Senior Operational Excellence Engineer - Lean Six Sigma

Senior Operational Excellence Engineer

A Day in the Life As a Senior Operational Excellence Engineer, you will play a key role in driving continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives that enhance quality, efficiency, and business performance across manufacturing and functional operations. You will partner with Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, Strategic Sourcing, Packaging and other cross‑functional teams, identify, analyze, and optimize complex processes, and lead high‑impact improvement projects using Lean, Six Sigma, value stream mapping, Kaizen, DMAIC, and PDCA.

You will coach and train teams, develop standardized work and visual management, and ensure compliance with quality systems and regulatory requirements. This role is ideal for a collaborative, hands‑on leader who thrives on solving complex challenges and translating operational strategy into measurable results.

• Lead Operational Excellence initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to improve quality, delivery, cost and operational performance.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to identify, prioritize, and implement process improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate value‑stream mapping, Kaizen events, root‑cause investigations and structured problem‑solving activities to reduce waste and improve process capability.
• Analyze performance metrics and operational data to identify trends, measure results, and drive data‑driven decision‑making.
• Develop and implement standardized work, visual management systems and process controls to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Lead cross‑functional improvement projects from opportunity identification through implementation and sustainment.
• Coach and train teams on Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement tools to build organizational capability.
• Ensure process improvements comply with quality systems, regulatory and business requirements.

Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience; or PhD with 0 years of relevant experience. For baccalaureate degrees earned outside the United States, the degree must satisfy the requirements of 8C.F.R.§214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A).

• Advanced proficiency in statistical analysis and data modeling using Excel, Minitab, Power BI or similar tools.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt with demonstrated project leads.
• Proven ability to identify process inefficiencies and implement data‑driven solutions that deliver measurable performance improvements.
• Strong facilitation and leadership skills for planning, leading and coaching cross‑functional Kaizen and root‑cause analysis events.
• Experience developing and delivering training on Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Solid understanding of process mapping, value‑stream analysis and performance measurement systems.
• Strong project management and change‑management capabilities ensuring sustainable adoption of improvement initiatives.

The position requires regular independent mobility; interaction with a computer; and communication with peers and co‑workers. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities. For office roles, the employee must be independently mobile and interact with a computer.

U.S. work authorization sponsorship is offered exclusively for Principal‑level roles and above. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.

Salary range U.S. (excl. PR): $ – $. Eligibility for the short‑term incentive Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP). Standard benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, health savings account, flexible spending account, life insurance, long‑term disability leave, dependent daycare spend account, tuition assistance and a global well‑being program. All regular employees are eligible for 401(k) match, short‑term disability, paid time off, paid holidays, employee stock purchase plan, employee assistance program and non‑qualified retirement plan supplement.

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.