In the heart of Central Ohio, Illuminate USA is transforming solar panel manufacturing from our cutting-edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we've rapidly grown to over 1,500 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere.This is an exciting time to join Illuminate USA as we continue to grow and innovate. We're not just building solar panels-we're building a team of dedicated, passionate associates eager to make a real impact. If you're looking to be part of a collaborative, people-focused, and forward-thinking workplace, we want to hear from you!We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and continuous opportunities for career growth. Come join us on this journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future in the Columbus area.Illuminate USA is seeking a results-driven Continuous Improvement / Lean Manager to lead and accelerate factory-wide improvement initiatives across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity. This leader will drive structured problem solving, standard work deployment, Kaizen execution, and Lean culture development across the manufacturing organization. This role requires strong facilitation skills, data-driven decision making, and the ability to influence across functions including Production, Equipment Engineering, Maintenance, Process Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and EHS.
Key Responsibilities
Drive deployment and maturity of Lean tools:
5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, A3, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), SMED, TPM, and Daily Management Systems (DMS).
Own the CI roadmap including priorities, timeline, resource alignment, and measurable business outcomes.
Coach teams on structured root cause methods including 5-Why, Fishbone, 8D, Pareto, and FMEA alignment.
Partner with leadership toestablishand drive performance improvement in:
OEE / Availability, Yield, Throughput, Scrap PPM, Cycle Time, Labor Efficiency, Downtime Reduction
Lead CI initiatives tied to equipment reliability, line balancing, changeover reduction, material flow, and defect containment.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, Industrial Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
Background in KPI systems (OEE, yield, throughput, cost tracking, scrap reduction)
At Illuminate USA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunity for all, ensuring that all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Your unique background and experiences are valued here, as we believe they strengthen our team and drive our mission forward.
Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.