Continuous Improvement Engineer

Continuous Improvement Engineer

The Continuous Improvement Engineer plays a hands-on role in enhancing manufacturing and assembly processes, increasing efficiency, and supporting production operations. You will work primarily on the manufacturing floor to identify opportunities, solve problems, and implement sustainable process improvements using Lean, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies. This position collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to develop and maintain robust processes, improve plant layout and material flow, and support new equipment and manufacturing technologies.

Responsibilities:

• Improve manufacturing and assembly processes to increase efficiency, quality, and throughput.
• Lead continuous improvement and Lean initiatives across the manufacturing floor.
• Perform time studies and line balancing to optimize labor utilization and production flow.
• Improve workflow, plant layout, and material flow to reduce waste and enhance productivity.
• Develop, maintain, and refine work instructions, bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and other process documentation.
• Identify and eliminate waste using Lean principles, 5S, and other continuous improvement tools.
• Troubleshoot production and process issues, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Track and report improvements using production data and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Support the introduction of new equipment and manufacturing technologies, ensuring smooth integration into production.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to align improvement initiatives with business objectives.
• Develop and support a Lean management system to sustain continuous improvement activities.
• Drive straight improvement processes focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Lead and support plant layout and 5S projects, ensuring organized, efficient, and safe work areas.
• Support safety enhancements by identifying risks and implementing process changes that improve workplace safety.
• Work closely with manufacturing teams to implement sound designs that meet cost targets and ease-of-assembly requirements.
• Implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing Systems to ensure long-term process stability and performance.
• Evaluate and resolve process-related issues that arise within manufacturing and production assembly.
• Apply knowledge of design principles, particularly for large multicomponent assemblies, to improve manufacturability.
• Collaborate on projects involving robotic welding and robotic fabrication to optimize automated processes.
• Contribute to project management activities, including planning, execution, and follow-up on improvement projects.
• Utilize CAD design capabilities and detailed work instructions to support process changes and improvements.

Essential Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in manufacturing, process engineering, or continuous improvement roles, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in a manufacturing or production environment (preferred).
• Proven experience improving manufacturing or assembly processes with measurable results.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude and strong problem-solving skills in a production setting.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles and tools.
• Experience with 5S implementation and sustainment.
• Experience performing time studies, line balancing, and workflow optimization.
• Experience developing and maintaining work instructions, BOMs, routings, and process documentation.
• Experience implementing and sustaining Lean Manufacturing Systems.
• Ability to evaluate and solve process-related issues in manufacturing and assembly environments.
• Knowledge of design principles related to large multicomponent assemblies.
• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or an equivalent technology degree (preferred), or equivalent experience.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to use data and KPIs to track, analyze, and communicate process improvements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

• Lean Six Sigma experience, including exposure to structured problem-solving and statistical tools.
• Experience with robotic welding and robotic fabrication processes.
• Experience working with large mechanical assemblies in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting safety enhancements through process and layout changes.
• Project management experience related to continuous improvement or manufacturing projects.
• Experience with CAD design tools to support process and layout modifications.
• Demonstrated success working with manufacturing teams to implement designs that meet cost and ease-of-assembly targets.
• Experience developing and supporting a Lean management system.
• Familiarity with fabrication processes and their integration into production workflows.

Work Environment:

This role is highly hands-on and primarily based on the manufacturing floor. Approximately 90% of your time will be spent in the business, identifying and executing improvement projects directly within production areas, and about 10% will be dedicated to office-based administrative tasks such as data analysis, documentation, and project planning. You will work closely with production teams, engineering, and other functions in an active manufacturing environment that involves large mechanical assemblies, fabrication operations, and potentially robotic welding and robotic fabrication equipment. The environment emphasizes Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement practices, with a strong focus on safety, organized workspaces, and efficient plant layouts. Standard manufacturing attire and appropriate personal protective equipment are expected to align with plant safety and operational requirements.

Job Type & Location:

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Mentor, OH.

Pay and Benefits:

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $48.08/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. 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)

Application Deadline:

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 28, 2026.

Workplace Type:

This is a fully onsite position in Mentor, OH.

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.