Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Productivity

Position Summary:

• Leads hands-on productivity improvement across Minneapolis manufacturing processes (upstream cell culture and lab-based production; downstream purification and filling; kitting, packaging, and shipping), supporting other site operational functions as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Observe shop-floor work with frontline employees/leaders to identify waste, bottlenecks, workload imbalance, waiting, unnecessary movement, rework, and ineffective handoffs.
• Identify and prioritize productivity opportunities using floor observations, operational data, and employee input.
• Use time studies, standard-labor analysis, line balancing, workload/capacity analysis, process mapping, and material-flow assessments.
• Lead and implement process improvements to increase throughput, improve labor efficiency, reduce cycle time, eliminate bottlenecks, balance capacity/workload, improve equipment utilization/OEE, and reduce scrap/rework/yield/material loss and operating cost.
• Apply Lean and data-based problem solving (Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, visual management, root-cause analysis, Six Sigma).
• Lead focused Kaizens and productivity projects end-to-end (definition → implementation → measurement → sustainment).
• Partner cross-functionally (Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Maintenance, Engineering) to optimize flow and resolve barriers.
• Coach teams on standard work, visual controls, workplace organization, daily management, and improvement sustainment; help update process documentation.

Qualifications:

• BS in engineering/manufacturing/operations or equivalent; 5+ years driving manufacturing productivity improvement/process optimization/operational excellence in manufacturing.
• Demonstrated results improving throughput, labor efficiency, cycle time, capacity/process flow, equipment effectiveness, scrap/rework/yield/material utilization, or operating cost.
• Hands‑on experience with time studies, standard labor, line balancing, capacity/workload analysis, process mapping, material flow, and standard work.
• Experience leading cross-functional improvement projects; working directly with operators/technicians/supervisors.
• Biotechnology/life sciences/regulatory manufacturing experience preferred but not required.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred (Black Belt/Lean certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience a plus).

Skills:

• Lean/manufacturing productivity and continuous improvement knowledge; strong shop-floor presence.
• Analytical/problem‑solving skills using operational data + observation + employee input.
• Ability to lead improvements, influence without authority, facilitate/coach/communicate, and follow through.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; statistical analysis/data visualization or manufacturing performance systems preferred.

Working Conditions/Physical:

• Onsite; requires regular presence across manufacturing/laboratory/filling/kitting/packaging/warehouse/shipping.
• Must follow safety, quality, documentation, PPE/gowning and site requirements; ability to stand/walk/move and observe work areas.

Benefits (if applicable):

• Competitive insurance starting day one: medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, pet, legal and ID shield.
• 401k, ESPP, HSA, FSA, Dependent Care FSA.