate, grow, and have successful careers. Many of our leaders have successfully come up through our ranks. Because of our team's extraordinary efforts, we are a leading innovator in the e‑commerce and grocery industries.

Equal Opportunity

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Fresh Direct, LLC and its affiliates do not discriminate against applicants or employees because of their race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, marital status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by federal, state, or local law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the Team member(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of individuals in this position. Position expectations may be subject to change as the needs of the organization changes.