Operational Excellence Engineer

Default•Chattanooga, TN

About The Position

The Operational Excellence Engineer executes Lean projects and initiatives to support the manufacturing department. The role develops value stream maps, identifies gaps in current processes, and implements countermeasures through Kaizen events, the 5S program, Layered Process Audits, and other Lean tools. The engineer partners with operations and support teams to improve manufacturing processes, build quality into operations, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field from an accredited university.
Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
At least three years of experience in a manufacturing environment, including exposure to welding, machining, paint, and assembly operations.
Ability to work effectively in ambiguous situations by independently defining problems, gathering information, developing solutions, and driving implementation without detailed direction or constant oversight.
Ability to influence and drive change through effective communication, training, facilitation, and data-driven decision making.
Strong bias for action and ownership; able to identify challenges, define a path forward, and execute solutions in uncertain or evolving environments.
Ability to identify operational issues, determine root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions that improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
Demonstrated experience applying Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies, including 5S, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Poka-Yoke, Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, Fishbone Diagrams, Standard Work, and Visual Management.
Ability to use data and analytics to identify opportunities, quantify impact, prioritize improvements, and deliver measurable business results.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with all organizational levels, from shop floor personnel to executive leadership.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships across operations, engineering, purchasing, quality, and suppliers while fostering a collaborative and positive work environment.
Ability to challenge existing processes constructively and gain buy-in for change through facts, data, and demonstrated results.

Nice To Haves

Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
Working knowledge of SolidWorks.

Responsibilities

Lead facility-wide continuous improvement initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen events, value stream mapping, workflow optimization, and waste reduction.
Apply Lean and problem-solving tools such as 5 Why, Fishbone, Poka-Yoke, and Standard Work to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
Use SIPOC and Process Mapping to identify gaps in cross-functional processes.
Partner with operations and support teams to resolve manufacturing issues and implement sustainable improvements.
Document current-state processes, identify opportunities, and develop future-state solutions and standards.
Analyze operational data to identify improvement opportunities, validate results, and support fact-based decision making.
Support the factory floor by improving processes and building quality into operations.
Facilitate training and coaching to promote a culture of continuous improvement.
Drive projects to completion with minimal supervision, navigating ambiguity and taking ownership of results.
Perform other duties as assigned.