Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Productivity
Bio-Techne
August 19, 2026
On-site
Minneapolis, MN
Operations
Position Summary:
- Leads hands-on productivity improvement across Minneapolis manufacturing processes (upstream cell culture and lab-based production; downstream purification and filling; kitting, packaging, and shipping), supporting other site operational functions as needed.
Responsibilities:
- Observe shop-floor work with frontline employees/leaders to identify waste, bottlenecks, workload imbalance, waiting, unnecessary movement, rework, and ineffective handoffs.
- Identify and prioritize productivity opportunities using floor observations, operational data, and employee input.
- Use time studies, standard-labor analysis, line balancing, workload/capacity analysis, process mapping, and material-flow assessments.
- Lead and implement process improvements to increase throughput, improve labor efficiency, reduce cycle time, eliminate bottlenecks, balance capacity/workload, improve equipment utilization/OEE, and reduce scrap/rework/yield/material loss and operating cost.
- Apply Lean and data-based problem solving (Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, visual management, root-cause analysis, Six Sigma).
- Lead focused Kaizens and productivity projects end-to-end (definition → implementation → measurement → sustainment).
- Partner cross-functionally (Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Maintenance, Engineering) to optimize flow and resolve barriers.
- Coach teams on standard work, visual controls, workplace organization, daily management, and improvement sustainment; help update process documentation.
Qualifications:
- BS in engineering/manufacturing/operations or equivalent; 5+ years driving manufacturing productivity improvement/process optimization/operational excellence in manufacturing.
- Demonstrated results improving throughput, labor efficiency, cycle time, capacity/process flow, equipment effectiveness, scrap/rework/yield/material utilization, or operating cost.
- Hands-on experience with time studies, standard labor, line balancing, capacity/workload analysis, process mapping, material flow, and standard work.
- Experience leading cross-functional improvement projects; working directly with operators/technicians/supervisors.
- Biotechnology/life sciences/regulatory manufacturing experience preferred but not required.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred (Black Belt/Lean certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience a plus).
Skills:
- Lean/manufacturing productivity and continuous improvement knowledge; strong shop-floor presence.
- Analytical/problem-solving skills using operational data + observation + employee input.
- Ability to lead improvements, influence without authority, facilitate/coach/communicate, and follow through.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; statistical analysis/data visualization or manufacturing performance systems preferred.
Working Conditions/Physical:
- Onsite; requires regular presence across manufacturing/laboratory/filling/kitting/packaging/warehouse/shipping.
- Must follow safety, quality, documentation, PPE/gowning and site requirements; ability to stand/walk/move and observe work areas.
Benefits (if applicable):
- Competitive insurance starting day one: medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, pet, legal and ID shield.
- 401k, ESPP, HSA, FSA, Dependent Care FSA.
Application Instruction:
- Contact hr@bio-techne.com for reasonable accommodation during the application/interview/recruitment process.
- Leads hands-on productivity improvement across Minneapolis manufacturing processes (upstream cell culture and lab-based production; downstream purification and filling; kitting, packaging, and shipping), supporting other site operational functions as needed.
Responsibilities:
- Observe shop-floor work with frontline employees/leaders to identify waste, bottlenecks, workload imbalance, waiting, unnecessary movement, rework, and ineffective handoffs.
- Identify and prioritize productivity opportunities using floor observations, operational data, and employee input.
- Use time studies, standard-labor analysis, line balancing, workload/capacity analysis, process mapping, and material-flow assessments.
- Lead and implement process improvements to increase throughput, improve labor efficiency, reduce cycle time, eliminate bottlenecks, balance capacity/workload, improve equipment utilization/OEE, and reduce scrap/rework/yield/material loss and operating cost.
- Apply Lean and data-based problem solving (Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, visual management, root-cause analysis, Six Sigma).
- Lead focused Kaizens and productivity projects end-to-end (definition → implementation → measurement → sustainment).
- Partner cross-functionally (Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Maintenance, Engineering) to optimize flow and resolve barriers.
- Coach teams on standard work, visual controls, workplace organization, daily management, and improvement sustainment; help update process documentation.
Qualifications:
- BS in engineering/manufacturing/operations or equivalent; 5+ years driving manufacturing productivity improvement/process optimization/operational excellence in manufacturing.
- Demonstrated results improving throughput, labor efficiency, cycle time, capacity/process flow, equipment effectiveness, scrap/rework/yield/material utilization, or operating cost.
- Hands-on experience with time studies, standard labor, line balancing, capacity/workload analysis, process mapping, material flow, and standard work.
- Experience leading cross-functional improvement projects; working directly with operators/technicians/supervisors.
- Biotechnology/life sciences/regulatory manufacturing experience preferred but not required.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred (Black Belt/Lean certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience a plus).
Skills:
- Lean/manufacturing productivity and continuous improvement knowledge; strong shop-floor presence.
- Analytical/problem-solving skills using operational data + observation + employee input.
- Ability to lead improvements, influence without authority, facilitate/coach/communicate, and follow through.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; statistical analysis/data visualization or manufacturing performance systems preferred.
Working Conditions/Physical:
- Onsite; requires regular presence across manufacturing/laboratory/filling/kitting/packaging/warehouse/shipping.
- Must follow safety, quality, documentation, PPE/gowning and site requirements; ability to stand/walk/move and observe work areas.
Benefits (if applicable):
- Competitive insurance starting day one: medical, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, pet, legal and ID shield.
- 401k, ESPP, HSA, FSA, Dependent Care FSA.
Application Instruction:
- Contact hr@bio-techne.com for reasonable accommodation during the application/interview/recruitment process.