Lean Six Sigma / OPEX Engineer

Six Sigma Black Belt / Continuous Improvement Engineer

Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Greater Baltimore, MD Area (travel required)

Role Overview

The Six Sigma Engineer is a technical and process improvement leader responsible for delivering measurable operational and business improvements through the application of Six Sigma methodologies, advanced analytics, and automation technologies. This role supports enterprise-wide process excellence initiatives across manufacturing and corporate functions, with a strong focus on data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and scalable solutions.

The position requires a balance of hands-on execution and change leadership. The successful candidate will lead improvement initiatives end-to-end, apply disciplined problem-solving and experimentation, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve safety, quality, throughput, cost, and operational reliability.

Key Responsibilities

Process Improvement & Project Execution

• Lead improvement initiatives using a structured Six Sigma and data analytics framework aligned with operational and business priorities.
• Own projects from problem definition through implementation, sustainment, and benefits tracking.
• Manage project scope, timelines, risks, and stakeholder engagement to ensure durable results.
• Standardize and replicate successful solutions across sites and functional areas.

Analytics, Automation & Optimization

• Apply statistical analysis and analytical modeling techniques (e.g., time-series analysis, regression, classification, anomaly detection, and optimization) to complex operational datasets.
• Support the development and deployment of process models, virtual experimentation, multivariate process control, predictive maintenance, and optimization tools.
• Utilize modern automation and AI-enabled tools, including language-based systems, to enhance knowledge capture, data access, and workflow efficiency.
• Identify and automate manual or repetitive processes to reduce errors, shorten cycle times, and enable higher-value work.

Data & Model Reliability

• Apply strong data practices related to quality, governance, lineage, and security.
• Learn and support analytics and model lifecycle practices, including validation, deployment, monitoring, and ongoing maintenance.
• Maintain documentation and change control consistent with enterprise standards.

Change Management & Capability Development

• Lead change management efforts to support adoption of new processes, tools, and ways of working.
• Communicate progress, outcomes, and insights clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Develop clear metrics, dashboards, and reference materials to support broad usability.
• Complete required Six Sigma and analytics-related training and, when assigned, mentor engineers, analysts, and operational personnel.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all solutions align with applicable regulations, internal policies, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Promote disciplined experimentation, statistical process control, and hypothesis-driven problem solving.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to safety, quality, integrity, compliance, execution excellence, and value creation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, or a related STEM field; or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience (approximately 4-10 years).
• Experience or strong interest in process improvement, analytics, automation, or applied AI in operational or business environments.
• Ability to learn new technical systems and work with operational data; experience in manufacturing or industrial environments is beneficial but not required.
• Foundational understanding of analytics or model development, with willingness to learn deployment and lifecycle management practices.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical insights into clear business-focused messages, reports, and dashboards.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and influence change without direct authority.

Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking: Interprets complex data and designs effective experiments and analyses.
• Technical Capability: Develops working knowledge of analytics, statistics, automation, and industrial processes.
• Problem Solving: Applies structured, data-driven approaches to evaluate options and drive decisions.
• Project Management: Plans work, coordinates resources, manages risks, and delivers outcomes.
• Change Leadership: Supports adoption and continuous improvement across teams and locations.
• Communication: Clearly presents information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Quality Focus: Ensures accuracy, repeatability, and long-term sustainment of improvements.
• Business Awareness: Aligns improvement efforts with strategic and operational value.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in industrial and manufacturing environments, including around moving equipment, elevated areas, dust, fumes, chemicals, heat, electrical systems, and high noise levels.
• Ability to climb stairs or ladders; bend, kneel, crawl, squat, or stoop as required.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally (with assistance for heavier items).
• Willingness to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and comply with all safety procedures.
• Travel up to approximately 15% to operational and corporate locations for project work, training, and implementation.