OverviewThe Principal Engineer, Operational Excellence is a senior technical improvement leader responsible for identifying, leading, and sustaining high-impact operational improvements that increase capacity, improve throughput, reduce cycle time, improve yield, strengthen schedule attainment, and eliminate waste across manufacturing and support functions.
This role serves as a subject matter expert in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, engineering, and operational performance improvement within a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. Working closely with cross functional teams, the Principal Engineer applies chemical engineering principles and data-driven problem solving to remove production constraints, optimize process performance, and deliver measurable business results.
ResponsibilitiesSafety Culture- Inspire and drive a site culture focused on safety for all employees as per our commitment to “Safety is non-negotiable”
· Develop improvements that release incremental capacity from existing assets, systems, workflows, and labor resources.
- Collaborate with cross functional teams to improve process robustness, equipment utilization, reliability, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Apply statistical analysis, root-cause analysis, FMEA, process capability analysis, regression, and Design of Experiments to complex operational problems.
- Analyze process flow, chemistry, variability, constraints, and resource utilization to improve manufacturing predictability and performance.
- Lead DMAIC, PDCA, Kaizen, and other structured problem-solving efforts.
- Evaluate automation, digital, and emerging technology opportunities that simplify work and improve operational visibility or control.
· Support process transfers, scale-up, capital projects, technology implementation, and operational readiness activities.
· Establish baselines, define success measures, and validate realized savings and operational benefits with process owners and Finance.
- Support sustainment of Lean Manufacturing, TQM Daily Management, leadership standard work, visual management, tiered accountability, 6S, and structured problem-solving systems.
- Mentor Lean Six Sigma practitioners, and cross-functional project teams to strengthen site capability.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from an accredited institution.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification at minimum, higher belt preferred
- 7+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, process engineering, operational excellence, or continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated experience leading significant cross-functional projects that delivered measurable improvements in operational or financial performance.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
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