Manufacturing & Process Improvement Engineer

Sun Recruiting, Inc.; Decorah (IA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Recruiting, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing/Process Engineer in Decorah, Iowa to support and improve production processes. The role emphasizes process stability, continuous improvement, and capital project support in collaboration with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and 4–7 years of hands-on manufacturing experience, with strong problem-solving and Lean/Six Sigma capabilities. Travel up to 15% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, or related field) required.
• 4–7 years of hands-on manufacturing or process engineering experience in a production environment.
• Experience in lean manufacturing.
• Experience with capital projects.
• Strong skills in process capability, cycle time analysis, scrap reduction, and efficiency metrics.
• Proven experience developing and maintaining detailed work instructions and standard work.
• Experience supporting capital equipment installation, commissioning, and process validation.
• Hands-on with production teams and advanced problem-solving with root cause methodologies.
• Ability to travel up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Support daily manufacturing operations by monitoring process performance and responding to process issues.
• Develop, document, and maintain work instructions, process flows, routings, and standard work.
• Analyze production data (scrap, rework, cycle time, downtime) to identify process improvement opportunities.
• Implement process changes to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and throughput.
• Support new product or process introductions by assisting with process setup, trials, and documentation.
• Drive and actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives by applying Lean, Six Sigma, and related methodologies.
• Lead root cause analysis efforts and implement corrective and preventive actions to address process issues.
• Proactively identify and eliminate waste, reduce scrap, minimize labor inefficiencies, and lower material costs.
• Champion kaizen events and consistently monitor improvement metrics and results.
• Sustain process improvements by updating documentation and conducting operator training sessions.
• Lead capital project initiatives by overseeing all phases, including equipment selection, justification, installation, and startup, to enhance operational capabilities and support business objectives.
• Develop and support capital requests by preparing ROI analyses and technical specifications that align with organizational goals and cost reduction strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration with vendors, Maintenance, and Operations teams to ensure seamless equipment installation and successful commissioning.
• Support process validation, capability studies, and acceptance testing for new or modified equipment to ensure compliance with quality, safety, and performance standards.
• Maintain and update documentation, standard work, and process instructions to reflect changes following capital project implementation, ensuring sustained improvements and knowledge transfer.
• Proactively support manufacturing processes by ensuring alignment with internal quality systems and customer requirements, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Take initiative in assisting with non-conformance investigations and implementing corrective actions to maintain high standards of product quality and compliance.
• Integrate safety, ergonomics, and risk mitigation strategies into process design and improvement efforts, fostering a safe and efficient work environment.
• Actively support internal audits and documentation reviews, contributing to sustained compliance and process reliability.
• Champion a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement throughout the shop floor to consistently achieve business objectives.]
• CoT_job_summary_short:

Skills

Problem solving

Root cause analysis

Communication

Lean manufacturing

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, or related field)

Job description

Sun Recruiting, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing/Process Engineer in Decorah, Iowa to support and improve production processes. The role emphasizes process stability, continuous improvement, and capital project support in collaboration with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and 4–7 years of hands-on manufacturing experience, with strong problem-solving and Lean/Six Sigma capabilities. Travel up to 15% may be required.