Manufacturing Engineer - Entry Level, Continuous Improvement
Howmet Aerospace · Whitehall, MI
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 23 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level continuous improvement role at Howmet Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Whitehall, MI. Correspondingly, the incumbent coordinates and leads a wide range of activities that are designed to improve on-time delivery, productivity, quality, cost, safety, and environmental performance.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Value stream mapping, TPM, SMED
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in Michigan: typical posted base $89k–$136k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 21 continuous improvement openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 20 other live lean / ci postings in Michigan.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $89k–$136k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 4+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 95%
- ✓ Kaizen 57%
- ✓ Root cause 52%
- Six Sigma 48%
- ✓ Value stream mapping 48%
- ✓ 5S 43%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
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
Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Howmet Aerospace
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 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.
Write to Michael → (free) - 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?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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
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.
This plant: Howmet Aerospace in Whitehall
38 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in lean / ci roles at Howmet Aerospace.
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Full description from Howmet AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- ✓Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills as well as exhibit initiative and a high level of energy
- ✓Must be willing to spend time on the manufacturing shopfloor to learn and interact with employees
- ✓Exhibit teamwork and go-getting attitude
- ✓Good analytical/statistical problem-solving skills
- ✓Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- ✓Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
- ✓This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Math, Science, Continuous Improvement, or Supply Chain Management highly desired, specifically a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering
- ✓Exceptional Excel Spreadsheet creation, macros, and related data analysis skills
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Under the direction of the Lead Continuous Improvement Engineer , this position is responsible for supporting and assisting the Continuous Improvement Organization (Business Unit and Manufacturing Plants) as “boots on the ground” in the organization, planning, implementation, and follow-through of manufacturing improvement initiatives. Correspondingly, the incumbent coordinates and leads a wide range of activities that are designed to improve on-time delivery, productivity, quality, cost, safety, and environmental performance. This position does not directly supervise other personnel. Additionally, this position supports Operations Supervisors, Area Leads, and Plant Managers.
This position is located in Whitehall, MI
Key Objectives
- •Work out of the Whitehall, MI site as part of a team to reduce executional scrap.
- •Create a system following ‘step by step’ procedures for the loading and unloading of large volume processing equipment.
- •Complete time studies in various processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
- •Perform shopfloor observations, working with Manufacturing employees to document current and target conditions. Eliminate non-value added activities while working on scrap reduction activities.
- •Participate in the Howmet Business System implementation of continuous improvement initiatives and drive waste reductions utilizing Lean principles (JIT, Autonomation, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Line/Cell Design, Single Piece Flow, Material Flow, Visual Management, SMED, TPM, Root Cause Problem Solving, etc.)
- •Coordinate with resource departments within the assigned locations to fabricate, install, and implement improvements to drive waste down and increase efficiency and output.
- •Collaborate in Kaizen activities, problem solving, and rapid improvement process events with both internal and external consultants, customers, and suppliers. This includes providing support to sustain all follow-throughs required to sustain the improvements initiated during those events, especially those concentrated on local improvement.
- •Performing other duties as assigned.
The incumbent will possess
- •Willingness to work with shopfloor employees, interview, and document current condition
- •Strong interpersonal skills requiring the ability to resolve conflicting interests and obtain cooperation.
- •Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: able to develop and use structured approaches to identify root causes and recommend resolutions
- •Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to meet objectives and key deadlines
Basic
Our Story
Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE: HWM), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. Our primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, titanium structural parts and forged wheels. With $8.3 Billion in revenue in 2025, our products play a crucial role in enabling fuel efficiency and lightweighting, contributing to our customers’ success and making a positive impact on the world. To learn more about the way Howmet Aerospace Inc. is advancing the sustain