Vice President, Engineering

• SUMMARY / OBJECTIVE

The Vice President of Engineering leads the engineering organization across all manufacturing operations in a contract manufacturing environment, driving technical excellence, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction across multiple concurrent customer programs. This is a highly collaborative role that owns the company's long-term (3-5+ year) capacity strategy and capital investment roadmap - translating customer demand forecasts and new program wins into facility, equipment, and workforce plans - and builds a culture of continuous improvement within the engineering functions. The VP Engineering provides strategic leadership for project and process engineering, manufacturing engineering, new program launches, and capital projects, partnering closely with Operations, Maintenance, Facilities, Quality, Warehousing, Compounding, Finance, and Continuous Improvement.

• ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: include the following.
• Develop and execute the company's engineering strategy aligned with organizational goals and own the long-term (3-5+ year) capacity strategy and capital investment roadmap that translates customer demand forecasts and new program wins into facility, equipment, and workforce plans.
• Oversee manufacturing engineering, project engineering, and process engineering, leading day-to-day activities to ensure optimal, cost-effective operations across the site(s).
• Lead engineering support for new customer program launches in a contract manufacturing environment, including RFQ/quoting technical feasibility, cost and tooling estimates, design-for-manufacturability (DFM) reviews, and first article/PPAP qualification.
• Maintain deep, hands-on knowledge of liquid and powder mixing, filling and production line equipment and processes; build and manage relationships with equipment manufacturers and vendors to specify, source, install, qualify, and maintain equipment that supports production and capacity goals.
• Drive OEE, batch cycle time, scrap levels, throughput, and other key manufacturing metrics in partnership with Operations and the VP/GM, setting measurable productivity, cost-reduction, and quality-improvement targets and tracking results against plan.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with customers, equipment vendors, and cross-functional partners - Operations, Customer Experience, Finance, Continuous Improvement, and Quality - to maintain compliance with applicable industry standards (e.g., ISO 22716) and customer-specific requirements, and to ensure program success.
• Balance and prioritize engineering resources and production capacity across multiple customer programs, managing high-mix/variable-volume scheduling, changeovers, and peak-season demand - including contingency (Plan B) planning to mitigate unexpected events and meet on-time delivery commitments.
• Oversee the capital management process including capital project development, approval, implementation and tracking, with a focus on long-term capacity expansion and equipment modernization.
• Drive adoption of manufacturing systems and technologies (automation, systems) to support scalable capacity planning and data-driven decision-making.
• Build and sustain a culture of innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across engineering and manufacturing teams.

• COMPETENCIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must have strong verbal and writing skills along with strong communication skills. Must be able to speak, read, and write English; Spanish is a plus.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and CAD
• Ability to multi-task
• Hands-on experience and ability to spend time on the production floor.
• Experience working directly with customers and their engineering and technical functions
• Deep understanding of contract manufacturing operations, including multi-customer program management, RFQ/quoting, and new product introduction (NPI).
• Working knowledge of filling and packaging line equipment, OEE analysis, and vendor/equipment-manufacturer relationship management; skilled at diagnosing production issues and driving practical, measurable solutions.
• Experience of working with local and state agencies for compliance and safety regulations.
• Hands-on experience leading Lean/Six Sigma and other continuous-improvement initiatives, with strong root-cause problem-solving skills and a track record of measurable results.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems (ISO 22716) and customer audit processes.
• Proficiency with ERP/MES systems and capacity/production planning tools.

• SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for engineering teams with locations in both New Albany, Ohio and Coolidge, Arizona. Total amount of direct/indirect reports subject to change with the needs of the business.

• WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit at a computer and stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK
• This is a full-time position. Minimum 40 hours per week, and minimum 80 hours bi-weekly.

• TRAVEL
• 20% - 40% travel

• REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
• 15+ years of progressive engineering leadership within a manufacturing environment.
• 7+ years leading engineering teams at the director or executive level.
• Bachelor's Degree in one of the Engineering Disciplines
• Experience in contract manufacturing and high-volume, high-mix, variable-volume manufacturing environments, managing multiple concurrent customer programs, frequent changeovers, and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret company strategy and policy and translate them into deliverable objectives within short timeframes.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing long-term (3-5+ year) capacity strategies and capital investment roadmaps in a contract manufacturing or multi-customer production environment.
• Experience supporting new program launches, RFQ/quoting, and customer-facing technical engineering in a contract manufacturing setting.
• Proven track record leading Lean/Six Sigma continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable gains in productivity, cost, and quality.
• Experience specifying, sourcing, installing, and managing filling and production line equipment, and working directly with equipment manufacturers and vendors in a contract manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ISO 9001 or 22716 and/or IATF 16949 quality systems and customer audits.

• PREFERRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE LANGUAGE SKILLS
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification
• MBA or advanced degree in Engineering, Operations, or a related field.

• ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS
  • English language and knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

• WORK AUTHORIZATION
  • Must be authorized to work in the U.S. as a pre-condition of employment.

• EEO STATEMENT
  • Bright Innovation Labs is an equal opportunity employer. Bright Innovation Labs does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.