Principal Process Engineer

Keurig Dr Pepper•Spartanburg, SC

9d•$100,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Process Engineer will support the KDP Spartanburg Manufacturing Site, reporting to the Senior Process Improvement Manager. This role is instrumental in identifying and eliminating sources of waste across manufacturing operations. The Sr. Process Engineer will drive operational excellence through structured problem-solving, lean methodologies, continuous improvement initiatives, and change management. The ideal candidate is passionate about optimizing processes, reducing variability, enhancing efficiency, and driving engagement in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Engineering or a related field preferred
Minimum of 3 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
Proven experience with problem solving tools and successfully implementing process changes to positively impact the manufacturing site
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in structured problem-solving methodologies
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence and engage teams at all levels
Hands-on approach with a strong bias for action and delivering results
Ability to lift, push, and pull a minimum of 50 lbs repeatedly

Nice To Haves

Green Belt and Black Belt certification preferred
Proficiency with Minitab, Excel, and Power BI preferred
Experience with basic mechanical and/or electrical systems is a plus

Responsibilities

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and eliminate the eight sources of waste (e.g., downtime, defects, overproduction, motion, inventory, waiting, transportation, and underutilized talent)
Lead and support structured problem-solving activities (e.g., RCCMs, A3s, DMAIC projects) and change management initiatives to drive root cause analysis and implement sustainable solutions
Partner with operations, maintenance, and quality teams to implement process changes that enhance safety, quality, and throughput
Understand how plant systems work and assist in training, teaching, and coaching frontline team members on those systems
Facilitate and support kaizen events, problem solving workshops, and project team meetings to solve operational and financial problems
Monitor and analyze process performance data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
Support the development and implementation of standard work and visual management tools
Assist in training frontline teams on problem solving tools and lean daily management
Foster a culture of continuous improvement throughout the plant