Continuous Improvement Engineer

Mars

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Continuous Improvement Engineer The Continuous Improvement Engineer leads continuous improvement initiatives in a regulated food or consumer packaged goods manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for driving improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and compliance by applying Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies, while ensuring adherence to standards. What are we looking for? Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, or related) preferred - 3–5+ years of experience in food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing - Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies - Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills Preferred Qualifications - Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher - Familiarity with metric & quality management systems - Experience in high-speed processing or packaging environments Work Environment - Frequent presence on the manufacturing floor, minimum 70% floor - Compliance with food safety, hygiene, and PPE requirements - Ability to stand, walk, and occasionally lift in a production environment What will be your key responsibilities? - Lead continuous improvement initiatives supporting Q&FS, Safety, and VLiC objectives - Apply Lean tools including 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, and SMED - Inclusion & participation in MSE activities, including but not limited to FI Pillar - Drive improvements in OEE, throughput, yield, downtime reduction, and changeover performance - Identify and eliminate waste related to scrap, rework, overproduction, and material losses - Develop, update, and sustain SOPs, visual management, and standard work documentation - Ensure CI projects include risk assessments and change management controls - Designated to provide leadership coverage for the Value Stream Manager - Ensure all process improvements comply with GMPs, HACCP plans, and Preventive Controls - Support site compliance and continuous audit readiness, including driving 5S area ownership - Participate in internal, customer, and third-party audits as a CI subject matter resource - Lead or support root cause analysis for food safety incidents, quality deviations, and customer complaints - Partner with Q&FS teams to develop and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) - Ensure equipment, process, and layout changes follow validation and approval protocols - Analyze manufacturing data to identify improvement opportunities - Track KPIs including OEE, yield, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency, and cost savings - Prepare reports and presentations for plant leadership and corporate stakeholders Collaboration & Training - Builds departmental capability by serving & coaching as a system subject matter expert - Train and coach employees on Lean tools, standard work, and CI principles - Promote employee engagement and a culture of continuous improvement on the shop floor What can you expect from Mars? Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles. Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today. A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University. An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus. #LI-Onsite #LI-GK24 Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL®, and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 140,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, or related) preferred
• 3–5+ years of experience in food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills

Nice To Haves

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher
• Familiarity with metric & quality management systems
• Experience in high-speed processing or packaging environments

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives supporting Q&FS, Safety, and VLiC objectives
• Apply Lean tools including 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, and SMED
• Inclusion & participation in MSE activities, including but not limited to FI Pillar
• Drive improvements in OEE, throughput, yield, downtime reduction, and changeover performance
• Identify and eliminate waste related to scrap, rework, overproduction, and material losses
• Develop, update, and sustain SOPs, visual management, and standard work documentation
• Ensure CI projects include risk assessments and change management controls
• Designated to provide leadership coverage for the Value Stream Manager
• Ensure all process improvements comply with GMPs, HACCP plans, and Preventive Controls
• Support site compliance and continuous audit readiness, including driving 5S area ownership
• Participate in internal, customer, and third-party audits as a CI subject matter resource
• Lead or support root cause analysis for food safety incidents, quality deviations, and customer complaints
• Partner with Q&FS teams to develop and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
• Ensure equipment, process, and layout changes follow validation and approval protocols
• Analyze manufacturing data to identify improvement opportunities
• Track KPIs including OEE, yield, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency, and cost savings
• Prepare reports and presentations for plant leadership and corporate stakeholders
• Builds departmental capability by serving & coaching as a system subject matter expert
• Train and coach employees on Lean tools, standard work, and CI principles
• Promote employee engagement and a culture of continuous improvement on the shop floor

Benefits

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

What This Job Offers

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