Operational Excellence Engineer I

Apogee • Reed City, MI

1d

About The Position

The Operational Excellence Engineer I supports the deployment of the Apogee Management System (AMS) and continuous improvement efforts within manufacturing operations. The role focuses on learning operational excellence tools, supporting improvement activities, and building foundational skills in problem solving, data analysis, and standard work. It also drives operational excellence by designing, implementing, and sustaining scalable process improvements that enhance safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity across the organization.

The engineer partners with manufacturing teams to understand processes, supports process development and optimization, gathers and analyzes operational data, and contributes to structured problem solving. The role collaborates with cross-functional teams to implement and monitor changes and helps build foundational AMS/Lean capabilities through basic training, technical guidance, and certification support.

The work involves frequent exposure to manufacturing environments, as well as extended periods of office work on a computer and in team meetings. Regional day travel is expected; overnight travel varies by projects and business activities and is expected to be up to 10%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 0–2 years of manufacturing or continuous-improvement-related experience.
• Foundational understanding of manufacturing operations.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Willingness to learn continuous improvement tools and systems.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• CAD experience.

Responsibilities

• Partner with supervisors, engineers, and operators to understand operational processes.
• Assist with cross-functional development, standardization, and optimization of manufacturing and business processes.
• Support capital projects from concept through implementation to improve capacity, flow, and operational effectiveness.
• Assist in collecting and analyzing operational and process data to identify inefficiencies, constraints, and performance gaps.
• Research best practices, technologies, and methods to inform solution development and investment decisions.
• Assist with structured problem-solving efforts for small- to mid-scale operational issues and support larger cross-functional initiatives, including capital and transformation projects, using disciplined root-cause and corrective action methodologies.
• Use AMS tools and techniques to drive operational improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to brainstorm solutions, implement changes, and monitor results.
• Support leaders and frontline teams in developing foundational capability in AMS/Lean tools by providing basic training, technical guidance, and assistance with certification requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package for employees and their dependents, including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage.
• Incentive plans.
• 401(k) with employer contribution and match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with employer match.
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick time.
• Paid holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Wellness program.
• Training and career progression.

What This Job Offers

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