Early Career Leadership Development Program: Plant Operations Management

Eaton Corporation • Greenwood, SC

9d

About The Position

Eaton’s three-year Early Career Leadership Development Program in Plant Operations Management provides hands-on manufacturing experience through two rotations. Participants complete a one-year Manufacturing Engineer assignment and a one-year Continuous Improvement assignment, followed by a final assignment as a Manager of People: Front Line Leader. The program includes opportunities to hold a people-management position, earn Yellow and Green Belt certifications, and participate in functional and leadership learning curricula. After completing the program, participants may pursue a range of leadership career paths in manufacturing and operations.

Participants work on plant-level projects involving process optimization, quality improvement, lead-time reduction, continuous improvement, cost savings, and customer value. They analyze data and operational problems using approaches such as time studies, KPIs, and root cause analysis, while developing expertise in lean manufacturing, data-driven decision-making, and business and financial concepts related to productivity and cost performance.

The role also builds frontline leadership skills through supporting and guiding hourly manufacturing teams. Participants contribute to cross-functional initiatives such as new product introduction, manufacturing readiness, and continuous improvement, using program management and change leadership to support adoption and sustain results. Hands-on problem solving, standardization, and involvement in daily management systems support safe and efficient operations. Geographic flexibility to relocate to an endorsed Eaton site within the United States is required. The role may include up to 25% travel within a local region and internationally, as determined by the assignment manager.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering from an accredited institution, with a graduation date before August 2027.
• Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.8.
• At least one internship/co-op or an equivalent of three months of manufacturing experience, excluding research, completed by the time of application.
• Must be geographically flexible to relocate within the United States.
• Interest in pursuing a career as a leader of people in operations.
• Transportation to and from the worksite and for incidental business travel is the participant’s responsibility.
• Eaton will not provide employment immigration sponsorship or support for the position, including CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, or the listed visa and immigration pathways.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Industrial and/or Mechanical Engineering.
• Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Interest or previous experience in manufacturing.
• Passion for data-driven problem solving and decision-making.
• Familiarity with root cause analysis methods.
• Exposure to lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Ability to analyze processes and improve performance.
• Strong teamwork and cross-functional collaboration.
• Basic business and financial understanding.
• Excitement about manufacturing systems.

Responsibilities

• Complete rotations in Manufacturing Engineering and Continuous Improvement, followed by a front-line people-leader assignment.
• Lead and contribute to plant-level process optimization, quality improvement, lead-time reduction, continuous improvement, cost savings, and customer-value projects.
• Analyze operational data and problems to make informed decisions and deliver measurable results.
• Use lean manufacturing practices and tools such as time studies, KPIs, and root cause analysis.
• Support and guide hourly manufacturing teams and foster a collaborative, high-performing environment.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives, including new product introduction, manufacturing readiness, and continuous improvement.
• Apply program management and change leadership principles to drive adoption and sustain results.
• Support safe and efficient operations through hands-on problem solving, standardization, and participation in daily management systems.
• Participate in functional and leadership learning curricula and earn Yellow and Green Belt certifications.

Benefits

• Competitive total rewards package commensurate with applicable skills, knowledge, and experience and consistent with internal and external market practices.
• One-time signing bonus of $6,000 for bachelor’s-degree hires or $12,000 for master’s-degree hires.
• Health and welfare benefits.
• Retirement benefits.
• Programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work.
• Required and approved business travel expenses, excluding travel to the worksite, will be reimbursed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level