Manufacturing Engineer - Continuous Improvement

Unimacts Global is a contract manufacturer and total energy solutions provider operating across renewable energy, traditional energy, and diversified industrial markets. Our manufacturing capabilities span structural steel, tubes, piles, complex castings, forgings, and sophisticated engineered systems. With operations across the U.S., EU, and Asia, we manufacture and deliver the components that keep energy and industrial infrastructure moving at scale. Unimacts Global is a subsidiary of Zetwerk, a global manufacturing platform backed by leading institutional investors. The Sloan, NV facility is in its second year of operation and scaling fast. This role is being built now, alongside the plant, not inherited into a mature structure. The Manufacturing Engineer, Continuous Improvement is a corporate strategic position. It is a corporate resource, and the methods, standards, and results it produces are held to corporate expectations and are intended to inform how Unimacts Global approaches continuous improvement more broadly. The role owns the identification, prioritization, and execution of process improvement initiatives across steel fabrication operations, combining hands-on manufacturing engineering with Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodology to drive measurable gains in productivity, quality, and cost across solar pile and galvanized tubing product lines. Success is measured by validated cost savings, OEE improvement, scrap reduction, and the sustainability of implemented changes. Key Operational Expectations Lead data analysis, interpretation and inference of key operational data metrics across all departmentsConduct root cause analysis on quality defects, downtime, and scrap using DMAIC, 5-Why, and fishbone methodsDevelop systems and processes to digitalize on-ground operations in terms of inventory management, engineering and maintenance managementTrack OEE, scrap rate, cycle time, and cost-per-unit metrics, and build the improvement pipeline from data trendsApply 5S and visual management systems on the shop floor and audit sustainment after implementationBuild the business case, financial justification, and ROI tracking for improvement projects and capital requestsTrain and coach production supervisors and operators on Lean tools and problem-solving methodsReport savings, project status, and improvement roadmap to Plant Manager and leadership on a recurring cadenceSpearhead all new projects and improvements in the plantDevelop a technical and financial feasibility study for NPI (New Product Introduction) requests from customersDevelop process automations for communication, workflow and optimize communication and information flow in the factoryPropose chains of command, PFMEA and PFD for the most efficient state of operationsAnalyze common defects and work with Quality to ensure recurrence prevention in an engineering way Decision Authority This is a corporate strategic position. The role owns the continuous improvement pipeline end to end, from opportunity identification through implementation and sustainment audit. The Plant Manager sets site priorities and capacity plans, while the role is accountable to corporate leadership for the quality of its methodology, the validity of its savings, and the sustainability of its results. This position is accountable for delivering validated results, not simply recommending changes. Budget authority for equipment and capital remains with the Plant Manager, but this role drives the technical justification, savings validation, and ROI analysis. Cross-Functional Interfaces Plant Manager: Improvement priority setting, capacity planning, capital project prioritizationProduction Supervisors: Kaizen participation, standard work deployment, sustainment of improvement changesQuality: Joint root cause analysis on defects, process validation, inspection criteria alignmentEngineering & Maintenance: Equipment reliability data, downtime root cause, preventive maintenance alignment to process capabilityInventory: Work with the inventory management team and analyze root cause(s) of data discrepancy, propose and implement corrective and preventive actionsOperations: Minimize/eliminate waste in the plant to maximize streamlined process flow in the factory; develop SOPs, WI, best practices and resource optimization Requirements 5-7 years of manufacturing engineering or continuous improvement experience in steel fabrication, metal forming, or welding operationsBachelor of Science in Industrial, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering (or a related engineering discipline); equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be consideredWorking knowledge of fabrication equipment (CNC cutting, press brake, welding cells, galvanizing lines)Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and weld symbolsDemonstrated track record of leading Lean or Six Sigma projects with quantified cost, quality, or throughput resultsProficiency in MS Dynamics or similar ERP systems, plus statistical analysis tools (Minitab or equivalent) for data-driven decision makingStrong facilitation and influencing skills, with experience driving change through supervisors and operators who do not report to this roleHands-on problem solver comfortable spending the majority of the workday on the production floorSix Sigma Green Belt certification required; Black Belt preferredMust be able to lift 20 pounds with one handMust work in extreme temperatures, cold and heatStand 5-6 hours per dayStay on the production floor - this is not a desk job