Lean Engineer

Vestas; Windsor, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits program

Paid time off (PTO)

Annual bonus

Training program

Job summary

Vestas Windsor Blades Factory seeks a Lean Engineer to drive improvements across production lines using VSM, takt, kanban, and standard work. You will lead kaizen events, perform time studies, and help design efficient processes with a focus on safety, quality, and cost reduction.

Candidates should have a Bachelor's in engineering, 3–5+ years in Lean, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher. Responsibilities include coordinating with HQ, supporting NPI, and mentoring operators to sustain

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering, Operations, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 3-5+ years of experience in Lean, continuous improvement, or manufacturing engineering.
• Strong knowledge of Lean tools (VSM, takt, kanban, 5S, kaizen, SMED, standard work).
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) strongly preferred; demonstrated application of Six Sigma tools to reduce variation and improve process capability.
• Experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, and structured problem solving.
• Proficiency in data analysis, time studies, and capacity modeling.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive change in a production environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills; CAD experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Apply Lean tools (VSM, 5-Why, 8D, SMED, standard work) to stabilize and improve production processes.
• Communicate process changes and improvement outcomes clearly to operators, technicians, and leadership.
• Maintain accurate documentation, KPIs, and Daily Management System data.
• Work on the factory floor as needed to support improvement activities and coaching.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Influence without authority

Time studies

CAD

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering

Tools

PFMEA

Control Plans

VSM

CAD

Excel

MS Office

Job description

At Vestas, we are driven by a shared purpose: to power the world with sustainable energy. As the global leader in wind energy, we design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines that help create a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Join our Windsor Blades Factory, where innovation, quality, and teamwork come together to produce some of the world's most advanced wind turbine blades.

What Does a Lean Engineer Do?

• Drive factory improvements by conducting Lean assessments and implementing targeted improvement actions.
• Maintain adherence to the Daily Management System, including leader standard work, visual KPI boards, and escalation rules.
• Engineer flow and process stability by Value Stream Mapping (VSM), setting takt time, performing line balancing, and designing kanban systems. Analyze processes to identify waste, variation, and bottlenecks; implement solutions that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people performance.
• Facilitate kaizen events, 5S activities, and structured problem-solving workshops.
• Support PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) development and alignment with Control Plans, PWIs, testing, tooling RFPs, worker balance, and process capability.
• Support NPI and ramp-up activities to achieve stable serial production.
• Collaborate with HQ and cross-functional teams to support NPI/TT (Technology Transfer) deliverables and readiness.
• Foster sharing of best practices across factories to strengthen global standardization.
• Conduct time studies, capacity analysis, and labor/equipment utilization reviews.
• Implement poka-yoke, confirmations, layered audits, and other first-time-right quality controls.
• Ensure compliance with QBD (Quality Before Delivery), ECM (Engineering Change Management), ToCI (Transfer of Component Information), and revision-controlled documentation.
• Participate in improvement projects, capacity expansions, and layout optimization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

• Apply Lean tools (VSM, 5-Why, 8D, SMED, standard work) to stabilize and improve production processes.
• Communicate process changes and improvement outcomes clearly to operators, technicians, and leadership.
• Maintain accurate documentation, KPIs, and Daily Management System data.
• Work on the factory floor as needed to support improvement activities and coaching.

What You Will Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering, Operations, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 3-5+ years of experience in Lean, continuous improvement, or manufacturing engineering.
• Strong knowledge of Lean tools (VSM, takt, kanban, 5S, kaizen, SMED, standard work).
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) strongly preferred; demonstrated application of Six Sigma tools to reduce variation and improve process capability.
• Experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, and structured problem solving.
• Proficiency in data analysis, time studies, and capacity modeling.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive change in a production environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills; CAD experience preferred.

What You Will Receive:

We offer an attractive salary and one of the most comprehensive benefits plans in the industry, including:

• Benefits coverage within your first month
• State-of-the-art Training Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Annual bonus

Job Type: Full-time

Salary range: $75,000 - $100,000 a year.

Our commitment to a fair hiring

At Vestas, we evaluate all candidates solely based on their professional experience, education, and relevant skills. To support a fair recruitment process, we kindly ask that you remove any photos, dates of birth or graduation, gender pronouns, marital status, or other personal information not relevant to the role before submitting your CV/resume. Your CV/resume should focus on your professional and educational background, along with the necessary contact details (email and phone number). We train our hiring teams in inclusive evaluation and regularly review process outcomes to ensure fairness.

DEIB Statement

At Vestas, we recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who may hesitate due to their identity or feel they do not meet every criterion. As our CEO states, "Expertise and talent come in many forms, and a diverse workforce enhances our ability to think differently and solve the complex challenges of our industry". Your unique perspective is what will help us powering the solution for a sustainable, green energy future.

About Vestas

Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We are specialised in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wind turbines, both onshore and offshore. Across the globe, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. We consider ourselves pioneers within the industry, as we continuously aim to design new solutions and technologies to create a more sustainable future for all of us. With more than 200 GW of wind power installed worldwide and 40+ years of experience in wind energy, we have an unmatched track record demonstrating our expertise within the field. With 39,000 employees globally, we are a diverse team united by a common goal: to power the solution - today, tomorrow, and far into the future. Vestas promotes a diverse workforce which embraces all social identities and is free of any discrimination. We commit to create and sustain an environment that acknowledges and harvests different experiences, skills, and perspectives. We also aim to give everyone equal access to opportunity. To learn more about our company and life at Vestas, we invite you to visit our website at www.vestas.com and follow us on our social media channels. We also encourage you to join our Talent Universe to receive notifications on new and relevant postings.