Principal CI Engineer

CIRCOR Aerospace & Defence • Warren, MA

1d • $119,146 - $148,933

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading and executing Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives to drive synergy and operational alignment within Integrated Program Teams. The Principal CI Engineer will develop and implement standard processes, champion lean tools and techniques, and establish standard work for manufacturing and materials flow. Key objectives include reducing cycle times, improving efficiency, and enhancing capacity planning. The role also involves supporting materials and inventory management transformation, collaborating cross-functionally, utilizing data-driven decision making, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in Operations, Industrial Engineering, Lean/CI, or Materials/Planning roles.
• Proven success leading CI initiatives.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and statistical analysis tools.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Ability to influence at all levels of the organization and manage cross-functional projects.
• Must be a US citizen.

Nice To Haves

• Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
• Experience with SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning).
• Advanced knowledge of constraint management, SWIP, and strategic buffering.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP systems (IFS preferred) and manufacturing execution systems.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity planning, inventory control, and material flow design.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute Continuous Improvement initiatives, in support of Integrated Program Teams, to drive synergy and operational alignment.
• Develop and implement standard processes, including core / non-core activities, with robust SOPs and control plans.
• Champion lean tools and techniques (5S, SIPOC, PFMEA, MSA, SMED, TPM, Kanban, Line Balancing, VRK) to optimize manufacturing performance.
• Establish and govern standard work for manufacturing, materials flow, and shop execution.
• Drive initiatives to reduce cycle times, improve efficiency, and enhance labor/machine capacity planning.
• Support materials and inventory management transformation through PFEP, RACI, and reverse scheduling (line-back logistics).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Planning, Quality, and Engineering to ensure alignment with CI goals.
• Utilize data-driven decision making, statistical tools, and six sigma principles to drive measurable improvements.
• Build and sustain a culture of continuous improvement by mentoring teams and embedding lean thinking across the organization.

What This Job Offers

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