Continuous Improvement Engineer

Arlemax is working with a manufacturing company in North Central Iowa to hire a Continuous Improvement Engineer.

This role will focus on process improvement, manufacturing efficiency, root cause problem solving, and building better systems across the operation. There will also be quality responsibilities tied to corrective action, customer issues, inspection, and process control, but the main need is someone who can improve how work gets done.

This could be a strong fit for someone with a background in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, quality engineering, continuous improvement, Lean, or operations improvement.

Position Summary:

The Continuous Improvement Engineer will work closely with operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, and leadership to identify problems, improve processes, reduce waste, and create more consistent ways of working.

The company is looking for someone who is comfortable spending time on the floor, working directly with operators and supervisors, and turning recurring problems into practical improvements.

This is a hands-on manufacturing role. The right person will need to understand the process, ask good questions, use data where it helps, and follow through until improvements are actually implemented.

Highlights:

• Identify and lead process improvement projects across the manufacturing operation
• Work with operations and engineering to improve workflow, quality, delivery, and productivity
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activity for recurring production and quality issues
• Help reduce scrap, rework, customer issues, downtime, and process variation
• Develop and improve standard work, process documentation, visual controls, and follow-up systems
• Use Lean and continuous improvement tools such as 5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping, process mapping, waste reduction, and standard work
• Support improvements around inspection methods, measurement practices, gaging, and process control
• Help create better structure around quality and manufacturing processes
• Support customer quality concerns, including investigation, follow-up, and corrective action
• Work with suppliers when quality or process issues impact production
• Track key metrics and use them to identify improvement opportunities
• Partner with leadership to prioritize projects that have real impact on cost, quality, delivery, and customer satisfaction

Nice to Have:

• Manufacturing experience in a hands-on production environment
• Background in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, quality engineering, continuous improvement, Lean, or operations improvement
• Experience leading root cause analysis, corrective action, process improvement, or cost reduction projects
• Ability to work well with operators, supervisors, engineers, customers, and leadership
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to create structure where process is loose or inconsistent
• Comfortable being on the floor and working through problems directly with the people doing the work
• Experience with machining, industrial components, equipment, metal fabrication, or similar manufacturing is helpful
• Exposure to quality tools such as SPC, FMEA, PPAP, APQP, MSA, inspection methods, or measurement systems is helpful
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, quality, industrial technology, or a related field preferred

Compensation

• Expected compensation is around $85,000-$110,000 with some flexibility depending on experience.