Continuous Improvement Engineer

The Opportunity

The Continuous Improvement Engineer is responsible for leading the deployment and sustainment of Stratus' Lean Manufacturing System across the company's manufacturing facilities in San Antonio, TX, Lexington, SC, and Elmhurst, IL. This role serves as the enterprise leader for continuous improvement execution, partnering closely with plant leadership to improve productivity, reduce waste, standardize processes, and build a culture of operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lean Manufacturing Deployment
  • Lead the implementation and continuous evolution of the Stratus Lean Manufacturing System across multiple manufacturing facilities.
  • Deploy and sustain Lean tools including 5S, Visual Management, Standard Work, Layered Process Audits (LPAs), Value Stream Mapping, Daily Management, and Kaizen.
  • Establish standardized operating practices that improve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.
  • Drive consistency in Lean methodologies across all manufacturing locations.
• Continuous Improvement Leadership
  • Identify, prioritize, and execute productivity, quality, cost reduction, and operational improvement initiatives.
  • Lead cross-functional Kaizen events and rapid improvement workshops.
  • Facilitate root cause analysis utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies.
  • Develop improvement roadmaps aligned with manufacturing and business objectives.
  • Track project results to ensure expected operational and financial benefits are achieved.
• Operational Excellence
  • Analyze manufacturing performance data to identify waste, process variation, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
  • Partner with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to improve production performance.
  • Develop standardized workflows that improve efficiency while reducing variability.
  • Support the development and implementation of a company-wide Quality Management System (QMS).
• Capability Building
  • Train, coach, and mentor leaders and frontline employees on Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement tools.
  • Facilitate workshops that strengthen problem-solving capabilities throughout the organization.
  • Build internal ownership of Lean practices to ensure long-term sustainability.
  • Promote employee engagement through continuous improvement participation and idea generation.
• Performance Measurement
  • Establish metrics and dashboards to monitor improvement initiatives.
  • Measure operational performance against key Lean metrics.
  • Communicate project status, risks, and business impact to manufacturing leadership.
  • Recommend future improvement opportunities based on operational trends and performance data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or equivalent work experience preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Excellence, or Industrial Engineering.
• Experience leading Lean transformation initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing tools and continuous improvement programs.
• Experience facilitating Kaizen events and cross-functional improvement teams.
• Experience working across multiple manufacturing locations is preferred.
• Leverage Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent) preferred.

What We Offer

• Culture & Growth
  • Supportive, collaborative work environment
  • Career growth and advancement opportunities
  • Regular coaching, feedback, and mentorship to support growth
• Health & Wellbeing
  • Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Health Savings Accounts with employer contributions
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Financial Security
• Work-Life Balance
  • Generous paid time off and company holidays
  • Volunteer Time Off
  • Paid parental leave
• Travel Requirements
  • This position supports manufacturing operations across multiple locations and requires regular travel to Stratus manufacturing facilities in: San Antonio, Texas Lexington, South Carolina Elmhurst, Illinois
  • Travel may be conducted via automobile, air, or other modes of transportation and may include overnight stays as needed.
• Work Environment
  • This position works in both office and manufacturing environments.
  • Frequent time will be spent on production floors observing processes, facilitating improvement activities, and partnering with plant leadership.
  • Employees may be exposed to manufacturing equipment, noise, varying temperatures, and other industrial conditions.
  • Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required while working in designated production areas.
• Pre-Employment Requirements
  • All offers of employment with Stratus are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, in accordance with applicable laws.
  • Certain roles, including those designated as safety-sensitive or regulated positions, employment may also be contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening and/or other regulatory requirements.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

• Stratus is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
• We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Additional Information

• This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties or responsibilities. Responsibilities may change at any time based on the needs of Stratus.