Lean Engineer

Gotion, Inc.•Manteno, IL

4d•$90,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Lean Engineer to help drive operational excellence in our battery manufacturing facility. This role focuses on improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reducing downtime and waste, improving yield, and embedding a strong Lean culture across highly automated, high‑volume production lines. The ideal candidate has hands‑on Lean experience in a manufacturing environment, is comfortable working with production data, and thrives in a fast‑paced, technology‑driven operation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
3–5 years of Lean / Continuous Improvement experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience in EV battery, electronics, semiconductor, or other high‑volume automated manufacturing strongly preferred.
Solid knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, tools, and methodologies.
Strong data analysis skills with the ability to translate production data into actionable improvements.
Strong execution and ownership mindset with the ability to manage multiple improvement initiatives.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills across all organizational levels.
Demonstrated team‑oriented and proactive approach.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. without sponsorship. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Nice To Haves

Lean or Continuous Improvement certification (Lean Practitioner, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred).
Experience working with OEE systems, MES, or equipment data platforms.
Familiarity with SPC, control charts, and basic Six Sigma tools.
Experience supporting new line launches, ramp‑ups, or equipment commissioning.

Responsibilities

Under the leadership of the Department Manager, analyze OEE data (Availability, Performance, Quality) from EV battery production lines.
Identify top contributors to OEE loss, including downtime, cycle time losses, and quality defects.
Lead root cause analysis using Lean problem‑solving tools (A3, PDCA, 5 Why, Fishbone, Pareto).
Develop, implement, and sustain countermeasures to improve equipment reliability, process stability, and product yield.
Partner with Production, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to improve line performance and eliminate chronic losses.
Lead Lean improvement projects and Kaizen events focused on throughput, downtime reduction, yield improvement, and labor efficiency.
Establish and facilitate cross‑functional Lean teams, ensuring engagement from operators, technicians, engineers, and supervisors.
Promote a proposal‑based improvement (Kaizen) system that enables shop‑floor employee participation.
Ensure improvements are standardized, documented, and sustained through standard work, audits, and metrics tracking.
Actively support the development and reinforcement of a Lean production culture throughout the plant.
Train and coach team members on Lean concepts, including: Waste identification (Muda), Standard Work, 5S and Visual Management, Flow and pull systems.
Support leadership in aligning Lean initiatives with Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (SQDC/M) objectives.
Use Excel and manufacturing data systems to analyze trends, build reports, and communicate insights clearly.