Lean Engineer II

The company built on breakthroughs.
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Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations– not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company,and the world, forward.

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Come break through with us.

Our Optical Communications segment has recently evolved from being a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable, hardware and equipment to being a comprehensive provider of industry‑leading optical solutions across the broader communications industry. This segment is classified into two main product groupings – carrier network and enterprise network. The carrier network product group consists primarily of products and solutions for optical‑based communications infrastructure for services such as video, data and voice communications.

The enterprise network product group consists primarily of optical‑based communication networks sold to businesses, governments and individuals for their own use.

Corning is seeking a Lean Engineer to drive foundational and transformational Lean competencies across our Concord, NC manufacturing facility. This role partners with Operations, Engineering, and Finance to improve plant performance in Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery through hands‑on facilitation, structured problem‑solving, and a focus on building a sustainable Lean culture.

• Maintain and promote a safe work environment; proactively observe safe practices, report unsafe conditions, and participate in corrective actions
• Plan and facilitate 3-4 Kaizen events per year -- including Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, SMED, and 6S workshops -- with defined agendas, deliverables, and leadership reporting; own post‑event follow‑through to ensure actions are deployed across the site
• Track and quantify cost savings, capacity improvements, and cycle‑time reductions from Lean initiatives; work with plant and finance resources to realize and document measurable business benefits
• Own current‑state and future‑state Value Stream Maps; coordinate routine reviews with plant leadership and connect identified opportunities to the cost reduction and improvement portfolio
• Plan and implement workplace flow and layout improvements; analyze equipment installations, workstation changes, and modifications in alignment with Lean principles and ergonomic considerations
• Partner with plant engineering to apply DMAIC, PDCA, and structured problem‑solving methods to drive root cause understanding and implement valid, sustainable corrective actions

• Location:
  
  Concord, NC
• Hours of work: 8 hours/day; 40 hours/week
• Travel:
  Upto 10%

• Bachelor's degree;
  Industrial Engineering degree strongly preferred
• 2+ years of experience in Lean Engineering, manufacturing, operations, or a related technical environment
• Knowledge of manufacturing methods, production processes, plant operations, and project execution in a 24/7 manufacturing environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with demonstrated ability to analyze, visualize, and communicate data effectively
• Experience with SQL, Python, Power BI, AutoCAD/Inventor, SAP, relational databases, or discrete event simulation tools (Flex Sim, SIMUL8, or Sim Events)
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC, A3, and PDCA tools
• Lean…