Lean Engineer II

Corning Inc.; Concord (NC); On-site; USD 86,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses & incentives

Company-paid pension

Health benefits

Recognition program

Job summary

Corning is seeking a Lean Engineer for the Concord, NC manufacturing facility to drive foundational and transformational Lean initiatives. You will partner with Operations, Engineering, and Finance to improve Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery through hands-on facilitation and structured problem solving.

Responsibilities include planning Kaizen events, tracking savings, and coordinating value stream maps with leadership to deploy actions across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; Industrial Engineering strongly preferred.
• 2+ years in Lean engineering, manufacturing, or related tech.
• Knowledge of manufacturing methods, plant operations, and 24/7 environments.
• Proficiency with MS Office; able to analyze and visualize data.
• Experience with SQL, Python, Power BI, AutoCAD/Inventor, SAP or similar tools.
• Lean/Six Sigma, DMAIC, A3, PDCA tools; Green Belt or higher.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe work environment and promote safe practices.
• Plan and facilitate 3-4 Kaizen events per year with value stream mapping, Kanban, SMED, 6S.
• Track cost savings, capacity, and cycle-time improvements; document benefits.
• Own current/future state Value Stream Maps and report to leadership.
• Plan workplace flow and layout improvements; analyze equipment changes.
• Collaborate with plant engineering to apply DMAIC/PDCA for root-cause actions.

Skills

Lean principles

Data analysis

Communication

Project coordination

MS Excel

SQL

Python

Power BI

Workflow optimization

DMAIC/PDCA

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD/Inventor

SAP

Relational databases

FlexSim/SIMUL8 or SimEvents

Job description

The company built on breakthroughs.
Join us.

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations– not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company,and the world, forward.

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Come break through with us.

Our Optical Communications segment has recently evolved from being a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable, hardware and equipment to being a comprehensive provider of industry‑leading optical solutions across the broader communications industry. This segment is classified into two main product groupings – carrier network and enterprise network. The carrier network product group consists primarily of products and solutions for optical‑based communications infrastructure for services such as video, data and voice communications. The enterprise network product group consists primarily of optical‑based communication networks sold to businesses, governments and individuals for their own use.

Role Purpose

Corning is seeking a Lean Engineer to drive foundational and transformational Lean competencies across our Concord, NC manufacturing facility. This role partners with Operations, Engineering, and Finance to improve plant performance in Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery through hands‑on facilitation, structured problem‑solving, and a focus on building a sustainable Lean culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and promote a safe work environment; proactively observe safe practices, report unsafe conditions, and participate in corrective actions
• Plan and facilitate 3-4 Kaizen events per year -- including Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, SMED, and 6S workshops -- with defined agendas, deliverables, and leadership reporting; own post‑event follow‑through to ensure actions are deployed across the site
• Track and quantify cost savings, capacity improvements, and cycle‑time reductions from Lean initiatives; work with plant and finance resources to realize and document measurable business benefits
• Own current‑state and future‑state Value Stream Maps; coordinate routine reviews with plant leadership and connect identified opportunities to the cost reduction and improvement portfolio
• Plan and implement workplace flow and layout improvements; analyze equipment installations, workstation changes, and modifications in alignment with Lean principles and ergonomic considerations
• Partner with plant engineering to apply DMAIC, PDCA, and structured problem‑solving methods to drive root cause understanding and implement valid, sustainable corrective actions

Additional Information

• Location: Concord, NC
• Hours of work: 8 hours/day; 40 hours/week
• Travel: Upto 10%

Experiences/Education - Required

• Bachelor's degree; Industrial Engineering degree strongly preferred
• 2+ years of experience in Lean Engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related technical environment
• Knowledge of manufacturing methods, production processes, plant operations, and project execution in a 24/7 manufacturing environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with demonstrated ability to analyze, visualize, and communicate data effectively
• Experience with SQL, Python, Power BI, AutoCAD/Inventor, SAP, relational databases, or discrete event simulation tools (FlexSim, SIMUL8, or SimEvents)
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC, A3, and PDCA tools
• Lean or Six Sigma Green Belt certification or higher

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $86,197.00-$118,521.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job‑related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

A job that shapes a life.

Corning offers you the total package.

Your well‑being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

• Company‑wide bonuses and long‑term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
• As part of our commitment to your financial well‑being, we provide a 100% company‑paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
• Our health and well‑being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company‑paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.
• Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [e-mail] .

Nearest Major Market: Charlotte
Nearest Secondary Market: Concord