Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer

IEM is currently seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer for our Surrey, B.C. locations and will report to our Continuous Improvement manager. Join our transformation journey as a lean professional supporting kaizen activities, standard work documentation, and data-driven process improvement. This is a hands-on role ideal for candidates with a passion for lean manufacturing and a desire to grow in a structured CI environment.

• Schedule, plan, and facilitate kaizen events: line balancing, standard work, Daily Management setup, SMED, 5S, visual management, error-proofing
• Conduct value stream mapping and process analysis; develop data-driven improvement roadmaps
• Design standard work from the ground up: work sequences, takt time, operator training, visual controls
• Establish and audit Daily Management systems; coach leaders on sustainment
• Identify systemic barriers to improvement (design gaps, training deficits, leadership behavior) and address them

• Lead systematic problem-solving using PDCA, A3, and 8D methodologies; use data to find real root causes
• Analyze production data (cycle time, downtime, quality, labor) to set priorities and measure results
• Work cross-functionally (Ops, Process Engineering, Supply Chain) to implement solutions that stick
• Track sustainability metrics; conduct post-kaizen audits and investigate deterioration

• Mentor E2 engineers on CI methodologies, kaizen facilitation, and systematic thinking
• Coach operations leaders and supervisors on Daily Management discipline and lean problem-solving
• Document and standardize best practices; share learnings across teams
• Develop and deliver CI training to operations, manufacturing engineering, and leadership

• Own improvement roadmap execution; track schedule, budget, and impact metrics
• Establish and monitor KPIs: productivity, quality, lead time, cost savings, safety
• Present progress in operations reviews and escalate barriers.
• Manufacturing floor presence required; spend significant time observing, coaching, facilitating.

• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, business, operations, or related field.
• 7–10+ years in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement
• Led 10+ kaizen events from concept to sustained implementation
• Proven success implementing and sustaining Daily Management systems
• Demonstrated ability to move production lines from batch toward flow

• Deep understanding of Lean Manufacturing: value stream mapping, takt time, line balancing, pull systems, standard work, visual management, 5S.
• Proficiency in process improvement methodologies: PDCA, A3 problem solving, 8D, root-cause analysis (5-why), SMED.
• Data-driven mindset: comfortable analyzing production metrics, cycle time studies, bottleneck analysis, process capability.
• Experience documenting processes and creating visual standards that operators can follow.

• Excellent facilitation and coaching skills; you make others better at problem-solving
• Ability to work cross-functionally (Ops, ME, Supply Chain, Quality) without friction
• Can navigate disagreement and push back when people want quick fixes instead of root causes
• Strong communication: can explain complex problems clearly to frontline workers and executives
• Detail-oriented; you follow through and hold teams accountable
• Comfort in dynamic, multi-tasking environments; you prioritize and adapt as business needs change
• Energizing presence; you build trust and rapport across all levels

• Lean Expertise: You can run any type of kaizen; you understand how tools like SMED, 5S, standard work, and visual management connect.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with multiple departments to drive culture of continuous improvement, engagement and business results.
• Root Cause Thinking: You don't accept surface answers; you dig into data and ask "why" until you find the real problem.
• Systems View: You see connections between processes; you know that fixing one thing might break another.
• Data Fluency: You trust data over opinions; you can read a praetor chart, spot a trend, and make a recommendation.
• Facilitation: You can draw out the best ideas from a room full of people with different perspectives.
• Coaching & Development: You invest in people; your team members grow in capability under your mentorship.
• Influence Without Authority: You can move things without a formal decision; you build alignment through respect.
• Grit: Improvements are hard; you push through obstacles, learn from setbacks, and keep going.

• Lead 4–6 major Kaizen initiatives/year.
• Champion Daily Management

• 100% on-site in Surrey, BC. No remote work.
• Manufacturing floor presence required; you'll spend significant time on the shop floor observing, coaching, facilitating.
• Occasional travel to support multi-site improvement initiatives.

Beware of recruiting scams. IEM never charges candidates fees, and all recruiter emails come from an @iemfg.com address. If you suspect fraudulent activity, do not share personal information and report it to us at iemfg.com/contact

IEM does not discriminate against any applicant based on any characteristic protected by law.

Information collected and processed as part of your IEM Careers profile, and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to IEM's Workforce Member Privacy Policy.