Process Optimization Engineer

About the Role As a Process Optimization Engineer, you will serve as a key technical lead responsible for driving operational excellence across our diverse manufacturing facility. You will leverage Lean methodologies and data-driven insights to enhance production efficiency, safety, and quality standards, ensuring our shop floor operations remain agile and high-performing. Responsibilities Own the definition and documentation of standard work processes to eliminate tribal knowledge and ensure repeatable, high-quality production outcomes. Analyze production data to identify bottlenecks in cycle time, labor balance, and material flow, implementing structured countermeasures to resolve performance gaps. Lead cross-functional initiatives including Kaizen events, SMED, and Gemba walks to foster a culture of continuous improvement. Manage and validate manufacturing routings within ERP systems to ensure accurate scheduling, costing, and resource utilization. Design and optimize assembly line layouts to maximize throughput and ergonomic safety. Drive cost-reduction projects by providing data-backed justifications for capital investments and process refinements. Partner with quality teams to conduct root cause analysis on internal and external defects, implementing sustainable corrective actions. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and present A3 problem-solving reports to leadership to drive accountability. Qualifications Required Skills Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field. 2+ years of experience in high-volume consumer goods or similar manufacturing environments. Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and statistical process control (SPC) methods. Demonstrated ability to translate downtime and scrap trends into actionable process improvements. Strong background in Lean manufacturing principles and shop-floor execution. Preferred Skills Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish. Experience with injection molding, extrusion, or automated assembly processes. Advanced skills in building and maintaining KPI dashboards for performance management. Proven track record of cross-functional collaboration and conflict resolution in a plant setting.