What are the responsibilities and job description for the Continuous Improvement Engineer position at Holley Performance?
Holley Performance Brands is seeking a hands-on, plant-based Continuous Improvement Engineer to support operational excellence initiatives within our automotive manufacturing facility. This role focuses on driving measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, and throughput through daily engagement on the production floor.
The position blends data-driven problem solving with practical implementation, supporting Lean initiatives, capital improvements, and maintenance and safety efforts. This is an execution-focused role ideal for someone who enjoys working closely with production teams to deliver tangible results
Key Responsibilities
Continuous Improvement & Lean Execution
- Support and lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives (5S, Kaizen, standard work, visual management).
- Identify and implement improvements to reduce waste, improve flow, and increase productivity.
- Assist in driving improvements in OEE, downtime reduction, and scrap reduction.
Process & Performance Improvement
- Analyze production data to identify trends, losses, and improvement opportunities.
- Participate in root cause analysis and corrective actions using tools such as 5 Whys and basic problem-solving methods.
- Support standardization of processes to ensure consistent and repeatable performance.
Project & Capital Support
- Assist in managing small to mid-sized capital and process improvement projects.
- Support equipment upgrades, layout changes, and process optimization initiatives.
- Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and production teams to execute projects on time.
Maintenance & Reliability Support
- Partner with maintenance teams to support preventive maintenance improvements and equipment reliability initiatives.
- Help identify recurring equipment issues and assist in developing practical solutions.
Safety & Compliance
- Support safety initiatives, including risk assessments, corrective actions, and continuous improvement of safe work practices.
- Ensure changes and improvements align with OSHA and plant safety standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related field preferred but not required).
- 2–5 years of experience in automotive or high-volume manufacturing.
- Working knowledge of Lean principles and continuous improvement tools.
- Basic experience with root cause problem solving and data analysis.
- Exposure to plant systems such as OEE tracking, ERP, or similar tools is a plus.
- Six Sigma (Yellow/Green Belt) or familiarity with IATF 16949 / ISO standards preferred.
What We’re Looking For
- Hands-on, self-starter who enjoys working on the plant floor.
- Strong problem-solving mindset with attention to detail.
- Effective communicator who can work across production, maintenance, and engineering teams.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Passion for continuous improvement and delivering measurable results.
Success Measures
- Improvements in OEE, downtime, and scrap reduction.
- Completion of assigned projects on time and within scope.
- Implementation of sustainable process improvements.
- Positive engagement with production and support teams.
Why This Role
This is an opportunity to play a key role in improving daily plant performance while developing practical experience in Lean manufacturing, project execution, and operational excellence.
Holly Performance Brands offer:
- Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage starting day one.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid time off and 9 paid holidays.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Company-paid life and short-term disability insurance.
- Employee discounts on Holley Performance Brands products, events, and partnerships.
- Education Assistance program.
Day shift; but must be able to work hours based on business needs.