Engineering Manager, Continuous Improvement

BraunAbility•Winamac, IN

52d

About The Position

About the Role The Engineering Manager, Continuous Improvement (CI) drives excellence across the Vehicle Engineering organization by leading complex problem solving, Agile project execution, VAVE cost-reduction initiatives, Portfolio feature development, and engineering support for WAV Commercial Bids—including the Full-Size Vehicle market. This role is ideal for a strong technical leader who thrives in a cross-functional environment, excels at process discipline, and is passionate about enabling teams to deliver high-quality, cost-effective vehicle engineering solutions.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical, Automotive, Manufacturing, or Systems Engineering (M.S. preferred).
6+ years of vehicle engineering experience (WAV/automotive/mobility preferred).
Strong background in CI methodologies (DMAIC, A3, 8D), preferred
Experience implementing Agile in hardware or vehicle engineering environments, preferred
Proven success in VAVE and/or cost-reduction initiatives, preferred
Strong financial acumen (cost modeling, trade-off analysis, margin impact), preferred
Familiarity with FMVSS, ADA, or related vehicle regulatory environments, preferred
Leadership to include 5 years experience, required.

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Agile certifications (PSM, PMI-ACP, SAFe)
Experience in accessible vehicle engineering or complex conversion programs
Proficiency with CAD/Inventor, PLM/Teamcenter, Jira, and data analysis tools

Responsibilities

Lead the CI strategy for Vehicle Engineering, targeting improvements in quality, delivery, cost, and design robustness.
Apply structured problem-solving methodologies including DMAIC, A3, 8D, and root-cause analysis tools.
Build organizational capability through coaching, mentoring, and structured problem-solving training.
Facilitate kaizen events, value stream mapping, and waste-reduction initiatives.
Implement and lead Agile practices (Scrum/Kanban) for engineering projects, CI initiatives, product enhancements, and bid development.
Use Jira/Azure DevOps to manage backlogs, sprints, WIP limits, and burndown tracking.
Improve engineering throughput, predictability, and visibility through disciplined Agile execution.
Own the engineering deliverables for WAV Commercial Bids from RFQ through quote submission.
Conduct technical feasibility reviews, define engineering requirements, and identify configuration needs.
Create detailed engineering cost models (BOM, labor, tooling, validation, CapEx).
Lead cross-functional sprint execution to ensure timely, accurate bid packages.
Collaborate closely with Portfolio/Product Management to translate customer insights and market requirements into engineering specifications.
Drive feasibility analysis, feature definition, prioritization, and technical implementation.
Ensure full lifecycle traceability from concept → requirement → prototype → validation → production.
Provide engineering input to portfolio roadmapping and feature business cases.
Own the VAVE pipeline, including ideation, prioritization, cost-benefit analysis, and project execution.
Lead cross-functional teams to identify and deliver cost-reduction opportunities across BOM, process, and design.
Validate savings and ensure sustainable implementation using CI/DMAIC rigor.
Work with Supply Chain to develop alternative components, materials, and manufacturing solutions.
Lead and develop a high-performing engineering team skilled in CI, Agile execution, technical design, and structured problem solving.
Set clear performance expectations, coach team members, and promote a culture of data-driven decision-making.
Encourage continuous learning, collaboration, and transparent communication.
Work closely with Program Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance to ensure alignment across initiatives.
Support Design-for-Manufacturing, cost management, warranty reduction, and launch readiness efforts.
Provide clear communication and status updates to leadership and stakeholders.
Ensure engineering change control (ECR/ECX), documentation, and configuration management discipline.
Maintain audit-ready records and problem-solving artifacts.
Enable compliance with applicable regulatory standards (e.g., FMVSS, ADA).