Operational Excellence Engineer – Lean & CI

The L.S. Starrett Company; Athol (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The L.S. Starrett Company is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineer to lead Lean initiatives across manufacturing operations.

You will drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity improvements through data-driven problem solving and hands-on coaching. You will partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance to standardize processes, implement Kaizen events, and develop visual management and 5S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, Quality, or Engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, Toyota Production System, Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Standardized Work, Root Cause Analysis.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent communication, coaching and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to improve safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing principles and structured problem solving.
• Analyze manufacturing processes and performance metrics to identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and process improvement activities.
• Develop and implement standardized work, visual management, 5S, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Support manufacturing teams with process optimization, layout improvements, and workflow efficiency.
• Train and coach employees on Lean tools and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Monitor key performance indicators and track project results to ensure sustained improvements.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance to implement improvement initiatives.
• Promote a culture of employee involvement, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Kaizen

Value Stream Mapping

5S

Standardized Work

Root Cause Analysis

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Communication

Project Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The L.S. Starrett Company is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineer to lead Lean initiatives across manufacturing operations.

You will drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity improvements through data-driven problem solving and hands-on coaching. You will partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance to standardize processes, implement Kaizen events, and develop visual management and 5S.