Operational Excellence Engineer — Lean & Kaizen Lead

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

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.