Continuous Improvement Engineer II

Continuous Improvement Engineer II - CooperCompanies

La Garita, Costa Rica (On-site)

Job Description

The Continuous Improvement Engineer ll is responsible for leading and driving strategic continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity performance. This role serves as a key change agent through the Lean Manufacturing Six Sigma program, ensuring optimal customer satisfaction, operational efficiency and financial performance. The position provides technical leadership, supports operational strategy deployment and collaborates with stakeholders at all organizations to drive process excellence and continuous business improvement.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions & Accountabilities:

• Lead and mentor team members in conducting time studies.
• Layout Improvements proposal design and execution.
• Reviews production schedules, engineering specifications, process flows, and other information to understand methods that are applied and activities that take place in manufacturing.
• Support and execute cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC, Kaizen, VSM, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Lead and/or support 5S and Lean initiatives tasks.
• Support and execute cost reduction projects and productivity improvements that generate measurable financial impact.
• Process improvements and innovative projects.
• Lead and/or support problem-solving workshops, root cause investigations, and corrective implementation across manufacturing operations.
• Perform other duties and tasks assigned by management.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Coordinate and support lean and six sigma initiatives across multiple departments, with management guidance to ensure focus on company goals.
• Knowledge of the applicable laws and regulations, including FDA, ISO standards, and other industry-specific compliance regulations.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex technical documentation such as engineering drawings, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and technical manuals.
• Committed to delivering high-quality service to internal and external customers, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Strong, clear, and assertive communication skills, both verbal and written, to influence, instruct, and collaborate effectively at all organizational levels.
• High ability to manage multiple priorities and assignments simultaneously while maintaining focus on deadlines and objectives.
• High sense of ownership and dedication to supporting the development and performance of internal customers.
• Must be able to use and train in problem solving techniques and think independently in a constantly changing production environment
• Demonstrates high emotional intelligence, patience, and professionalism when addressing challenging behaviors or learning barriers.
• Solid teamwork and communication skills.
• Strong ability to influence stakeholders and negotiate priorities to support training objectives and continuous improvement.

Experience

• 3 – 5 years of experience in continuous improvement, operations in regulated environments.
• 3 – 5 years of Experience in the manufacturing process of medical devices.
• Experience facilitating Lean events, Kaizen workshops, Value Stream Mapping activities, and DMAIC projects.
• Knowledge in an ERP system (D365) is a plus.

Education

• BS Degree in Industrial engineering or related field.
• Capable to be self-taught on engineering or technology tools if needed.
• Green Belt or related certification is a plus.
• SolidWorks / AutoCAD or related certification is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Canva). For excel is required advanced level.
• English Level Intermediate / advanced.

Performance Measures:

• Annual Cost Savings Generated
• Productivity Improvement %
• Project Completion Rate
• Capacity Improvement Achieved
• Number of Implemented Continuous Improvement Projects
• Financial Impact of Operational Excellence Initiatives
• Stakeholder Satisfaction Score