Manufacturing Excellence Engineer

XNRGY Climate Systems•Mesa, AZ

About The Position

XNRGY Climate Systems is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Excellence Engineer to lead the development, implementation, and standardization of Lean manufacturing practices and continuous improvement initiatives across its operations. Reporting to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, this role provides technical and functional leadership to optimize manufacturing processes and drive sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost. The position works across Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Materials, and other teams, influencing process improvements without direct supervisory responsibility. The engineer will strengthen manufacturing systems and support operational growth by evaluating processes, setting improvement priorities, leading cross-functional initiatives, and establishing consistent standards and performance practices. The role also supports manufacturing expansion and multi-site standardization, and helps sustain improvements through change management, documentation, training, and follow-up.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least 5 years of progressive experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, Lean manufacturing, operational excellence, or continuous improvement in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives with measurable operational improvements.
Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, value stream mapping, 5S, standard work, Kanban, and structured root cause analysis.
Experience developing and implementing manufacturing standards, continuous improvement systems, and sustainable process improvements.
Ability to provide technical and functional leadership, influence stakeholders, and drive change across departments without direct supervisory authority.
Experience coaching engineers, supervisors, and production teams in continuous improvement methods and structured problem-solving.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including interpreting operational data, identifying opportunities, and making data-driven decisions.
Experience developing and monitoring manufacturing performance metrics, KPIs, and continuous improvement results.
Proficiency in ERP/MES systems such as Epicor, Oracle, or SAP.
Strong communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills, with the ability to collaborate across organizational levels.
Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives, establish priorities, and adapt to changing operational needs.
Knowledge of CAD and other design and simulation software.
Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC), process capability analysis, and other quality assurance tools.

Nice To Haves

Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or another relevant process improvement framework.
Experience supporting manufacturing expansion, new production lines, or process standardization across multiple operations.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Lean manufacturing processes, standards, and best practices across manufacturing operations.
Evaluate manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, productivity, and cost-effectiveness.
Set continuous improvement priorities with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations leadership, aligned with operational objectives.
Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving methods to reduce waste and improve performance.
Identify systemic bottlenecks and recurring production challenges, lead root cause analysis, and develop sustainable corrective actions.
Provide technical and functional leadership to cross-functional teams implementing and adopting process improvements.
Develop, implement, and standardize manufacturing processes, standard work instructions, SOPs, and visual management practices.
Establish and improve daily management practices, performance metrics, and accountability processes.
Evaluate and implement Kanban systems, material-flow improvements, and pull systems.
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to incorporate Lean principles into production layouts, equipment integration, process development, and manufacturing expansion.
Develop and monitor KPIs to measure process effectiveness, improvement opportunities, and sustainability of implemented solutions.
Facilitate continuous improvement workshops, Kaizen events, and structured problem-solving activities with cross-functional stakeholders.
Coach and support engineers, supervisors, and production teams in Lean methods, problem-solving, and continuous improvement practices.
Provide manufacturing leadership with technical expertise and recommendations on process optimization, operational performance, and improvement priorities.
Ensure processes and improvement initiatives are developed with a safety-first mindset and support safety, quality, and operational excellence.
Lead and coordinate continuous improvement initiatives across cross-functional teams and multi-site operations to promote standardization, knowledge sharing, and best practices.
Drive adoption and long-term sustainability of improvements through change management, documentation, training, and follow-up.