Continuous Improvement Engineer

Ledbury Source: WhatJobs

£45,000–£65,000

Continuous Improvement Engineer

The role is responsible for leading product cost reduction, value engineering and product improvement activity across Galebreaker. This is a experienced, hands-on improvement role requiring strong manufacturing experience, commercial awareness and the drive to challenge existing products, specifications and ways of working. The role will focus on improving product profitability, competitiveness and customer value through cost-out projects, practical engineering judgement and effective cross-functional delivery.

Working closely with Procurement, Production, Technical, and Commercial teams, the CI Engineer will need to build strong working relationships, influence stakeholders at all levels. They will identify, prioritise and deliver practical improvement opportunities that reduce cost, improve product performance and support long-term business competitiveness.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the product cost-out programme across existing product ranges, building and maintaining a prioritised pipeline of material cost reduction opportunities with clear ownership, milestones and measured benefits.
Review existing products to identify opportunities for simplification, standardisation, component reduction and reduced unnecessary variation.
Work with stakeholders to constructively challenge product design, specification and material choices from a cost, manufacturability, quality and customer value perspective.
Build and maintain a prioritised cost-out pipeline.
Lead product improvement and redesign projects where there is a clear operational, quality or manufacturability benefit.
Support the testing and validation of new designs, design changes and alternative components to ensure they are practical, manufacturable, cost-effective and fit for purpose before release into production.
Work with Procurement and suppliers to identify alternative materials, components, supply options and supplier-led cost reduction opportunities linked to product design, standardisation or material choice.
Improve product margin through practical design, sourcing, specification, and material that reduce cost or improve performance without weakening customer value.
Develop and manage clear project plans for approved cost-out and product improvement activities, including scope, owners, milestones, risks, actions and expected financial or operational benefits.
Track delivery of agreed savings and improvement benefits, reporting progress, risks and realised impact against targets.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY SKILLS

Relevant mechanical engineering degree
Significant hands‑on experience in manufacturing, engineering, product improvement, value engineering or continuous improvement, with evidence of delivering measurable cost, margin or performance improvements.
Strong analytical, problem-solving and commercial awareness.
Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and align technical, operational, procurement and commercial teams around practical improvement actions.
High ownership, attention to detail and personal drive
Practical Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience
Experience working with suppliers, procurement and technical teams on cost reduction, value engineering, design‑to‑cost or alternative material activity.