Director of Engineering (Rochester)

Director of Engineering – Precision CNC Manufacturing

Rochester, NY

A high-growth, private equity backed precision machining company serving aerospace and defense customers is hiring a Director of Engineering. This is an opportunity to build and develop a CNC manufacturing engineering team within a modern operation investing in equipment, capabilities, and growth.

We’re looking for a hands-on engineering leader with deep CNC machining experience who can develop people, solve complex manufacturing challenges, and work directly with customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the CNC manufacturing engineering team, including hiring, training, and strengthening technical capabilities.
• Oversee manufacturing processes, CNC programming, tooling, fixturing, and new part introductions.
• Apply strong GD&T knowledge to evaluate drawings, establish machining strategies, and ensure parts meet customer requirements.
• Lead quoting and estimating, including process planning, cycle times, tooling requirements, and manufacturing costs.
• Work directly with customers on technical requirements, manufacturability, quotations, and production challenges.
• Partner with production and quality to improve throughput, reduce scrap, and resolve machining issues.
• Evaluate new machine tools and technology to support capacity expansion and increasingly complex work.

Qualifications

• Engineering leadership experience in a precision CNC machining environment.
• Proven ability to build and develop manufacturing engineering teams.
• Deep understanding of CNC machine tools, cutting tools, chip making, workholding, and machining processes.
• Strong GD&T and complex blueprint interpretation skills.
• Experience quoting precision machined components and communicating directly with customers.
• Ability to balance technical leadership with delivery, quality, and profitability.
• Aerospace or defense manufacturing experience preferred.

This role offers the opportunity to shape the engineering department and directly influence the growth of a modern precision machining business.