Continuous Improvement Engineer

Join the Legacy – Build the Future!

Carolina Foods, the maker of Duchess Brand snacks and the creator of one of America’s first Honey Buns , has been delivering quality and innovation for over 80 years . As a leading manufacturer of sweet baked goods , including honey buns, baked pies, fried pies, and gem donuts , we are entering an exciting phase of growth and expansion . We are looking for motivated and experienced leaders to join our journey and help shape the future!

Job Summary

The Continuous Improvement Engineer supports large-scale industrial bakery operations by driving process optimization, cost reduction, and quality improvement across high-volume, automated production lines. This role focuses on improving efficiency, reducing waste, increasing throughput, and ensuring consistent product quality while maintaining strict food safety and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze end-to-end industrial bakery processes including mixing, fermentation/proofing, baking, cooling, slicing, and packaging
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), yield, and labor efficiency
• Identify and eliminate process variation impacting product quality, weight control, and consistency
• Reduce downtime through root cause analysis of equipment failures and process disruptions
• Develop, standardize, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering teams to implement improvements
• Use data and statistical tools to monitor KPIs (waste, scrap, throughput, changeover time, energy usage)
• Support automation, line balancing, and capacity expansion projects
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements (HACCP, GMP, SQF, BRC, FDA/USDA as applicable)
• Train production teams on continuous improvement tools and standardized processes

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Experience in industrial food manufacturing, preferably bakery or grain-based products
• Strong knowledge of high-speed production lines and automated equipment
• Proficiency in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
• Ability to analyze production data and drive fact-based decisions

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Experience with OEE systems, MES, or manufacturing analytics tools
• Familiarity with thermal processing, dough handling, and packaging systems
• Project management experience in manufacturing environments

Key Skills

• Process optimization and waste reduction
• Statistical analysis and problem-solving
• Cross-functional leadership
• Equipment and systems understanding
• Change management in union or non-union environments

Physical & Work Requirements

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, moving machinery, and food ingredients
• Ability to work on the production floor for extended periods
• Occasional off-shift or weekend support during trials or implementations