Operational Excellence Principal Engineer

Cambrex Corp.; Charles City (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambrex is seeking a Principal Engineer, Operational Excellence to lead high-impact improvements across manufacturing and support functions in a regulated pharmaceutical environment. You will apply Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven problem solving to remove constraints, optimize performance, and deliver measurable business results.

The role partners with cross-functional teams to improve process robustness, equipment utilization, and efficiency, while guiding DMAIC/Kaizen initiatives and

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence systems.
• Strong chemical engineering fundamentals and the ability to apply them in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional improvement initiatives with measurable results.
• Understanding of process capability, variation reduction, bottleneck management, and waste elimination.
• Strong project leadership, facilitation, coaching, and change-management skills.
• Financial acumen and the ability to quantify, communicate, and validate business impact.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop improvements that release incremental capacity from existing assets, systems, workflows, and labor resources.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to improve process robustness, equipment utilization, reliability, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Apply statistical analysis, root-cause analysis, FMEA, process capability analysis, regression, and Design of Experiments to complex operational problems.
• Analyze process flow, chemistry, variability, constraints, and resource utilization to improve manufacturing predictability and performance.
• Lead DMAIC, PDCA, Kaizen, and other structured problem-solving efforts.
• Evaluate automation, digital, and emerging technology opportunities that simplify work and improve operational visibility or control.
• Support process transfers, scale-up, capital projects, technology implementation, and operational readiness activities.
• Establish baselines, define success measures, and validate realized savings and operational benefits with process owners and Finance.
• Mentor Lean Six Sigma practitioners, and cross-functional project teams to strengthen site capability.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Operational excellence

Chemical engineering fundamentals

Cross-functional leadership

Project leadership

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher

Job description

Company Information

You Matter to Cambrex.

Cambrex is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides drug substance development and manufacturing across the entire drug lifecycle, as well as comprehensive analytical and IND enabling services.

With over 40 years of experience and a team of 2,000 experts servicing global clients from North America and Europe, Cambrex offers a range of specialized drug substance technologies and capabilities, including continuous flow, controlled substances, liquid-phase peptide synthesis, solid-state science, material characterization, and highly potent APIs.

Your Work Matters.

At Cambrex, we strive to build a culture where all colleagues have the opportunity to:

• engage in work that matters to our customers and the patients they serve
• learn new skills and enjoy new experiences in an engaging and safe environment
• strengthen connections with coworkers and the community

We’re committed to attracting and nurturing a passionate team of valued professionals in our fast-paced and growing company. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes healthcare, life insurance, planning for retirement, and more!

Your Future Matters.

Known for our customer-focused scientific and manufacturing excellence, as well as our strong commitment to quality and safety, we offer a range of career and growth opportunities across our global network of locations. Together with our customers, we aim to improve the quality of life for patients around the world.

Job Overview

The Principal Engineer, Operational Excellence is a senior technical improvement leader responsible for identifying, leading, and sustaining high-impact operational improvements that increase capacity, improve throughput, reduce cycle time, improve yield, strengthen schedule attainment, and eliminate waste across manufacturing and support functions.

This role serves as a subject matter expert in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, engineering, and operational performance improvement within a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. Working closely with cross functional teams, the Principal Engineer applies chemical engineering principles and data-driven problem solving to remove production constraints, optimize process performance, and deliver measurable business results.

Safety Culture

• Inspire and drive a site culture focused on safety for all employees as per our commitment to “Safety is non-negotiable”

Develop improvements that release incremental capacity from existing assets, systems, workflows, and labor resources.

• Collaborate with cross functional teams to improve process robustness, equipment utilization, reliability, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Apply statistical analysis, root-cause analysis, FMEA, process capability analysis, regression, and Design of Experiments to complex operational problems.
• Analyze process flow, chemistry, variability, constraints, and resource utilization to improve manufacturing predictability and performance.
• Lead DMAIC, PDCA, Kaizen, and other structured problem-solving efforts.
• Evaluate automation, digital, and emerging technology opportunities that simplify work and improve operational visibility or control.

Support process transfers, scale-up, capital projects, technology implementation, and operational readiness activities.

Establish baselines, define success measures, and validate realized savings and operational benefits with process owners and Finance.

• Support sustainment of Lean Manufacturing, TQM Daily Management, leadership standard work, visual management, tiered accountability, 6S, and structured problem-solving systems.
• Mentor Lean Six Sigma practitioners, and cross-functional project teams to strengthen site capability.

Qualifications/Skills

• Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence systems.
• Strong chemical engineering fundamentals and the ability to apply them in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional improvement initiatives with measurable results.
• Understanding of process capability, variation reduction, bottleneck management, and waste elimination.
• Strong project leadership, facilitation, coaching, and change-management skills.
• Financial acumen and the ability to quantify, communicate, and validate business impact.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Education, Experience & Licensing Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification at minimum, higher belt preferred
• 7+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, process engineering, operational excellence, or continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated experience leading significant cross-functional projects that delivered measurable improvements in operational or financial performance.

Cambrex is committed to providing a safe and productive work environment. All offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a comprehensive pre-employment screen. The pre-employment screen may consist of several components including but not limited to a drug test, criminal record check, identity verification, reference checks, education and employment verification, and may vary based on federal, state, and local laws. Refusal to submit to testing will result in disqualification of further employment consideration.

All requirements are subject to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Cambrex Corporation is an Equal Opportunity / Aff