Vice President of Engineering ~ RETAINED SEARCH

Position Summary:

The Vice President (VP) of Engineering for a 200MM dollar manufacturer is a senior executive responsible for leading all engineering functions, including design, research and development (R&D), production engineering, and technical support, to ensure products are developed, manufactured, and delivered on time, within budget, and at the highest quality. This role bridges technical execution and business strategy.

Location : Dauphin County, PA

Compensation : $275,000 -$300,000 plus bonus

Relocation and Benefit Packages? Yes

Availability : Immediate

Position Responsibilities:

• Engineering Roadmap: Define the long-term technical strategy and product development roadmap in alignment with enterprise targets and industry trends

• Innovation & Technology: Identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies, materials, and processes, such as automation, robotics, or digital manufacturing techniques (Industry 4.0)

• R&D Management: Oversee R&D initiatives for new product development, process innovations, and product improvements to maintain technological leadership

• Production Support: Work closely with manufacturing and operations teams to bridge the gap between design and production, assuring seamless incorporation of new products

• Process Improvement: Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to optimize production efficiency, reduce waste, and decrease manufacturing costs

• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Ensure that new products are created for efficiency, reliability, and ease of manufacturing

• Project Oversight: Oversee the entire product development lifecycle, from concept and feasibility to design, prototyping, validation, testing, and production launch

• Schedule and Budget: Ensure projects are delivered within the established timeline and budget, managing technical debt and preventing bottlenecks

• Quality Standards: Enforce rigorous quality control standards, ensuring products conform to internal company standards and customer requirements

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all engineering activities and products comply with sector regulations and certifications

• Risk Management: Actively identify technical risks and create mitigation plans for product performance, reliability, and manufacturability

• Develop, implement, and consistently refine continuous improvement and LEAN strategies that support the company's overall strategic direction; build clear, data-driven priorities for the same

• Provide proactive, strategic leadership and support for organizational planning and advancement initiatives in support of key business strategies and initiatives

• Play a leading role in helping to define, shape, and drive the processes and skills necessary for establishing and sustaining a positive team member culture focused on safety

• Promote a results-oriented culture of teamwork, employee development, candid communication, innovation, safety, and inclusion to become an employer of choice

• Achieve financial goals by deploying effective systems for capital expenditures, operating expenditure, and overhead

• Maintain knowledge of emerging technologies and trends in Engineering

• Identify training needs and guarantee proper training is developed and provided

• Establish and utilize effective operational and economic metrics to measure, analyze, and communicate results within BU

• Preserve technical knowledge relating to chassis OEMs and other products

• Provide a positive influence for continued development including but not limited to training, feedback, succession plans, disciplinary actions, etc.

• Provide timely and effective support to the sales and manufacturing groups

• Manage the Engineering Change Request (ECR) process

• Support and participate in the company's efforts

Financial Responsibility

• Responsibility for several cost centers
• Responsibility for profit & loss statements with total revenues >$50 MM

Position Qualifications & Requirements:

Education :

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline
• MBA (preferred)

Experience :

• Fifteen years of engineering experience with at least five years in a leadership role in an organization of comparable breadth and depth
• Demonstrated experience reducing product complexity and streamlining engineering business processes to reduce time, errors and product cost
• In-depth knowledge of SolidWorks
• Diverse knowledge of auxiliary equipment
• Experience supporting complex/customized product lines in a “production-oriented” engineering environment where volume and output are critical
• Manufacturing industry or background experience (preferred)

Certification /License:

• Lean Six Sigma Certification (Not required but preferred)

Skills and Abilities:

• Embraces and exhibits company behaviors, leads by example
• Strategic thinker with proven analytical, assessment, and leadership skills
• Strategically minded, tactically adept
• Strong ability to work outside traditional functional silos and build relationships across the organization at all levels, particularly with senior business leaders and executives
• Experience with core financial principles (Costing, Budgeting, Financial Analysis)
• High level of proficiency with MS Office
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to engage customers and suppliers in a professional manner
• Well versed in implementation of Lean Manufacturing and 5S
• Effective at operating in a matrix environment
• Effective oral and written communication; excellent interpersonal and organizational skills

Supervisory responsibilities:

• May have both direct and indirect reporting

Work environment:

• Professional office environment
• Sedentary work with extended periods of computer use
• Occasional work in warehouse/manufacturing plant
• Must be able to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Travel:
• Occasional (25%)

Type: direct hire