Continuous Improvement Engineer

Tenneco · Greenville, MI

Level: Engineer
Team: Lean / CI
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 3+ years
Industry: Automotive
Posted: 13 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level continuous improvement role at Tenneco (automotive) in Greenville, MI. Track, analyze, and communicate key performance indicators to measure progress and support decision-making.

They ask for: 3+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Root cause

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 9, 2026

Continuous Improvement roles in Michigan: typical posted base $89k–$136k.

Median of the low and high ends of 9 live postings that list pay, out of 24 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 23 other live lean / ci postings in Michigan.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Less than usual (3+ vs 4+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Lean 100%
✓ Kaizen 63%
✓ Root cause 58%
✓ Six Sigma 46%
Value stream mapping 42%
5S 38%

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

It asks for 3+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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 Tenneco
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 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 Mike → (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 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: Tenneco in Greenville

1 other open role at this site · 1 person we found in lean / ci roles at Tenneco.

Quality Engineer · Quality

Full description from TennecoAs posted on their careers site.Show

About the role

The CI Manager leads continuous improvement efforts within the plant to drive operational excellence, cost performance, and standardization. This role partners closely with plant leadership and cross-functional teams to improve business results through training, process improvement, problem-solving, and disciplined execution of operational initiatives.

The ideal candidate brings deep operations experience, strong Lean manufacturing knowledge, and the ability to influence at all levels of the organization while building a culture of accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement.

Why The Tenneco Way Matters in This Role

This role plays an important part in bringing the Tenneco Way to life within the plant. That means helping create an environment where high standards, continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration are part of everyday operations. For the CI Manager, this is important because success depends not only on improving processes and reducing cost, but also on building trust, developing people, and creating the discipline needed to sustain results over time. In this role, continuous improvement is not just a set of tools — it is a way of leading the business and strengthening performance.

Key Responsibilities

◆Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen plant performance, reduce cost, and improve operational consistency
◆Deliver training and coaching to plant personnel on continuous improvement methodologies and standard work practices
◆Partner with leaders and frontline teams to identify process variation, close performance gaps, and sustain improvements
◆Conduct audits and assessments to monitor compliance with operational standards and drive corrective actions where needed
◆Facilitate kaizen events and improvement workshops focused on productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction
◆Track, analyze, and communicate key performance indicators to measure progress and support decision-making
◆Support the development and implementation of plant operating standards that enable reliable execution and long-term performance gains
◆Collaborate with stakeholders across the plant to simplify processes, strengthen accountability, and accelerate results

Qualifications

✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field required
✓2-3 years of experience in operations roles required
✓2-3 years of experience driving operational improvement through Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies required
✓Demonstrated ability to teach, coach, and embed continuous improvement practices across teams
✓Experience leading kaizen events, process improvement initiatives, and cost reduction efforts in a manufacturing environment
✓Lean, Six Sigma, or related certification is a plus, but not required

Show full description ↓

At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values – radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win – or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.

With a product portfolio as expansive as it is innovative, an obsessive commitment to quality and excellence, and a global presence, we’re all about getting stuff done, so we can win.

How do we make it happen? Through the Tenneco Way. Fueled by our Core Values, a winning mindset and a relentless commitment to excellence, the Tenneco Way is how we win. It’s what keeps Team Tenneco bold, driven, and unapologetically focused on pushing past limits and redefining success.

Here, you’ll work alongside a team of relentless problem-solvers who are committed to making a tangible impact. If you’re ready to break boundaries, deliver results, and enjoy the ride along the way, you’ll thrive here.

Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way

Job Description – CI Snr Specialist

About tenneco

At Tenneco, we don’t follow industry standards; we set them, and we don’t settle for being best-in-class because we hustle to be better than best-in-class. Whether it’s our Core Values–radical candor, simplify, organizational velocity, tenacious execution and win–or our Get Stuff Done (GSD) mindset, we’re determined to become the most trusted partner and best manufacturer and distributor to the transportation industry.

Want to learn more about who we are? Check out our website to discover the Tenneco Way .

The successful candidate will be

•A strong operator who can translate strategy into execution
•An effective coach who can build capability and engagement across teams
•A clear communicator who builds trust and works well across functions
•Adaptable, resilient, and comfortable leading change in dynamic environments
•Data-driven, practical, and focused on delivering measurable results

Core Competencies

•Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing
•Operations Management
•Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
•Project Management
•Stakeholder Management
•Analytical Thinking
•Manufacturing Processes and Technologies
•Resilience and Change Leadership

Functional Knowledge

•Plant operations