Lean Manufacturing Process Engineer, Plant Industrialization

Build What’s Next in Manufacturing

DirectPath Recruiting Services is partnering with a growing manufacturer to hire a high-impact Lean Manufacturing Process Engineer. Picture your day: you start on the floor, reviewing performance dashboards, walking the line, and spotting waste. By mid-morning, you’re refining a cell layout to reduce travel and takt variance. After lunch, you’re modeling a fixture in SolidWorks for a new product introduction, then stepping into a review for a $1M+ capital equipment purchase. You close the day by finalizing a plan that trims COGS without compromising quality or safety.

What You’ll Own

• Champion lean initiatives that elevate efficiency, quality, and cost performance across a multi-building manufacturing campus
• Design and scale safe, repeatable manufacturing processes for fabrication, welding, machining, paint, and assembly
• Analyze plant performance, re-balance work, and optimize facility layouts and workflows
• Industrialize new product launches end-to-end, from pilot builds to full-rate production
• Lead targeted cost-reduction and productivity programs with a clear COGS focus
• Provide methods engineering support (time studies, labor optimization, standard work)
• Lead or support capital projects of $1M+ and oversee equipment selection, installation, and ramp-up
• Ensure adherence to safety requirements and engineering standards at all stages

What You Bring

• 7+ years of Manufacturing Engineering experience with a strong lean/continuous improvement toolkit (Six Sigma a plus)
• Hands-on exposure to plant expansions and startups (greenfield/brownfield)
• Proficiency with SolidWorks and data analysis tools
• Background in fabrication, welding, assembly, and similar production environments; HVAC/heating systems knowledge is a plus
• Track record of leading cross-functional projects and delivering measurable results

Bonus Experience

• Sheet metal fabrication, paint lines, welding, and machining processes
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and manufacturability collaboration with design teams
• Understanding of supply chain dynamics and vendor collaboration
• Familiarity with MRP planning and production scheduling techniques
• Exposure to Industry 4.0 concepts and their practical application

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Mechanical Engineering degree preferred
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred

Core Proficiencies

• Mechanical Troubleshooting Skills
• Mechanical Design & Engineering
• Engineering Degree

This is a visible role in a growth environment where your decisions will shape operations today and for years to come. Interested—or know someone who might be? Let’s connect.