Continuous Improvement Engineer

Fortune Brands • Industry, CA

8d • $90,000 - $143,000

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Engineer (CI Engineer) is responsible for driving measurable and sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity across the EMTEK manufacturing operation. This role serves as a key enabler of EMTEK’s Lean transformation, supporting the Lean Focus launch, model‑line development, and ongoing Continuous Improvement (CI) roadmap.
The CI Engineer works directly with operations leadership, production teams, and cross‑functional partners to identify waste, improve process flow, standardize work, and embed Lean behaviors into daily operations. This is an individual contributor role with strong shop‑floor presence and high interaction with production teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in a manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement role.
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and CI methodologies.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑mix manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

• Lean certification (Lean Practitioner, Six Sigma Green Belt, or equivalent).
• Experience supporting or leading Lean transformations or model‑line deployments.
• Experience facilitating Kaizen events or cross‑functional improvement workshops.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Bi-lingual (English, Spanish)

Responsibilities

• Support EMTEK’s Lean Focus launch and ongoing Lean Business System implementation.
• Participate in and support the development of model lines, including current‑state assessment, future‑state design, and implementation planning.
• Lead and facilitate Kaizen events, rapid improvement workshops, and structured problem‑solving activities aligned with site priorities.
• Apply Lean tools and methodologies including Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, A3 problem solving, root cause analysis, and waste elimination.
• Maintain a strong presence on the manufacturing floor to observe processes, validate data, and understand real‑time operational challenges.
• Partner with supervisors, leads, and associates to identify improvement opportunities and implement solutions.
• Support daily management routines, including tiered huddles, KPI boards, action tracking, and follow‑up.
• Analyze operational data to quantify improvement opportunities and validate results.
• Track and report improvement outcomes related to safety, quality, delivery, labor efficiency, and cost.
• Ensure improvements are documented, standardized, and sustained through effective standard work and visual controls.
• Collaborate with Production Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EH&S on improvement initiatives.
• Support layout changes, process optimization, material flow improvements, and new process introductions.
• Assist with training and rollout of new standards, processes, and Lean tools.
• Act as a change agent by coaching teams on Lean thinking and structured problem solving.
• Support development of internal CI capability through training, mentoring, and hands‑on engagement.
• Reinforce a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence.

Benefits

• At Fortune Brands, we support the overall health and wellness of our associates by offering comprehensive, competitive benefits that prioritize all aspects of wellbeing and provide flexibility for our teammates’ unique needs. This includes robust health plans, a market-leading 401(k) program with a company contribution, product discounts, flexible time off benefits, adoption benefits, and more. We offer numerous ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) to foster a sense of belonging for all associates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees