Director, Manufacturing Engineering, Body

Director Of Manufacturing Engineering

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world 25 million children twice a day making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Director of Manufacturing Engineering will champion the technical vision of the production floor. This senior leader will direct a high-performing team of engineers and technicians to resolve manufacturing bottlenecks, manage capital expenditures (CapEx), and enforce rigorous safety standards. By partnering with cross-functional stakeholders, you will drive continuous improvement, optimize process capabilities, and implement scalable manufacturing solutions to ensure on-time delivery and top-tier customer satisfaction.

Team Leadership & Strategy

• Direct and develop a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Technicians, setting clear performance expectations, individual goals, and conducting annual appraisals.
• Allocate engineering resources to ensure the timely delivery of tooling, labor standards, routers, and process instructions for all engineering changes.
• Oversee the entire capital spending plan, actively participating in budgeting, recommending improvements, and drafting justification data for capital equipment procurement.

Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Architect the manufacturing strategy for new product launches, ensuring seamless transitions from prototype to pilot to full-scale production.
• Eliminate operator decision points and mitigate risks by analyzing line complexity drivers and deploying effective poka-yoke (error-proofing) solutions.
• Spearhead lean manufacturing initiatives, production support, and line material presentation to drive cost reductions and process improvements.

Quality, Design & Compliance

• Partner with Design Engineering to resolve chronic Design for Manufacturing (DFM) issues and implement corrective actions.
• Perform rigorous evaluations of projects to ensure top-tier performance, safety, and reliability.
• Review engineering analyses including PFMEA, DVP&R, and 8D root cause analysis to continuously improve product designs.
• Maintain strict compliance with ISO 9000 standards, producing comprehensive and customer-ready documentation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Process Optimization: Expert in line balancing, process development, and eliminating bottlenecks to increase throughput.
• CapEx Management: Proficient in capital expenditure oversight, financial planning, and construction management.
• Tooling Integration: Skilled in the transition, calibration, and maintenance of error-proofing torque tooling.
• Financial Planning: Adept at developing project budgets, cost analyses, and estimating production labor and equipment costs.
• Project Management: Highly proficient in managing multiple, complex projects simultaneously from inception to completion.
• Technical Software: Advanced user of MS Office Suite, with experience in MS Project.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to bridge the gap between departments, fostering teamwork and achieving shared objectives at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic Problem Solving: Methodical, balanced, and dynamic approach to resolving operational challenges.
• People Management & Conflict Resolution: Empathetic leadership style focused on motivation, assertiveness, and maintaining high team morale.
• Communication & Organization: Strong written and oral communicator, capable of translating complex ideas into clear, actionable presentations.
• Professional Ethics: Committed to a strong work ethic, professional conduct, and the highest standards of integrity.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's in Engineering required
• 10+ years of manufacturing engineering experience required
• 5+ years of relevant professional leadership experience
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

Preferred Education and Experience

• 7+ years of relevant professional leadership experience, preferred
• Experience in Production Supervision required
• Knowledge of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) principles preferred
• PMP Certification and recognized process improvement training (Lean, Six Sigma), preferred

We Value

• Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
• Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
• Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
• Ability to influence stakeholders
• Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
• Flexible workspaces and work hours that help you unleash the best you.
• Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.

Includes

• Continued Professional Development
• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching

Work Conditions

• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
• Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
• You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Blue Bird is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each