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What is a continuous improvement engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Michael Buechler

A continuous improvement engineer is an individual who uses data and analytical tools to identify inefficiencies in a company's processes and implements strategies to improve them. They work to optimize the productivity of an organization by analyzing data, identifying problems, and developing solutions. A continuous improvement engineer must have excellent problem-solving skills, be knowledgeable in process improvement methodologies, and possess excellent communication skills to work with individuals across all levels of an organization.

What general advice would you give to a continuous improvement engineer?

Michael Buechler

Professor Manufacturing Technology

I counsel my students to know their worth and know the job market. Most important is starting out in a position that challenges you and provides training for future wage and skill growth. Many graduates can get caught in a job that pays the bills but may not provide a path to the next career step. Be ambitious and seek to attain the advanced skills quickly but keep in mind the field is complex and there is a lot to learn. If you are in a high wage position but it does not provide the training or room for advancement it might not be the best career option.
ScoreContinuous Improvement EngineerUS Average
Salary
6.2

Avg. Salary $78,918

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 11.91%

Black or African American 4.81%

Hispanic or Latino 11.82%

Unknown 3.96%

White 67.32%

Gender

female 18.55%

male 81.45%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a continuous improvement engineer?

Pros

  • Opportunity to solve complex problems

  • Can make significant improvements in efficiency and productivity

  • Continuous learning and development opportunities

  • High demand for continuous improvement skills in many industries

  • Potential for career advancement

Cons

  • Challenging to get buy-in from stakeholders for change initiatives

  • Difficult to measure the impact and ROI of improvement initiatives

  • Requires long hours or working outside of regular business hours

  • Frustrating when progress is slow or when setbacks occur

  • Dealing with conflicting priorities and goals from different departments or teams

Continuous improvement engineer career paths

Key steps to become a continuous improvement engineer

  1. Explore continuous improvement engineer education requirements

    Most common continuous improvement engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.8 %

    Master's

    16.0 %

    Associate

    7.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific continuous improvement engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Lean Manufacturing9.24%
    Lean Six Sigma8.62%
    Continuous Improvement6.09%
    Project Management5.23%
    Kaizen Events4.99%
  3. Complete relevant continuous improvement engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New continuous improvement engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a continuous improvement engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real continuous improvement engineer resumes.
  4. Research continuous improvement engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Design and implement a SharePoint base pre-production operational checklist application to automate documentation retrieval.
    • Manage AOG, spares and aftermarket program; include issuing modification/repair/rework documents and expediting the appropriate BOM
    • Lead several independent, cross-functional projects and improve manufacturing quality, reduce cost, ensure environment are supported and FDA compliant.
    • Track KPIs and matrices within the plant.
  5. Prepare your continuous improvement engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your continuous improvement engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a continuous improvement engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable continuous improvement engineer resume templates

    Build a professional continuous improvement engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your continuous improvement engineer resume.
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
    Continuous Improvement Engineer Resume
  6. Apply for continuous improvement engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a continuous improvement engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first continuous improvement engineer job

Zippi

Are you a continuous improvement engineer?

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Average continuous improvement engineer salary

The average continuous improvement engineer salary in the United States is $78,918 per year or $38 per hour. Continuous improvement engineer salaries range between $59,000 and $103,000 per year.

Average continuous improvement engineer salary
$78,918 Yearly
$37.94 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do continuous improvement engineers rate their job?

4/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

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3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Continuous improvement engineer reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

I dont like people whi dont share of knowledge.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

The diversity of tasks, interaction with all stakeholders, continuous learning process, communication. Allows great progression in many technical skills

Cons

Stakeholders missing deadlines


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

Being on the field doing running inspections and learning from the technicians

Cons

Being expose to bad weather that compromise the safety of operations.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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