Senior Lean & Process Improvement Engineer

Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, LLC; United States; 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

Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, LLC in Maple Grove, MN is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer to lead strategic Lean initiatives across operations. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost improvements by deploying 6S, VSM, DMAIC and PDCA with cross-functional teams.

You will coach and train leaders, partner with the Global Lean Team, align activities with corporate goals, and report KPIs to stakeholders while sustaining benefits and guiding Kaizen events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Operational Excellence roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in Lean principles, process improvement methodologies, and structured problem‑solving techniques.
• Proven ability to identify, lead, and sustain process improvements through Lean tools and methodologies, including 6S, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Kamishibai, Root Cause Analysis, and Daily Management Systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives using Lean methodologies such as 6S, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), DMAIC, and 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 across the organization.
• 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 business objectives and key performance targets.
• Build strong partnerships across Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Procurement, and Engineering to drive sustainable business improvements.
• Provide hands‑on coaching and training to employees and leaders on Lean methodologies, problem‑solving, and continuous improvement tools.
• Communicate project progress, results, and key performance metrics effectively to all levels of the organization.
• Track and report improvement initiative performance, ensuring benefits are sustained and objectives achieved.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Lean methodologies

6S

Value Stream Mapping

DMAIC

PDCA

Root Cause Analysis

Daily Management Systems

Kaizen events

Coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing/Operations

Tools

Kamishibai

Job description

Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology, LLC in Maple Grove, MN is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer to lead strategic Lean initiatives across operations. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost improvements by deploying 6S, VSM, DMAIC and PDCA with cross-functional teams.

You will coach and train leaders, partner with the Global Lean Team, align activities with corporate goals, and report KPIs to stakeholders while sustaining benefits and guiding Kaizen events.