Lean Manufacturing Engineer - Wind Blade Production

At Vestas, we are driven by a shared purpose: to power the world with sustainable energy. As the global leader in wind energy, we design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines that help create a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Join our Windsor Blades Factory, where innovation, quality, and teamwork come together to produce some of the world's most advanced wind turbine blades.

What Does a Lean Engineer Do?

• Drive factory improvements by conducting Lean assessments and implementing targeted improvement actions.
• Maintain adherence to the Daily Management System, including leader standard work, visual KPI boards, and escalation rules.
• Engineer flow and process stability by Value Stream Mapping (VSM), setting takt time, performing line balancing, and designing kanban systems. Analyze processes to identify waste, variation, and bottlenecks; implement solutions that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people performance.
• Facilitate kaizen events, 5S activities, and structured problem-solving workshops.
• Support PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) development and alignment with Control Plans, PWIs, testing, tooling RFPs, worker balance, and process capability.
• Support NPI and ramp-up activities to achieve stable serial production.
• Collaborate with HQ and cross-functional teams to support NPI/TT (Technology Transfer) deliverables and readiness.
• Foster sharing of best practices across factories to strengthen global standardization.
• Conduct time studies, capacity analysis, and labor/equipment utilization reviews.
• Implement poka-yoke, confirmations, layered audits, and other first-time-right quality controls.
• Ensure compliance with QBD (Quality Before Delivery), ECM (Engineering Change Management), ToCI (Transfer of Component Information), and revision-controlled documentation.
• Participate in improvement projects, capacity expansions, and layout optimization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

• Apply Lean tools (VSM, 5-Why, 8D, SMED, standard work) to stabilize and improve production processes.
• Communicate process changes and improvement outcomes clearly to operators, technicians, and leadership.
• Maintain accurate documentation, KPIs, and Daily Management System data.
• Work on the factory floor as needed to support improvement activities and coaching.

What You Will Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing/Industrial Engineering, Operations, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 3–5+ years of experience in Lean, continuous improvement, or manufacturing engineering.
• Strong knowledge of Lean tools (VSM, takt, kanban, 5S, kaizen, SMED, standard work).
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) strongly preferred; demonstrated application of Six Sigma tools to reduce variation and improve process capability.
• Experience with PFMEA, Control Plans, and structured problem solving.
• Proficiency in data analysis, time studies, and capacity modeling.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive change in a production environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills; CAD experience preferred.

What You Will Receive:

We offer an attractive salary and one of the most comprehensive benefits plans in the industry, including:

• Benefits coverage within your first month
• State-of-the-art Training Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Annual bonus

Job Type: Full-time

Salary range: $75,000 - $100,000 a year.

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