Continuous Improvement Engineer

Job Title: Continuous Improvement Specialist
Job Description
A leading organization in the medical device industry is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive operational excellence across manufacturing and business operations. In this role, you will collaborate 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 well-suited for a manufacturing professional with experience in Lean methodologies, process improvement, and data analysis who enjoys working collaboratively to deliver measurable business results.
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 performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Analyze operational and manufacturing data to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and performance gaps.
• Conduct statistical analysis and root cause investigations to develop corrective actions and process improvements.
• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives ranging from focused improvement activities and smaller kaizen events to larger cross-functional improvement 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 improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Communicate project updates, findings, and recommendations clearly and effectively to stakeholders at multiple levels of the organization.
• Utilize SAP and other systems to gather, interpret, and report operational and manufacturing performance data.
• Perform time studies and analyze manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains.
• Support the management and reduction of nonconforming product through analysis of nonconformance reports and quality data.
• Contribute to process engineering and manufacturing engineering activities that enhance throughput, quality, and consistency.
• Assist in the development, documentation, and standardization of improved processes and work practices.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Life Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, 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, with the ability to present findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience with Six Sigma tools and methodologies, preferably at a Green Belt level or equivalent.
• Proficiency in data analysis, including the use of Excel pivot tables and other analytical tools.
• Experience working in medical device, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with SAP or similar enterprise systems used in manufacturing operations.
• Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing operations and understanding of associated challenges.
• Knowledge of process engineering or manufacturing engineering principles applied in a production environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience within medical device, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, and related methodologies.
• Experience facilitating or actively participating in kaizen events and structured process improvement initiatives.
• Background in medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and quality requirements.
• Hands-on experience with Six Sigma tools and approaches, including Green Belt-level projects.
• Familiarity with time studies and work measurement techniques to assess and improve productivity.
• Experience working with automated or semi-automated production environments.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis tools and process performance metrics used to monitor and control manufacturing processes.
• Experience working with nonconforming product data and nonconformance reports to drive quality improvements.
• Understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost, and how to influence them through process improvements.
• Ability to collaborate with quality, operations, engineering, and laboratory teams to align improvement initiatives with regulatory and quality standards.

Work Environment
The role is based in a large medical device manufacturing environment that operates under regulated industry standards. You will work closely with cross-functional teams in a production setting that may include automated and semi-automated equipment, high-volume manufacturing lines, and structured quality systems. The environment emphasizes safety, product quality, and adherence to standardized processes, supported by Lean and Operational Excellence methodologies. You will regularly use tools such as SAP, Excel (including pivot tables), and statistical analysis software to monitor performance and support decision-making. Work hours align with typical manufacturing operations and may involve collaboration across shifts to support continuous improvement activities and production needs.
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 Jul 27, 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.