Junior Lean Engineer

Gotion, Inc.•Manteno, IL

4d•$65,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a motivated, detail‑oriented new graduate Lean Engineer to join our battery manufacturing team. This role is designed for early‑career engineers who are passionate about Lean Manufacturing, data‑driven problem solving, and continuous improvement in a fast‑paced, high‑tech production environment. As a Lean Engineer, you will be trained and mentored to support OEE improvement, waste reduction, process stability, and Lean culture development across our battery production lines. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands‑on manufacturing experience while contributing to the future of electric mobility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
Strong interest in Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and operations excellence.
Basic understanding of Lean principles (coursework acceptable).
Strong analytical mindset with an interest in working with production data.
Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively in team environments.
Strong learning ability, curiosity, and willingness to work in a manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Internship, co‑op, or academic project experience in manufacturing or engineering is a plus.
Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or Operations coursework.
Experience using Excel for data analysis (pivot tables, charts, basic formulas).
Familiarity with manufacturing concepts such as OEE, takt time, or process flow.
Interest in EVs, batteries, energy storage, or advanced manufacturing

Responsibilities

Support Lean Engineers and Leadership in analyzing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) data, including Availability, Performance, and Quality.
Assist in identifying production losses related to downtime, inefficiencies, defects, and material flow.
Participate in root cause analysis activities using Lean problem‑solving methods (5 Why, PDCA, basic A3).
Help implement improvement actions and verify their effectiveness through data tracking.
Participate in Kaizen events and Lean improvement projects focused on safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.
Support cross‑functional teams including Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering.
Collect data, document current‑state processes, and help develop standard work and visual controls.
Encourage employee participation in idea and proposal‑based improvements.
Use Excel and basic statistical tools to analyze manufacturing data and identify trends.
Prepare reports, charts, and presentations to communicate findings and improvement results.
Support the creation and maintenance of visual management boards for OEE and KPI tracking.
Learn and apply core Lean principles such as: Waste (Muda) identification, 5S and workplace organization, Standard Work, Continuous improvement mindset.