Operational Excellence Engineer

Abbott Laboratories • San Diego, CA

104d • $79,500 - $138,700

About The Position

The Operational Excellence Engineer role at Abbott is critical in driving continuous improvement across the San Diego site. This hands-on position supports and leads initiatives aligned with the Operational Excellence roadmap, including digital transformation, cost reduction, and sustainability. The engineer will work independently and collaboratively across all departments, leading projects and Kaizen events, mentoring Yellow Belt candidates, and embedding Lean principles into daily operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations or Science
• 3-5 years of professional work experience
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification (Black Belt preferred)
• Experience leading cross-functional improvement projects

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the medical device, diagnostics, or healthcare industry, with familiarity in regulated environments (e.g., FDA, ISO 13485)
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification
• Strong presentation and project management skills
• Proficiency in Power BI and data visualization tools
• Experience with fixture design and mistake-proofing (poka-yoke)
• Familiarity with MES or ERP systems

Responsibilities

• Actively support the OpEx roadmap strategy in the plant
• Lead and execute process improvement projects using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies
• Deliver Yellow Belt training and mentor candidates through improvement projects
• Facilitate Kaizen events and cross-functional workshops to drive rapid improvements
• Promote visual management and data-driven decision-making across the plant
• Identify and implement lean tools such as standard work, 5S, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, line balancing, and time studies to optimize process flow and eliminate waste
• Collaborate with stakeholders across departments to identify improvement opportunities and drive change
• Support cross-functional projects by assisting with equipment and process validations
• Monitor, analyze, and report critical OpEx metrics using tools like Power BI
• Act as a change agent, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational discipline
• Ensure compliance with quality and regulatory standards in all improvement activities
• Build strong internal relationships and communicate effectively across all levels of the organization

Benefits

• Free medical coverage in the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year
• Excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement and the Freedom 2 Save student debt program
• FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor's degree

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree