Senior Lean & Process Improvement Engineer

ZEISS Group; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 92,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Dental

401k Matching

Employee Assistance Programs

Vacation and sick pay

Job summary

ZEISS Group in Maple Grove, MN, is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer to lead cross-functional Lean initiatives that drive safety, quality, and cost improvements onsite. You will coach teams, map processes, and deploy standardized Lean tools across Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain.

The role requires 7+ years in CI/quality/operations, a Bachelor's in a technical field, and strong collaboration skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of CI, quality, manufacturing, or operations experience.
• Proficient in Lean tools (6S, VSM, DMAIC, PDCA) and problem solving.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred; Black Belt a plus.
• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives using Lean methodologies (6S, VSM, DMAIC, PDCA) to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Identify, develop, and implement process improvements through process mapping, standard work, waste reduction, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, and training programs to strengthen continuous improvement capabilities.
• Partner with the Global Lean Team to deploy standardized Lean tools, share best practices, and coach teams on operational excellence principles.
• Support Hoshin Kanri deployment by aligning improvement activities with strategic objectives and KPIs.
• Build strong partnerships across Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Procurement, and Engineering to drive sustainable improvements.
• Provide hands-on coaching and training to employees and leaders on Lean, problem-solving, and continuous improvement tools.
• Communicate project progress, results, and KPIs to all levels; track and sustain benefits.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Lean principles

Value Stream Mapping

DMAIC/PDCA

Kaizen facilitation

Root Cause Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing/Operations/Quality

Job description

ZEISS Group in Maple Grove, MN, is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer to lead cross-functional Lean initiatives that drive safety, quality, and cost improvements onsite. You will coach teams, map processes, and deploy standardized Lean tools across Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain.

The role requires 7+ years in CI/quality/operations, a Bachelor's in a technical field, and strong collaboration skills.