Operational Excellence Engineer I

Apogee Enterprises, Inc.•Reed City, MI

About The Position

The Operational Excellence Engineer I supports deployment of the Apogee Management System (AMS) and continuous improvement efforts within manufacturing operations. The role develops foundational skills in operational excellence tools, problem solving, data analysis, and standard work while helping implement and sustain scalable process improvements that enhance safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity. The engineer works with supervisors, engineers, operators, leaders, and cross-functional teams to understand and improve manufacturing and business processes. The position includes collecting and analyzing operational data, supporting structured problem solving and capital or transformation projects, and helping frontline teams build capability in AMS and Lean tools. The role involves frequent exposure to manufacturing environments, extended office work at a computer and in team meetings, and regional day travel. Overnight travel varies with 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.
Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.

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.
Collect and analyze 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 for small- to mid-scale operational issues and support larger cross-functional initiatives, including capital and transformation projects, using root-cause and corrective-action methodologies.
Use Apogee Management System tools and techniques to drive operational improvements.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop solutions, implement changes, and monitor results.
Support leaders and frontline teams in building foundational capability in AMS/Lean tools through basic training, technical guidance, and assistance with certification requirements.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package for employees and 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.