JobsGenerac

Continuous Improvement Engineer II

Generac · Whitewater, WI

Posted Aug 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a Kaizen event you led from start to finish. What was the problem, what did the team change, and what happened to the numbers afterward?

whether the candidate has actually run an event end to end versus just participated in one

Tell me about a time you tried to implement a lean tool and the operators or line team pushed back. What did you do?

coaching skill and ability to get frontline buy-in rather than forcing compliance

Describe a root cause problem you solved that turned out to be something different from what everyone assumed going in.

depth of problem-solving process versus surface-level fixes

Tell me about a project where you had to lead people who didn't report to you and weren't fully bought in. How did you get them moving?

cross-functional influence and leadership without formal authority

Tell me about a time a Continuous Improvement change you rolled out failed or got reversed after a few months. What did you learn from it?

honesty and reflection about failure, and whether they build sustainability into their solutions

Technical

Say you're asked to reduce changeover time on a line using SMED. Walk me through how you'd approach it from day one to having a new standard in place.

structured knowledge of SMED methodology, not just familiarity with the term

How would you build a value stream map for a process you've never worked on before, and how do you decide where to focus the improvement effort once it's done?

whether they can actually apply VSM to find the constraint, not just draw boxes

What KPIs would you use to prove a 5S or visual management change actually stuck three months later, not just looked good on day one?

understanding that sustainment matters more than the initial event

What's your experience with Kanban systems or plan for every part, and can you give an example where PFEP thinking changed how material got staged or ordered?

real depth in a named preferred qualification versus buzzword familiarity

How do you decide what to document as standard work versus leave to operator judgment?

practical grasp of standard work as a living tool rather than a rigid checklist

Situational

You find a process where the standard work document says one thing but every operator on the line does it a different way. What's your first move?

root cause instinct versus jumping straight to writing a new document

If two supervisors on the floor want opposite things from a line redesign, one wants speed and the other wants flexibility, how do you work through that?

how they balance competing priorities and make data-driven tradeoffs instead of picking a side

Imagine corporate wants a best practice from another Generac facility rolled out here, but your team thinks their local process is already better. How do you handle that conversation?

ability to balance corporate alignment with respecting local expertise and facts on the ground

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Continuous Improvement Engineer II is responsible for leading the implementation of operational process improvements utilizing the Generac Manufacturing System (GMS) across the value stream in a manufacturing or distribution facility. The Continuous Improvement Engineer II provides hands on execution and coaching of the lean principles (Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Line/Cell Design, Single Piece Flow, Material Flow, Visual Management, SMED, TPM, Root Cause Problem Solving, etc.) and tools to eliminate waste in all operations functions. The Continuous Improvement Engineer II provides Continuous Improvement solutions to solve complex process issues. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Coach and lead the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean principles (Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Line/Cell Design, Single Piece Flow, Material Flow, Visual Management, SMED, TPM, Root Cause Problem Solving, etc.) and the GMS. • Coach others to develop and implement Continuous Improvement solutions to solve complex process issues • Develop, document, and implement standard work to provide a basis of continuous improvement. • Mentor and guide facility team members and peers in the understanding, use and implementation of Lean principles and tools. • Participate in the implementation of standards and programs with the corporate Continuous Improvement team. Participate in the implementation of facility strategic plans and initiatives. Facilitate the flow of information sharing of best practices and external benchmarks. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering • 3 years of Continuous Improvement or Lean Engineering experience Preferred Qualifications: • 3 years of demonstrated implementation experience in Lean principles • Lean, Operations or Supply Chain Certifications • Demonstrated experience in flow principles, Kanban, and plan for every part (PFEP) • Demonstrated experience in project leadership with a diversity of team skills Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: • Experiment and Push Boundaries – Designs/implements facility solutions that challenge the norm • Ideate & Breakthrough – Analyzes and implements successful facility change • Continuous Improvement – Uses KPI’s to create reliable/sustainable improvements, drives standard work, focuses on process • Drive to Win – Sets high performance standards, Monitors/redirects ensuring project results, Coaches balance, problem solving, improved customer/employee experience Great Reasons to work for Generac:  • Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more • Many employee activities  • Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers • Eligible for summer hours! (Memorial Day – Labor Day) • Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators • We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days.  • Every day is Jeans Day! Dress for your day. • Product loan and discount programs Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.  On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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