Early Career Leadership Development Program: Plant Operations Management

About the Program

Eaton's Early Career Programs offer opportunities to make a global impact through intelligent power management. Participants team up with seasoned leaders, gaining diverse experiences to drive innovation and shape their career goals. The program includes personalized experiences, global perspectives, role exploration, strategic networking with senior leaders, and mentorship opportunities. Participants serve on LDP advisory boards to shape peer engagement and learning.

Operations Program Highlights

• Earn both Yellow and Green Belt certifications, enhancing process improvement expertise and professional credentials
• Three-year immersive program with 2 rotations
• Gain hands-on manufacturing experience
• Hold a manager of people position
• Participate in a functional and leadership learning curriculum series

Rotation Structure

• Rotation 1 Assignment (1 year): Manufacturing Engineer
• Assignment (1 year): Continuous Improvement (CI)
• Rotation 2 Final Assignment: Manager of People: Front Line Leader

What You'll Do

• Take on plant-level projects focused on process optimization, improving quality, reducing lead times, continuous improvement, cost savings, and delivering exceptional customer value
• Apply critical thinking to analyze data, solve complex problems, and make informed operational decisions that drive measurable results
• Sharpen expertise in lean manufacturing and data-driven decision making, leveraging tools like time studies, KPIs, and root cause analysis
• Build business and financial acumen tied to productivity and cost performance
• Develop frontline leadership skills supporting and guiding hourly manufacturing teams, using emotional intelligence, adaptability, and resilience to build strong relationships and foster a collaborative, high-performing environment
• Lead and contribute to cross-functional initiatives, including new product introduction, manufacturing readiness, and continuous improvement efforts
• Apply structured program management and change leadership principles to drive adoption and sustain results
• Help enable safe, efficient operations through hands-on problem solving, standardization, and engagement in daily management systems
• Strengthen ability to influence, lead change, and deliver lasting operational impact

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering from an accredited institution, with a graduation date before August 2027
• Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.8
• Minimum of one internship/co-op experience or an equivalent of 3 months of manufacturing experience completed at the time of this application (excluding research)
• Must be geographically flexible to relocate within the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Industrial and/or Mechanical Engineering
• Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Interest or previous experience in manufacturing
• Passion for data-driven problem solving and decision making
• Familiarity with root cause analysis methods
• Exposure to lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Ability to analyze processes and improve performance
• Strong teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
• Basic business and financial understanding
• Excited by manufacturing systems

Position Criteria

• Interest in pursuing a career as a leader of people in operations
• Transportation to and from the worksite and for incidental business travel is the responsibility of the participant; however, expenses for required and approved business travel (not including the worksite) will be reimbursed
• This role may include travel (up to 25%) within a local region and internationally as determined by the assignment manager

Pay

• Annual salary: $82,000 (bachelor's degree) with a one-time $6,000 signing bonus
• Annual salary: $90,000 (master's degree) with a one-time $12,000 signing bonus

Benefits

• Various Health and Welfare benefits
• Retirement benefits
• Programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work

After completion of the program, experience and newly acquired skills could lead to a variety of leadership career paths within manufacturing and operations.