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 SummaryThe 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 ResponsibilitiesAnalyze end-to-end industrial bakery processes including mixing, fermentation/proofing, baking, cooling, slicing, and packagingLead Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), yield, and labor efficiencyIdentify and eliminate process variation impacting product quality, weight control, and consistencyReduce downtime through root cause analysis of equipment failures and process disruptionsDevelop, standardize, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructionsPartner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering teams to implement improvementsUse data and statistical tools to monitor KPIs (waste, scrap, throughput, changeover time, energy usage)Support automation, line balancing, and capacity expansion projectsEnsure 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 processesRequired QualificationsBachelor’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 productsStrong knowledge of high-speed production lines and automated equipmentProficiency in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologiesAbility to analyze production data and drive fact-based decisionsPreferred QualificationsLean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black BeltExperience with OEE systems, MES, or manufacturing analytics toolsFamiliarity with thermal processing, dough handling, and packaging systemsProject management experience in manufacturing environmentsKey SkillsProcess optimization and waste reductionStatistical analysis and problem-solvingCross-functional leadershipEquipment and systems understandingChange management in union or non-union environmentsPhysical & Work RequirementsManufacturing environment with exposure to heat, moving machinery, and food ingredientsAbility to work on the production floor for extended periodsOccasional off-shift or weekend support during trials or implementationsCarolina Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.