Senior / Principal Process Improvement Engineer

Oshkosh Corporation•McConnellsburg, PA

2d•$82,900 - $134,300

About The Position

The Senior / Principal Process Improvement Engineer drives measurable improvement in how we build our products. This role owns complex manufacturing and process problems end to end: finding the root cause, designing the fix, proving it works, and making it stick across multiple product lines. You will use structured problem solving, Lean methodologies, and data analysis to eliminate waste, reduce variation, improve first-pass yield, and increase throughput. You will design new processes, re-engineer existing ones, and lead cross-functional teams through the change. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who wants to be on the floor with the process, not managing it from a distance. This posting covers both Senior and Principal levels. Level and scope are determined by experience and demonstrated impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
Five (5) or more years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, continuous improvement, industrial engineering, or quality engineering within a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience leading improvement projects from problem definition through validated, sustained results.
Working knowledge of structured problem-solving methodology and Lean manufacturing principles.

Nice To Haves

Eight (8) or more years of relevant experience (Principal level).
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering.
Experience in discrete manufacturing, assembly, welding, or machining operations.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Proficiency with data analysis tools (Minitab, JMP, Excel, Power BI, or similar).
Experience applying DOE, SPC, MSA, PFMEA, and control plans in a production setting.
Experience mentoring engineers or leading cross-functional teams without direct authority.
Familiarity with ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality management systems.

Responsibilities

Lead resolution of complex manufacturing, process, and supplier issues using structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, A3, DMAIC, 5-Why, fishbone) and cross-functional collaboration.
Design, develop, validate, and optimize manufacturing processes to improve throughput, operational efficiency, process capability, and product reliability.
Identify, scope, and lead continuous improvement projects with clear business cases and measurable results — first-pass yield, defects per unit, cycle time, scrap, rework, customer escapes, warranty and cost.
Analyze manufacturing and process data to find systemic issues, then implement corrective and preventive actions that hold over time.
Apply engineering and analytical tools including Design of Experiments (DOE), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Measurement System Analysis (MSA), process capability studies, PFMEA, control plans, and root cause analysis.
Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma events — value stream mapping, standard work, error proofing, kaizen, 5S — and drive the results into daily operations.
Facilitate cross-functional forums with business impact assessments, risk evaluations, and data-driven recommendations that support strategic objectives.
Serve as a technical resource across product platforms, providing versatile support to Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Global Procurement & Supply Chain (GPSC), Sales, Contracts, Suppliers, and Operations.
Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers, inspectors, and analysts in structured problem solving, Lean methodologies, and process improvement.