Director of Manufacturing Engineer

Director of Manufacturing Engineer

FTE/DH

Joplin, MO

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director of Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership for the engineering organization, ensuring that product development, engineering operations, and continuous improvement efforts align with company goals, regulatory standards, and customer needs. The position leads the teams responsible for designing, developing, and delivering advanced energy‑storage technologies, or energetic devices for defense, aerospace, and specialized industrial applications. It emphasizes technical leadership, cross‑functional coordination, and maintaining engineering excellence to support client’s mission and product portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the overall management of engineers who support various projects.
• Partners with other functional groups to establish processes for maintaining high standards of engineering to ensure that products conform to customer specifications.
• Participate in the review and preparation of proposals, when needed.
• Over sees the planning and coordination of internally funded development projects.
• Coordinate and interface with multiple levels of management to achieve project goals.
• Present technical information on various products to customers and management as needed.
• Achieves optimum employee staffing, through resource management, to achieve annual business budgetary plan including adjustments as the plan changes.
• Formulates and recommends engineering policies and programs that guide the organization in maintaining and improving its competitive position and the profitability of the operation.
• Acts as liaison between department management/subordinate levels, as well as executive/department manager levels to inform personnel of communications, decisions, policies and all matters that impact their performance, behavior and results.
• Hires, trains, develops and evaluates staff. Takes corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with company policy. Ensures compliance with current federal, state and local regulations. Consults with Human Resources Department as appropriate.
• Drives engagement and accountability within the workforce. Displays leadership behaviors consistent with company expectations.
• Identifies, recommends and implements changes to improve productivity. Directs the establishment, implementation and maintenance of engineering standards.
• Directs and coordinates various programs essential to engineering procedures (e.g., training, safety, housekeeping, cost reduction, worker involvement, security, etc.).
• Advance and maintain compliance with an AS9100, and similar quality management system that wins customers by delivering consistently high quality products and service.
• Implement Lean manufacturing concepts (5S, balanced production lines, reduction of waste) to create a culture of customer focus, continuous improvement and short make to order lead times.
• Ability to travel within a 40-mile radius regularly as well as domestically several times per year.
• Perform miscellaneous duties and projects as assigned and required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required. Master’s Degree Preferred.
• Extensive experience in engineering direction, preferably in an environment related to department of defense applications.
• Moderate experience directing an engineering segment of a large company or the entire engineering segment of a smaller company.
• Experience in an environment with hazardous chemicals, robotic equipment, and explosive materials preferred.
• Strong understanding of product development processes is required.
• Minimum of five year’s work experience in a related role in engineering or project management required.
• Knowledge of power and energy storage battery systems is required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Self-starter and program-driven.