Process Improvement Manager Jobs in Spokane, WA (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Continuous Improvement Engineer

Department: Quality

Reports To: Director of Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement

Supervises: None

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Title: Continuous Improvement Engineer

Department: Quality Assurance

Reports To: Director of SQCI

Supervises: N/A

FLSA Status: Exempt

Date Reviewed: July 2026

Summary/Objectives: The Continuous Improvement Engineer reports to the Director of Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement and partners with Operations Leadership across multiple sites. This role leads Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives that improve quality, safety, capacity, lead time, inventory, and operational efficiency. The position also serves as the bridge between Product Engineering and Manufacturing to support successful New Product Introductions (NPI). Experience with automation and electronics manufacturing processes, including SMT and PCB assembly, is preferred.

.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following (other duties may be assigned):

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement projects focused on quality, safety, productivity, capacity, lead time, and inventory.
• Provide technical support to production teams to improve manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and safety.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Quality to implement sustainable process improvements and support change management.
• Lead capital projects, manufacturing improvements, and development of production cells, process maps, value stream maps, and work instructions.
• Develop and monitor improvement plans, performance metrics, and KPIs; prepare reports and presentations for leadership.
• Track and improve First Pass Yield (FPY), scrap, rework, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) through data analysis and corrective actions.
• Complete and maintain quality documentation, including Flow Diagrams, Change Controls, FMEAs, APQPs, and PPAPs.
• Support Safety and Quality Management Systems, ISO 9001 compliance, and internal audits.
• Participate in New Product Introduction (NPI) activities to ensure manufacturability, quality, and process readiness.
• Coach employees on Lean principles, Operational Excellence, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Lead special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities or limitations related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions to perform the essential functions, unless the accommodation will cause and undue hardship.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, project management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Education and/or Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Electrical, Mechanical, or related Engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Three to five years of manufacturing, operations, or engineering experience.
• Minimum three years applying Lean tools such as 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, TPM, Standard Work, SMED, and Andon.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent) preferred.
• Experience implementing OEE improvements and using statistical analysis tools.
• Electronics manufacturing experience (SMT and PCB) preferred.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to qualified individuals in accordance with applicable state and federal law.

The employee is required to stand for long periods of time and occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move heavier items utilizing a team lift. Required Personal Protective Equipment includes, but is not limited to, safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe shoes, respirator mask, and coveralls. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to airborne contaminants, moving mechanical parts and vibration. Work environment is not climate-controlled. The noise level may exceed permissible exposure limit and hearing protection may be required.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full-Time. Work Schedule: Monday through Thursday, 6:00AM – 5:00PM. Hours are subject to change at any time.

Travel:Travel is expected for this position.