Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer / Continuous Improvement SpecialistJob Description

An established leader in the medical device industry is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer / Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive operational excellence across manufacturing and business operations. In this role, you partner closely with Product Line Leaders, Operations, Quality, Laboratory, and other cross-functional teams to identify performance gaps, analyze operational data, and implement sustainable process improvements. This position is ideal for a manufacturing professional with hands-on experience in Lean methodologies, process improvement, and data analysis who enjoys working collaboratively to deliver measurable business results in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Support assigned product lines and functional groups in achieving their operational performance objectives.

• Participate in KPI review meetings with Product Line Leaders and department leadership to assess operational performance and identify improvement opportunities.

• Analyze operational and manufacturing data to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and performance gaps across processes.

• Conduct statistical analysis and root cause investigations to develop effective corrective actions and process improvements.

• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives ranging from focused improvement activities and mini-events to larger cross-functional projects.

• Partner with Operations, Quality, Laboratory, Manufacturing Engineering, and other support organizations to drive sustainable process improvements.

• Monitor and measure improvement initiatives to ensure long-term effectiveness and alignment with business objectives.

• Support Lean manufacturing and Operational Excellence efforts focused on waste reduction, process optimization, and standardization.

• Assist in implementing best practices that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

• Prepare and communicate project updates, findings, and recommendations to stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.

• Leverage time studies and manufacturing process knowledge to optimize workflows and improve production efficiency.

• Utilize nonconformance reports and quality data to identify trends and drive corrective and preventive actions.

• Apply process engineering principles to improve manufacturing processes and support high-volume production environments.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Life Sciences, or another technical discipline.

• 3-5 years of professional experience in manufacturing, process improvement, operational excellence, continuous improvement, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field.

• Experience analyzing manufacturing or operational performance data and identifying opportunities for improvement.

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.

• Experience working within cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.

• Effective communication and project coordination skills, including the ability to present findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.

• Hands-on experience with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence practices.

• Experience with Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma, or similar structured improvement methodologies.

• Proficiency in data analysis, including the use of Excel pivot tables for KPI tracking and performance reporting.

• Experience working in medical device, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing environments.

• Demonstrated ability to support high-volume manufacturing operations and improve manufacturing processes.

• Knowledge of process engineering principles applied in a production environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering is highly relevant.

• 3-5 years of continuous improvement experience, ideally in medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturing.

• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Kaizen, and related methodologies.

• Experience facilitating or participating in Kaizen events and process improvement initiatives.

• Familiarity with automated or semi-automated production environments and associated manufacturing technologies.

• Experience with nonconforming material processes and nonconformance reports to drive quality improvements.

• Knowledge of statistical analysis tools and process performance metrics for monitoring and improving operations.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or similar certification is a strong plus.

• Experience with SAP or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in a manufacturing context.

• Comfort working with KPIs and quality metrics to support decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Background in industrial engineering or manufacturing engineering with a focus on time studies and workflow optimization.

Work Environment

The role is based in a large medical device manufacturing environment that operates under strict regulatory and quality standards. You work closely with Operations, Quality, Laboratory, and Manufacturing Engineering teams in a high-volume production setting that may include automated and semi-automated equipment. The environment emphasizes Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence, with a strong focus on safety, product quality, and on-time delivery. You can expect frequent interaction on the production floor, regular participation in KPI review meetings, and collaboration across multiple functional areas to support ongoing process optimization.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Irvine, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $50.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Irvine,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.