1

Lean Engineering Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Engineering & Science Job Schedule: Full time Remote: No Job Summary:** Hitachi, Ltd. is seeking a ... Develop and execute strategies for process optimization, including lean manufacturing principles ...

Engineering & Science Job Schedule: Full time Remote: No Job Summary:** Hitachi, Ltd. is seeking a ... Develop and execute strategies for process optimization, including lean manufacturing principles ...

Industrial Engineer

Portsmouth, VA · On-site

$78K - $118K/yr

Mentor front-line leaders and supervisors in Lean principles and disciplined execution. * Support onboarding and implementation of new processes, equipment, or workflow changes. * Ensure engineering ...

Implementation of Lean tools, Ergonomic Improvement, Layout Generation & PFEP, Jig & Fixture Design ... Bachelor s Degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, or other relevant technical fields, from ...

Industrial Engineer

Colonial Heights, VA · On-site

$68K - $92K/yr

Associates Degree in Engineering or two (2) years work-related experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITITES * Knowledge of lean manufacturing, six sigma and/or industrial engineer concepts ...

Associates Degree in Engineering or two (2) years work-related experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITITES * Knowledge of lean manufacturing, six sigma and/or industrial engineer concepts ...

MATSYS, Inc. is seeking an Engineering Manager to join its team of high-performing scientists ... Working knowledge of 5S and Lean Manufacturing Concepts * Experience coordinating work across ...

Support quality systems, Lean initiatives, and AS9100 compliance. Required Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering field, or an equivalent combination of ...

Showing results 41-60

Lean Engineering information

See Virginia salary details

$12

$31

$56

How much do lean engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for lean engineering in Virginia is $31.28, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.00 and $37.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lean engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lean Engineer, a strong background in industrial engineering, process improvement, and Lean manufacturing principles is essential, often supported by a relevant bachelor's degree. Familiarity with tools like Six Sigma, Kaizen, value stream mapping, and Lean certification (such as Lean Six Sigma Green Belt) is typically required. Excellent problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams stand out as vital soft skills. These competencies drive operational efficiency, cost savings, and continuous improvement within manufacturing or production environments.

What is lean engineering?

Lean Engineering is an approach to engineering that focuses on maximizing value while minimizing waste throughout the design, development, and manufacturing processes. It applies Lean principles—originally developed in manufacturing—to engineering workflows, aiming to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality. Lean Engineering encourages continuous improvement, collaboration, and the elimination of non-value-added activities. This methodology is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and technology to streamline product development and accelerate time-to-market.

How does a lean engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement process improvements?

Lean Engineers work closely with cross-functional teams—including production, quality, supply chain, and management—to identify inefficiencies and implement process enhancements. They facilitate workshops such as Kaizen events, gather input from team members at all levels, and use data-driven approaches to develop sustainable solutions. Effective communication and stakeholder engagement are crucial, as Lean Engineers must ensure that changes are practical and embraced by all involved. This collaborative environment not only fosters innovation but also accelerates the adoption of best practices across the organization.

What is the difference between Lean Engineering vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectLean EngineeringMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsTypically requires a degree in engineering, certifications in Lean or Six SigmaBachelor's or master's in mechanical engineering, professional licensure often preferred
Work EnvironmentManufacturing, process improvement, product developmentDesign, testing, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems
Industry UsageManufacturing, automotive, aerospace, process industriesAutomotive, aerospace, robotics, energy sectors

Lean Engineering focuses on optimizing processes and reducing waste through methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma, often working across various manufacturing and process environments. Mechanical Engineers design and develop mechanical systems, focusing on product development, testing, and maintenance. While both roles require engineering credentials, Lean Engineering emphasizes process improvement skills, whereas Mechanical Engineering centers on mechanical design and analysis.

What job categories do people searching Lean Engineering jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Lean Engineering jobs in Virginia are:
Infographic showing various Lean Engineering job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,061 per year, or $31.3 per hour.

Director, Head of Software Engineering

HITT Contracting, Inc.

Falls Church, VA • On-site

$269K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Every day, our team members do amazing things in pursuit of our shared purpose to build trust with our clients, partners, subcontractors, and teammates. No matter your background, education, or career path, if you share our vision to create extraordinary experiences, you belong at HITT.
Director, Head of Software Engineering
Job Description:
HITT is seeking a Head of Software Engineering to build a modern, AI-native software engineering practice from the ground up. This is a senior leadership role for an engineering executive with a builder's mindset: someone who has seen firsthand how agentic, AI-enabled development is changing the way software gets made - and who knows how to turn that shift into a durable advantage for one of the nation's largest general contractors. They bring the vision, technical depth, and people leadership to define how software gets built at HITT as the firm scales.
Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the Head of Software Engineering will establish HITT's agentic engineering practice from scratch - setting the technical vision, standing up lean, agile product teams, and creating the standards, workflows, and culture that let small teams of AI-fluent engineers deliver high-quality software at a pace traditional development organizations cannot match. This leader understands that tools are only half the story: lasting change comes from people, and they will be as invested in recruiting and developing talent as in technology itself.
The Head of Software Engineering is accountable for the structure and growth of the engineering organization, the delivery of applications and platforms that serve HITT's project teams and jobsites nationwide, and the development of a new generation of AI-enabled engineering talent - hiring builders who already work this way and training HITT's existing developers in new methods. The role partners closely with senior leaders across the firm and serves as a visible champion for the responsible, high-leverage use of AI in how HITT builds.
Responsibilities
Agentic Engineering Practice
  • Design, launch, and lead HITT's agentic engineering practice from the ground up, defining the operating model, team structure, and software development lifecycle for AI-enabled delivery

  • Establish standards, guardrails, and best practices for agentic development - including AI coding agents and assistants, prompt and context engineering, human-in-the-loop review, automated testing, and evaluation

  • Select, implement, and evolve the AI development toolchain (coding agents, LLM platforms, orchestration frameworks, and integrations), reassessing regularly as the landscape advances

  • Partner with the CIO on the enterprise technology, data, and AI roadmap, ensuring the engineering practice accelerates HITT's broader digital transformation

  • Ensure the software the practice ships are reliable, fast, and usable in high-velocity, decentralized field environments with users of many backgrounds

Talent, Recruiting & Enablement
  • Recruit and hire engineers and engineering leaders who thrive in lean, agile, AI-augmented teams, and position HITT as a destination for top AI-native engineering talent

  • Design and deliver training and enablement programs that upskill HITT's existing developers in AI-enabled development methods: from hands-on workshops and pairing to internal playbooks and certification

  • Build a deep talent bench and clear career paths within the engineering function to ensure succession for senior roles

  • Foster a culture of experimentation - fail fast and pivot - while managing risk responsibly

Delivery & Engineering Excellence
  • Bring structure, accountability, and delivery discipline to the software engineering function, balancing execution (≈60%) with innovation (≈40%)

  • Implement lean, agile delivery practices built on small batches, rapid iteration, continuous integration and deployment, and measurable outcomes

  • Engineer security, quality, and compliance into every product, in alignment with HITT's zero trust cybersecurity strategy and NIST-aligned frameworks

  • Define engineering KPIs and provide ongoing transparency to the executive team on velocity, quality, adoption, and business value delivered

  • Leverage external partners strategically while avoiding over-reliance on consultants, building enduring in-house engineering capability

Executive Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to executive and operational leaders on what modern, AI-enabled software development makes possible for the business

  • Partner with operations, virtual design and construction (VDC), preconstruction, and corporate functions to identify high-value opportunities for custom software, automation, and agentic workflows

  • Represent HITT's engineering practice externally, in recruiting, industry forums, and the broader technology community, to attract talent and partnerships

  • Champion responsible AI use, model governance, and data stewardship across the software portfolio

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred

  • 12+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including 5+ years leading engineering teams or organizations; experience building a team, practice, or product organization from scratch is strongly preferred

  • Current, hands-on experience with AI-enabled and agentic software development, including AI coding agents and assistants (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor), LLM APIs, agent frameworks and orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, and evaluation practices

  • Demonstrated success recruiting strong engineers and training existing developers in new tools, methods, and ways of working

  • Proven track record leading lean, agile teams that ship, balancing innovation with operational discipline in a complex enterprise

  • Deep grounding in modern software engineering practice: cloud-native architecture, APIs and integration, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and test automation

  • Strong product sense and user empathy; experience delivering software for field-based or operational users (construction, engineering, manufacturing, logistics) is a plus

  • Executive-level communication and presentation skills; able to build conviction with C-suite audiences and translate deep technical topics for business leaders

  • Financial and vendor management acumen, with experience owning budgets and managing platform and tooling ecosystems

In accordance with Virginia Senate Bill 215 (SB 215), the base salary range for this position is:
$130,000.00 - $210,000.00
Compensation in other cities and states may vary. HITT Contracting offers a competitive total benefits and compensation package including performance-based bonuses, premium health care coverage including vision and dental, employer-matched 401(k), wellness reimbursement program, paid holidays and time-off, and other voluntary benefits and leave types. The determination of salary is based on the candidate's individual professional experience, qualifications, education, skills, and training.
HITT Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring and developing the most qualified individuals based on job-related experience, skills, and merit. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We value a respectful, inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. HITT Contracting maintains a drug-free workplace, consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.