Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer
STERIS · Plymouth, MN
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Base pay
- $90k–$115k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Medical devices
- Posted
- 28 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior continuous improvement role at STERIS (medical devices) in Plymouth, MN.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Value stream mapping, Kanban, Root cause
- Base pay
- $90k–$115k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
- Openings
- 2 with this title at this site
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in Minnesota: typical posted base $105k–$169k. This one lists $90k–$115k.
Median of the low and high ends of 11 live postings that list pay, out of 18 continuous improvement openings in Minnesota, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Minnesota plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 17 other live lean / ci postings in Minnesota.
- Base pay
- About 25% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $105k–$169k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 72%
- ✓ Value stream mapping 61%
- ✓ Kaizen 61%
- ✓ Root cause 50%
- ✓ 5S 39%
- ✓ Team leadership 33%
✓ = 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 STERIS
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find 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.
- 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: STERIS in Plymouth
5 other open roles at this site.
- Senior Quality Engineer · Quality · Senior
- Supplier Quality Engineer I · Quality
- Production Control Specialist · Controls · Specialist
- Senior Process Manufacturing Engineer · Process · Senior
- Quality Specialist · Quality · Specialist
Full description from STERISAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Position Summary
The Senior CI Engineer leads the implementation of lean principles tools, systems, and behaviours throughout the organization. This person works with stakeholders to identify and facilitate key projects that will improve safety, quality, cycle and lead time, and provide the optimum benefits to the business through waste reduction. The Senior CI Engineer trains teams in lean manufacturing tools and systems such as Kanban, Value Stream Mapping,5S, Visual Management and Kaizen. This person also manages project activities including communication, timeline, meeting facilitation, data gathering and processing, solution implementation and follow-up.
This role requires in-person work 5 days/week in Plymouth, MN. This role is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship or H1B Transfer.
What You'll do as a Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer
- ◆Perform hands-on execution of Lean transformation projects.
- ◆Progressively apply advanced Lean principles, techniques, methods, and tools (Shingijutsu).
- ◆Deliver Lean curriculum per the Lean Course Catalog. Conduct in-person training ranging from orientation to problem solving to lean principles and tools.
- ◆Facilitate Kaizen events; monitor and measure to ensure sustainment of results. Provide guidance to stakeholders on Lean tools and principles including set-up reduction, standardized work, value stream mapping, and problem solving.
- ◆Monitors and oversees Kaizen event follow up activities.
- ◆Estimate production or process times, staffing requirements, and related costs to provide information for management decisions including Capital Expenditure requests.
- ◆Perform cost/benefit analysis. Maintains records of Kaizen event metrics.
- ◆Complete Capital Appropriation Requests, provide input into organization budget planning.
- ◆Maintains current knowledge and serves as a technical expert in Lean tools and principles including set-up reduction, standard work, value stream mapping, A3 problem solving, etc.
- ◆Other duties that may be assigned.
Required
- ✓Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering
- ✓5+ Years working in CI capacity with lean principle applications
- ✓Experience in a similar related industry/work environment (e.g. manufacturing, service, distribution, etc.)
- ✓Demonstrated application of lean tools.
- ✓Demonstrated passion for continuous improvement
- ✓Supervisory skills, demonstrated business acumen
- ✓Demonstrated effective skills, organization, logic/reasoning, interpersonal communication (oral and written) accuracy and detail
- ✓Bronze certification from AME/SME or ability to certify within 6 months in role
What STERIS Offers
We value our employees and are committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that support your health, well-being, and financial future.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Here is just a brief overview of what we offer
- •Market Competitive Pay.
- •Extensive Paid Time Off (PTO) and 9 added Holidays.
- •Excellent Healthcare, Dental and vision benefits.
- •Long/Short Term Disability coverage.
- •401(k) with a company match.
- •Maternity & Paternity Leave.
- •Additional add-on benefits/discounts for programs such as Pet Insurance.
- •Tuition Reimbursement and continued educations programs.
- •Excellent opportunities for advancement in a stable long-term career.
STERIS does not accept unsolicited resumes/CV's from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings.
Pay range for this opportunity is $90,000 - $115,250. This position is eligible for bonus participation.
Minimum pay rates offered will comply with county/city minimums, if higher than range listed. Pay rates are based on a number of factors, including but not limited to local labor market costs, years of relevant experience, education, professional certifications, foreign language fluency, etc.
STERIS offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits portfolio. Click here for a complete list of benefits: STERIS Benefits
Open until position is filled.
