Work Schedule

First Shift (Days)

Environmental Conditions

Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)

Job Description

Position: Senior PPI & Industrial Engineer – Spectroscopy Manufacturing

Location: Madison, WI

Schedule: Monday - Friday 1st Shift

How You Will Make an Impact

As a Senior PPI (Practical Process Improvement) & Industrial Engineer supporting our Optical Spectroscopy operations in Madison, WI, you will serve as a key technical leader driving operational excellence across manufacturing processes for high-precision optical instrumentation. You will develop strategic improvements that improve throughput, reduce cost, strengthen process capability, and support scale-up across both legacy and new product lines. Your expertise will directly increase our ability to deliver innovative solutions to customers worldwide.

What You Will Do

Lead Critical Process Optimization

• Perform in-depth analysis of manufacturing workflows, equipment utilization, takt-time alignment, and material flow to identify and implement high-impact improvements.
• Lead large-scale Lean initiatives—Kaizen events, value-stream mapping, standard work deployment—to improve efficiency and reduce operational waste.
• Guide long-term material movement and layout optimization to support growth and scalability.

Drive Automation & Technology Integration

• Champion the identification, justification, and implementation of automation opportunities including semi-automated assembly, test automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing tools.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering and Product Engineering to integrate process improvements into new and existing systems.

Deliver Cost, Quality & Lead-Time Improvements

• Own and lead multi-functional cost-reduction initiatives focused on labor efficiency, material usage, scrap/rework reduction, and workflow redesign.
• Support technical root-cause analyses and corrective actions for quality improvements, demonstrating data-driven methodologies.
• Partner with NPI teams to ensure new product processes are scalable, well detailed, and aligned with manufacturing capabilities in Madison.

Champion Data-Driven Decision Making

• Develop and maintain critical key performance indicators and implement analytics dashboards for cycle time, throughput, yield, WIP, and efficiency.
• Apply statistical methods (DOE, SPC, regression analysis, capability studies) to validate process changes and sustain improvements.
• Present findings and recommendations to site leadership, influencing operational and strategic decisions.

How You Will Get Here

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred but not required.

Experience

• Experience (5+ years) in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, or operations engineering within a production environment.
• Shown success leading Lean initiatives and multi-functional improvement projects.
• Experience with automation technologies, robotics, PLC-based systems, or test automation preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Expert-level understanding of Lean principles, value-stream mapping, time studies, line balancing, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in statistical tools (Minitab, JMP, Excel).
• Excellent communication, leadership, and project management abilities, with validated capability to lead teams without direct authority.
• Hands-on approach, working directly on the manufacturing floor with technicians and engineers.
• Six Sigma certification (Green or Black Belt) is a plus.

Benefits

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and development opportunities in a global organization that values growth and innovation.