Operational Excellence Engineer

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in the United States is seeking a Manufacturing Improvement Engineer to own and manage the performance of assigned production processes and value streams. You will develop and maintain value stream maps to identify waste, lead Kaizen events, and drive continuous improvement initiatives through Lean, Six Sigma, and problem solving across multiple sites.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and 5–10 years of experience in manufacturing or operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 5–10 years of manufacturing, engineering, or operational excellence experience.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, or related methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage performance of assigned manufacturing processes and value streams.
• Develop and maintain value stream maps to identify waste and improvement opportunities.
• Lead Kaizen events, continuous improvement initiatives, and problem-solving activities.
• Deploy Lean tools such as 5S, standard work, and visual management systems.
• Define, update, and standardize SOPs, work instructions, and process documentation.
• Develop and execute improvement roadmaps aligned with business priorities.
• Track and communicate operational KPIs and financial impact of improvements.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Quality to ensure manufacturability and compliance.
• Support facility layout optimization and workflow improvements.
• Drive standardization of best practices across multiple sites.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and manufacturing innovations.
• Conduct site visits to assess performance and support implementation efforts.
• Participate in benchmarking, supplier visits, and industry events to identify best practices.

Skills

Lean Methodologies

Six Sigma

Value Stream Mapping

Kaizen Leadership

Process Standardization

Cross-Functional Project Leadership

Organizational Change Management

Stakeholder Influence

Collaboration

Problem-Solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

5S

Visual Management Systems

Standard Work

Process Documentation

Job description

• Own and manage performance of assigned manufacturing processes and value streams
• Develop and maintain value stream maps to identify waste and improvement opportunities
• Lead Kaizen events, continuous improvement initiatives, and problem-solving activities
• Deploy Lean tools such as 5S, standard work, and visual management systems
• Define, update, and standardize SOPs, work instructions, and process documentation
• Develop and execute improvement roadmaps aligned with business priorities
• Track and communicate operational KPIs and financial impact of improvements
• Collaborate with Engineering and Quality to ensure manufacturability and compliance
• Support facility layout optimization and workflow improvements
• Drive standardization of best practices across multiple sites
• Evaluate emerging technologies and manufacturing innovations
• Conduct site visits to assess performance and support implementation efforts
• Participate in benchmarking, supplier visits, and industry events to identify best practices

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering
• 5–10 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or operational excellence roles
• Proven experience leading cross‑functional projects and influencing stakeholders without direct authority
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, or related methodologies
• Experience driving organizational change and process standardization
• Experience in transformer or heavy manufacturing environments preferred
• Multisite experience preferred
• Fluency in English required; French or Spanish a plus

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Lean methodologies, Six Sigma, and Value Stream Mapping to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence in manufacturing processes. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, standardize processes, and optimize workflows across multiple sites.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Lean Methodologies
• Six Sigma
• Value Stream Mapping
• Kaizen Leadership
• Process Standardization

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Value Stream Mapping
• Lean Tools
• Continuous Improvement
• Operational KPIs
• SOP Development
• Process Documentation
• Workflow Optimization
• Emerging Technologies Evaluation
• Cross-Functional Project Leadership
• Organizational Change Management

Soft Skills

• Stakeholder Influence
• Collaboration
• Problem-Solving
• Communication

Industry Keywords

• Manufacturing Engineering
• Operational Excellence
• Transformer Manufacturing
• Heavy Manufacturing
• Multisite Experience

Tools & Technologies

• 5S
• Visual Management Systems
• Standard Work