Director of Engineering

Description

• Budgeting & P&L Alignment: Develop and manage the engineering department’s budget, including headcount and project expenditures. Perform forecasting and resource planning to support current projects and future growth, while aligning engineering activities with the company’s P&L and strategic business objectives.
• Project & Client Oversight: Provide technical oversight for large-scale industrial fabrication projects, ensuring on-time delivery of high-quality engineered solutions. Support programs serving critical sectors (e.g. defense, renewable energy, infrastructure) by ensuring designs meet rigorous industry standards, client requirements, and any applicable regulatory compliances. Lead risk assessments and design reviews for major projects, and interface with key clients or partners as needed to support successful project execution.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and operations teams to align engineering output with production capabilities and business needs. Work with peers in R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure seamless transitions from design to manufacturing, and to resolve issues rapidly during prototyping and production ramp-up.
• Innovation & Standardization: Drive engineering innovation while implementing standardized processes and best practices across the department. Establish design guidelines (DFM/DFA) and engineering standards that improve product reliability and consistency, and spearhead continuous improvement initiatives in design and fabrication methods.
• Product Development & CAD Oversight: Oversee end-to-end product development using 3D CAD (SolidWorks) and related tools, ensuring robust design practices, accurate documentation, and effective design reviews. Champion best practices in CAD modeling, simulation, and product data management to optimize design quality and efficiency.
• Lead Multi-Disciplinary Teams: Provide leadership and mentorship to cross-functional engineering groups (mechanical, electrical, structural), including guiding engineering managers and individual contributors, to ensure high performance and collaboration. Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous learning across all engineering disciplines.
• Executive Engagement: Act as a key member of the leadership team, engaging with cross-functional executives in product management, operations, and finance. Partner with senior leadership to contribute to product roadmap planning, inform business strategy with technical insights, and ensure engineering initiatives support overall company goals.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering (Master’s degree preferred). An advanced degree or MBA is a plus, especially with a focus on engineering management or business.
• Strategic Vision: Demonstrated strategic thinking and innovation in an engineering leadership role. Ability to align engineering projects with business objectives and to communicate technical concepts effectively to executive audiences. Strong business acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and aligning engineering performance with company KPIs.
• Preferred Background: Experience in leadership roles at large manufacturing or technology companies known for engineering excellence (for example, Honeywell, Intel, Andersen Corporation, or similar) is highly desirable. Such background demonstrates the ability to navigate complex, matrixed organizations and drive results in a fast-paced, large-scale production environment.
• Leadership & Project Management: Proven ability to build and develop high-performing, multidisciplinary engineering teams. Strong project management skills with a track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget. Capable of setting clear goals, prioritizing initiatives, and driving accountability to meet engineering deliverables and milestones.
• Technical Expertise: Broad knowledge across mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering disciplines, with the ability to oversee and integrate multi-disciplinary design efforts. Industrial fabrication experience is essential – familiarity with heavy manufacturing processes (welding, metal forming, machining, assembly) and design of large steel structures, enclosures, or capital equipment is highly desired. Experience in engineered products or industrial equipment sectors is a strong plus.
• Experience: 15+ years of progressive engineering experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing managers and large teams. Demonstrated success in delivering complex engineering projects and new products from concept through production.
• Product Development Skills: Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks preferred) for product design and development. Experience guiding teams in CAD modeling, engineering drawing standards, and using PDM/PLM systems to manage product configurations. Knowledge of simulation tools (FEA, CFD) and design validation testing is advantageous.
• Software & Tools: Comfortable working with modern engineering and productivity tools. Experience with ERP/MRP systems for engineering resource planning and exposure to project management software is beneficial. Knowledge of industry standards and compliance (e.g., ASME, MIL-STD, OSHA regulations) relevant to mechanical/electrical systems or structural fabrications would be an asset.
• Certifications: Professional Engineer (PE) license, Project Management Professional (PMP), or other advanced engineering certifications are advantageous. Any formal training in management or executive leadership programs, as well as relevant security clearances (if working with defense projects), should be noted.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to partner across departments (e.g. manufacturing, quality, supply chain, R&D) to achieve common goals. Experienced in breaking down silos and working closely with operations to implement design-for-manufacturability improvements.
• Quality & Process Improvement: In-depth understanding of quality systems and regulatory standards relevant to manufacturing (ISO 9001 or similar). Familiarity with Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies; Six Sigma or Lean Black Belt certification is a plus. A track record of implementing process improvements and standardization to enhance efficiency and product quality is highly valued.

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance