How to hire a continuous improvement engineer

How to hire a continuous improvement engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step continuous improvement engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a continuous improvement engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new continuous improvement engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a continuous improvement engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The continuous improvement engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a continuous improvement engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a continuous improvement engineer that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of continuous improvement engineers.

   Type of Continuous Improvement Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Continuous Improvement Engineer	Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.	$28-49
   Supplier Quality Engineer	A Supplier Quality Engineer ensures that the supplier's quality standards are in accordance with the requirement of the organization. They also report supplier performance and quality to management.	$30-51
   Manufacturing Engineering Internship	A manufacturing engineering intern is responsible for assisting the manufacturing engineers on the plant's daily operations, analyzing the manufacturing process and procedures, and recommending strategic solutions to maximize productivity and minimize costs. Manufacturing engineering interns shadow the production staff, inspect the tools and equipment of the manufacturing, analyze the quality control documentation, and perform related administrative tasks to familiarize themselves with the plant structure... Show more	$19-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Kaizen Events
   • Employee Development
   • Lean Tools
   • A3
   • Visual Management
   • Value Stream Maps
   • Statistical Analysis
   • Lean Principles
   • Continuous Improvement Efforts
   • Kanban

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Motivate employees for A3 thinking and coach through PDCA cycles.
   • Identify the need for and create ISO work instructions and procedures.

   More continuous improvement engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your continuous improvement engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A continuous improvement engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, continuous improvement engineers' average salary in vermont is 30% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level continuous improvement engineers earn 43% less than senior-level continuous improvement engineers.
   • Certifications. A continuous improvement engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a continuous improvement engineer's salary.

   Average continuous improvement engineer salary

   $78,918yearly

   $37.94 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level continuous improvement engineer salary

   $59,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average continuous improvement engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$97,626	$47
   2	Arizona	$88,058	$42
   3	Minnesota	$84,896	$41
   4	Virginia	$83,962	$40
   5	Maryland	$82,621	$40
   6	New York	$81,192	$39
   7	Michigan	$79,634	$38
   8	Louisiana	$79,408	$38
   9	Texas	$78,395	$38
   10	Illinois	$73,881	$36
   11	Missouri	$73,578	$35
   12	North Carolina	$72,739	$35
   13	Mississippi	$72,597	$35
   14	Ohio	$72,256	$35
   15	Pennsylvania	$71,424	$34
   16	Iowa	$71,110	$34
   17	New Hampshire	$70,523	$34
   18	Indiana	$69,905	$34
   19	Florida	$69,228	$33
   20	Tennessee	$67,229	$32

   Average continuous improvement engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$137,310	$66.01	255
   2	Learjet	$109,048	$52.43
   3	Intuitive Surgical	$107,016	$51.45	11
   4	Koch Industries	$106,779	$51.34	4
   5	Abbott	$99,595	$47.88	70
   6	Entegris	$98,110	$47.17	8
   7	Colgate-Palmolive	$97,691	$46.97	1
   8	BD	$97,322	$46.79	13
   9	KIXEYE	$96,246	$46.27
   10	DuPont	$94,824	$45.59	64
   11	Walgreens	$94,657	$45.51
   12	The Dow Chemical Company	$93,986	$45.19	6
   13	Ghirardelli Chocolate	$92,748	$44.59
   14	PPG	$92,543	$44.49	4
   15	BorgWarner	$92,429	$44.44	12
   16	Motor Coach Industries	$91,269	$43.88
   17	Church & Dwight Co.	$91,089	$43.79	6
   18	Medtronic	$90,757	$43.63	52
   19	Brooks Automation	$90,317	$43.42
   20	Kinetico Corporate	$89,651	$43.10	3

4. Writing a continuous improvement engineer job description

   A good continuous improvement engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a continuous improvement engineer job description:

   Continuous improvement engineer job description example

   At Owens & Minor, we are a critical part of the healthcare process. As a Fortune 500 company with 50+ facilities across the US and 18,000 teammates in over 90 countries, we provide integrated technologies, products and services across the full continuum of care. Customers-and their patients-are at the heart of what we do.
   
   Our mission is to empower our customers to advance healthcare, and our success starts with our teammates.
   Owens & Minor teammate benefits include:
   Medical, dental, and vision insurance, available on first working day 401(k), eligibility after 30 days of employment Employee stock purchase plan Tuition reimbursement Development opportunities to grow your career with a global company
   
   Great opportunity for new Industrial Engineer graduates with Internship experience
   
   SummaryDesigns and maintains production processes in an assembly manufacturing operation. Utilizing standard industrial engineering tools, design manufacturing processes, improve existing processes, and apply a costing models to establish standard costs. Continually analyze the manufacturing operation to identify opportunities for improvement and products that are not meeting established production standards. ResponsibilitiesDesigns and implements new processes and the introduction of new products / process to the factory. (NPI) Establishes cost measurements and productivity standards for the facility. Creates standard work documents of all factory processes and maintains the same. Utilizes Lean/TPS and/or Six Sigma techniques to research, identify, and test innovative concepts and eliminate waste in critical performance areas. Leads and/or participates in Kaizen events to develop and implement continuous improvement solutions. Uses appropriate data collection methods to measure process cost, and benefits of continuous improvement initiatives. Track and verify cost savings or cost justified capital projects. Performs time and motion studies to verify labor standards and create standard work documentation for production on all production lines. Develops productivity standards for production facility/distribution center teammates. Provides technical and analytical support for strategic initiatives and continuous improvement projects. Researches, tests, and communicates results of innovative concepts that can enhance performance in operations, management, and systems integration. Manages and maintains BOMs and routings in the ERP system. Understands the Engineering Change Process and helps drive effective and timely execution. Serves as a resource for various tasks such as routing updates, BOM changes/updates, artwork updates, and ECR creation and/or completion. Educational ExperienceBachelor's Degree in Engineering required, preferably with a concentration in Industrial / Systems Engineering. 1-3 years of professional experience Industrial Engineering. Preferably in a assembly manufacturing operation Lean/TPS and/or Six Sigma training preferred
   #LI-TR1
   
   If you feel this opportunity could be the next step in your career, we encourage you to apply.
   
   Owens & Minor is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, disability, age, status as a veteran, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right continuous improvement engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your continuous improvement engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit continuous improvement engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with continuous improvement engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new continuous improvement engineer

   Once you've selected the best continuous improvement engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a continuous improvement engineer?