Operational Excellence Engineer: Lean & Process Improvement

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 69,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan with employer

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Flexible time-off or vacation

Mindfulness programs

Job summary

GRAIL is seeking an Engineer, Operational Excellence to advance continuous improvement across our sequencing-based cancer screening operations. You will bridge data, process, and operations to boost efficiency, quality, and scalability in laboratory workflows at our Durham, NC site.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and SPC/QC methods, strong data analytics skills with Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, and Power BI, and a proven ability to work

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in process engineering, operations, or continuous improvement roles, ideally in biotech, diagnostics, or manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies (certification a plus).
• Experience with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, Power BI).
• Familiarity with SPC/QC tools and statistical analysis techniques.
• Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across teams.

Responsibilities

• Operational Data & Reporting: Support generation and automation of KPI reporting, ensuring data integrity and usability.
• Process Analysis & Monitoring: Perform data exploration and statistical analysis to identify trends, variation, and potential process deviations.
• Continuous Improvement Execution: Execute and support Lean initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen events, and Six Sigma projects.
• Issue Tracking & Prioritization Support: Capture and document operational issues, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Software, and Product teams to implement process improvements.

Skills

Lean methodologies

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Data analysis

Data visualization tools

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Industrial Engineering, or related field

Tools

Excel

SQL

Python

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

GRAIL is seeking an Engineer, Operational Excellence to advance continuous improvement across our sequencing-based cancer screening operations. You will bridge data, process, and operations to boost efficiency, quality, and scalability in laboratory workflows at our Durham, NC site.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and SPC/QC methods, strong data analytics skills with Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, and Power BI, and a proven ability to work