Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Continuous Improvement

HTI; Easley (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HTI in Easley, SC, seeks a Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Continuous Improvement to lead plant-wide lean initiatives on the manufacturing floor, solving complex problems and driving measurable improvements across safety, quality, cost, and productivity.

You will guide Kaizen events, optimize processes, and collaborate with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Die/Tool, and Design Engineering to standardize workflows. A senior hands-on role with growth potential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing/engineering or related field.
• 7–10+ years in progressive manufacturing engineering or CI.
• Proven success leading complex improvement projects with measurable results.
• Hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with metal fabrication or heavy manufacturing preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean, Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping, SMED, OEE, root cause analysis, and standard work.
• Experience with capital equipment installation, process validation, and new product launches.
• Strong analytical, project-management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence change without direct authority.
• Excel and ERP/MRP experience; Autodesk Inventor preferred; Lean Six Sigma a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant-wide Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities using data, observations, and feedback.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and lead waste-reduction projects.
• Improve safety, quality, OEE, labor productivity, throughput, and process flow.
• Reduce setup and changeover times via SMED and standardized work.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Evaluate methods and recommend improvements to equipment, layout, and labor use.
• Develop routings, work instructions, production standards, and process docs.
• Support fabrication and assembly operations, and work with Design Engineering on DFM/NPI.
• Lead readiness for new products, equipment, and processes; support capital installation.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing/Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Excel

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Continuous Improvement

Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

HTI is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Continuous Improvement for a growing manufacturing operation in Easley, SC. This senior-level position is ideal for an experienced engineer who enjoys being on the manufacturing floor, solving complex problems, and leading improvements that produce measurable results.

What We Offer

• A senior-level role with visibility across engineering and plant leadership
• The opportunity to lead high-impact continuous improvement and capital projects
• A hands-on environment where ideas can directly influence safety, quality, cost, and productivity
• Collaboration with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Tool & Die, and Design Engineering
• The opportunity to improve and standardize processes within a growing manufacturing operation
• A full-time, direct-hire position with long-term growth potential

What You Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related field
• Approximately 7–10+ years of progressive manufacturing engineering or continuous improvement experience
• Proven success leading complex improvement projects with measurable results
• Strong experience in a hands-on manufacturing environment
• Experience with metal fabrication, structural steel, roll forming, welding, punching, or heavy manufacturing strongly preferred
• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping, SMED, OEE, root cause analysis, and standard work
• Experience supporting capital equipment installation, process validation, and new product launches
• Strong analytical, project-management, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence change without direct authority
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and ERP or MRP systems
• Experience with Autodesk Inventor is preferred
• Lean Six Sigma certification is a plus

What Your Role Will Look Like

• Lead plant-wide Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities using production data, floor observations, and employee feedback
• Facilitate Kaizen events and lead waste-reduction projects
• Improve safety, quality, OEE, labor productivity, throughput, equipment utilization, and manufacturing flow
• Reduce setup and changeover times through SMED, standardized work, and process improvements
• Lead root cause investigations and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Evaluate manufacturing methods and recommend improvements to equipment, tooling, plant layout, material flow, and labor utilization
• Develop manufacturing routings, work instructions, production standards, and process documentation
• Support structural steel roll forming, punching, welding, fabrication, and assembly operations
• Partner with Design Engineering on Design for Manufacturability and new product introductions
• Lead manufacturing-readiness activities for new products, equipment, and processes
• Support capital equipment selection, justification, installation, validation, and startup
• Establish project goals, timelines, performance measurements, and reporting
• Coach cross-functional teams on Lean principles and continuous improvement practices
• Present project results, risks, and recommendations to plant and senior leadership

This is a highly visible, hands-on position that will spend most of its time supporting employees, equipment, and processes on the manufacturing floor. Limited travel may be required.