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Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Engineer

Hikinex · Gainesboro, TN

Apply on Hikinex ↗
Level
Engineer
Team
Lean / CI
Travel
50%
Degree
Required
Experience asked
8+ years
Industry
Industrial
Posted
7 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level continuous improvement role at Hikinex (industrial) in Gainesboro, TN.

They ask for
8+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, FMEA, Tooling
Day to day
about 50% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Continuous Improvement roles in the US: typical posted base $105k–$151k.

Median of the low and high ends of 126 live postings that list pay, out of 314 continuous improvement openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Tennessee plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 313 other live lean / ci postings in the US.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $102k–$145k, from 114 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
More than usual (8+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Lean 85%
  • ✓ Six Sigma 55%
  • ✓ Kaizen 53%
  • Value stream mapping 51%
  • Root cause 46%
  • ✓ 5S 33%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for FMEA, Tooling, AutoCAD, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 8+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentioned

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Hikinex

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • Is CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
    • Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
    • The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from HikinexAs posted on their careers site.Show

What you will do

at the company: Serve as the Continuous Improvement subject matter expert for the company. Schedule and participate in kaizen events, including cycle time analysis, brainstorming, problem-solving, standard work, setup reduction, 5S, cell layout, visual management, and error-proofing activities in the plants. Coach, train, and mentor plant Continuous Improvement team members on TPS and CI principles. Support best practice implementation and standardization across all plants through consistent communication and visits to other plant locations. Assist production operations in driving manufacturing efficiency improvements across all plants using process improvement tactics, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and kaizen. Update and maintain all Continuous Improvement procedures and standards within the Docushare database. Assist with product launch activities at the plants to ensure processes are developed to meet all cost sheet KPIs, including labor content, cycle time/PPH, and scrap levels. Maintain systems used to supply trial production data for launch report card maintenance. Provide clear work instructions, training, and system designs to support the sustainability of improvements. Support Agile tasks related to product launch inputs such as environmental and safety analysis, process layout, trial reports, and PFMEAs. Provide feedback to corporate Project and Tooling Engineering Managers to ensure equipment and tooling standards are updated based on plant best practices. Promote and drive efficiency and safety at the plants. Perform other related duties as assigned. What you will bring to the company: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent field from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Strong TPS and CI skills, with the ability to coach, mentor, and train team members.3 to 8 years of related experience and/or training in continuous improvement within a manufacturing environment. High level of technical aptitude with a strong understanding of systems, equipment, and processes. Hands-on experience and the ability to troubleshoot complex manufacturing equipment. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and boards of directors. Ability to apply advanced mathematical concepts and principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of practical and technical problems. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, as well as Internet tools, AutoCAD, and design software. Required knowledge and understanding: TPS and Continuous Improvement principles Lean Manufacturing Proficiency in AutoCAD

Travel

Requirements

This position requires travel up to 50% of the time.

Show full description ↓

Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Engineer The Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Engineer is part of the company's corporate Engineering team and will be based at one of the plant locations in Monroe, OH; Jackson, TN; Somerset, KY; or Valparaiso, IN. This position will lead the Continuous Improvement focus at the plant level while also supporting new product launch activities. The Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Engineer will serve as the primary resource for Continuous Improvement team training and assist the plants in sustaining gains achieved through CI efforts. This position will support kaizen events at the plants and will drive best practice standardization across all plant locations. This position will also support new product launch activities at the plants, with the goal of achieving all KPIs at the cost sheet level at the start of production.

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