Director of Engineering

Director of Engineering - Nuclear Manufacturing Location: Cambridge, Ontario (with responsibility across multiple manufacturing facilities in Southwestern Ontario) Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Compensation: $180,000-$200,000+ base salary, depending on experience Department: Engineering & Quality Reports To: Vice President / General Manager Direct Reports: Approximately 8, including Engineering, Quality, Project Supervision, Design and Estimating personnel Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Director of Engineering to provide strategic and technical leadership across a multi-site manufacturing operation specializing in nuclear components, pressure equipment, precision machining, and complex metal fabrication. This is a senior leadership opportunity with full accountability for the Engineering and Quality functions, including engineering design, technical standards, estimating, manufacturing support, code compliance, and quality management systems. The successful candidate will lead the development of a cohesive engineering organization, establish consistent technical standards across multiple manufacturing facilities, and ensure that engineering and quality requirements are integrated throughout the design and manufacturing process. This position requires a leader who can balance executive-level strategic planning with hands‑on technical expertise. The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable contributing to leadership discussions, mentoring engineers, reviewing complex technical calculations, supporting manufacturing operations, and working directly with customers, inspectors, and regulatory representatives. A particularly important aspect of the position is serving as the organization's senior technical and code authority, with accountability for nuclear and non-nuclear quality programs, ASME certification requirements, and the engineering practices supporting those certifications. Key Responsibilities Engineering Leadership & Team Development Provide overall leadership and direction to the Engineering and Quality departments across multiple manufacturing facilities. Directly manage and develop engineering, quality, project supervision, mechanical design, and estimating personnel. Establish consistent engineering processes, technical standards, calculation methodologies, and design procedures. Oversee engineering resource planning, departmental budgets, workforce development, and succession planning. Review and approve engineering deliverables, design calculations, technical documentation, and project estimates. Develop and implement strategies to improve engineering productivity, operational efficiency, and technical capabilities. Promote collaboration between engineering teams operating across different manufacturing locations. Establish a culture of technical excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing. Support employee recruitment, performance management, coaching, and professional development. Develop succession plans for critical technical and code-related responsibilities. Provide regular reporting to senior leadership regarding engineering performance, project capacity, technical risk, quality performance, and departmental development. Nuclear Engineering & Technical Code Compliance Serve as the senior technical authority for nuclear-class components, pressure-retaining equipment, and code-regulated manufacturing. Provide engineering oversight for work performed under ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III, Division 1 , including applicable Class 1, 2, and 3 requirements. Ensure compliance with ASME Section III subsections NCA, NB, NC, ND, and NF, as applicable. Oversee engineering activities involving ASME Section VIII, Division 1 pressure equipment. Maintain technical compliance with CSA N285.0, the CSA N299 series, and applicable nuclear quality assurance requirements. Provide technical guidance on pressure vessel design, pressure-boundary classifications, design calculations, material selection, and manufacturing specifications. Ensure engineering documentation, design reports, code data reports, and certification packages meet applicable regulatory and customer requirements. Oversee TSSA design registration and Canadian Registration Number (CRN) submissions. Support the interpretation and application of CSA B51, ASME B31.1, and ASME Sections II, V, and IX. Stay current with changes to applicable engineering codes, standards, regulatory requirements, and customer specifications. Provide technical direction to engineering and manufacturing teams when complex design or compliance challenges arise. Quality Management & ASME Certification Provide leadership and accountability for the organization's nuclear and non-nuclear quality assurance programs. Oversee the maintenance, renewal, and potential expansion of applicable ASME Certificates of Authorization , including N, NPT, and NS scopes as held or pursued. Maintain oversight of the Quality Assurance Manual, quality procedures, certification requirements, and associated documentation. Ensure engineering and quality practices align with ASME NQA-1 , ASME Section III NCA-3800, and other applicable quality standards. Lead preparation for ASME/AIA joint surveys, regulatory reviews, customer audits, and certification assessments. Work closely with Authorized Nuclear Inspectors (ANI), Authorized Inspectors (AI), regulatory bodies, and external auditors. Oversee supplier qualification, quality audits, technical documentation, traceability, corrective actions, and nonconformance management. Ensure quality requirements are incorporated into engineering and manufacturing processes from the beginning of each project. Review quality performance metrics, audit findings, customer complaints, and recurring nonconformance trends. Promote effective corrective and preventive actions to improve overall manufacturing quality. Maintain the Quality Manager's independent authority regarding inspections, quality holds, stop-work decisions, and nonconforming material dispositions. Ensure quality-related concerns can be escalated independently when necessary. Manufacturing Engineering & Operational Support Provide engineering leadership across precision machining, welding, custom fabrication, metal forming, and pressure equipment manufacturing . Ensure engineering designs are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with available production capabilities. Work closely with Operations to improve manufacturing methods, production efficiency, and technical problem-solving. Support the development and qualification of welding procedures, including Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQR) . Provide technical oversight related to weld mapping, nondestructive examination (NDE), inspection and test plans, and manufacturing documentation. Support pressure equipment fabrication, material traceability, and compliance with applicable design and inspection requirements. Lead the technical resolution of manufacturing nonconformances, engineering changes, and complex production challenges. Promote design-for-manufacturing principles and improved collaboration between engineering, quality, and shop-floor personnel. Identify and implement opportunities to reduce rework, improve first-time quality, and increase engineering efficiency. Support the introduction of new engineering technologies, manufacturing processes, and quality systems. Estimating, Commercial & Business Development Support Oversee and approve technical estimates for custom machining, fabrication, and code-regulated equipment. Ensure estimates accurately reflect engineering effort, technical complexity, material requirements, and quality compliance costs. Account for nondestructive examination, post-weld heat treatment, traceability, documentation, and inspection requirements when evaluating project costs. Collaborate with Business Development and Operations on technical proposals, customer specifications, bid reviews, and project feasibility. Participate in customer-facing technical discussions, scope reviews, and commercial negotiations. Evaluate whether proposed projects align with existing technical capabilities, certifications, and quality programs. Identify opportunities requiring additional technical qualifications, certification extensions, or supplier approvals. Support the evaluation and qualification of suppliers and subcontractors, including nuclear quality requirements and technical compliance expectations. Contribute to business growth by identifying opportunities to expand engineering and manufacturing capabilities into new markets. Required Qualifications Education & Professional Credentials Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline. Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation in Ontario , or eligibility for registration with Professional Engineers Ontario. Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in metal fabrication, machining, pressure equipment engineering, or closely related manufacturing environments. Minimum 5 years of engineering leadership experience , including managing and developing technical teams. Nuclear Engineering & Code Experience Demonstrated engineering design and/or fabrication responsibility involving ASME Section III, Division 1 , including Class 1, 2, and 3 nuclear components. Direct experience operating within an ASME nuclear Certificate of Authorization environment, including N, NPT, and/or NS certifications. Participation in at least one ASME/AIA joint survey . Strong knowledge of ASME Section VIII, Division 1, CSA B51, and ASME B31.1. Experience with Ontario pressure equipment registration requirements, including TSSA and CRN processes. Applied knowledge of CSA N285.0 and CSA N299.1/N299.2/N299.3/N299.4 . Familiarity with ASME NQA-1 and nuclear quality assurance requirements. Understanding of nuclear procurement, material certification, traceability, inspection, and quality documentation. Engineering, Manufacturing & Quality Expertise Substantial experience in both heavy/custom fabrication and precision machining . Strong understanding of welding, metal forming, rolling, fabrication, machining, and complex mechanical assemblies. Experience involving pressure vessels, tanks, pressure-boundary equipment, and related engineering calculations. Knowledge of welding procedures, material selection, NDE requirements, heat treatment, and inspection processes. Experience managing or overseeing quality management systems within highly regulated engineering or manufacturing environments. Demonstrated involvement in quality assurance manuals, audits, corrective actions, and compliance programs. Ability to interpret complex technical drawings, specifications, engineering calculations, and manufacturing requirements. Experience evaluating manufacturing feasibility, production challenges, and engineering-related costs. Strong technical judgment and the ability to provide direction during critical engineering or quality decisions. Leadership & Business Skills Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering and quality teams. Experience managing engineering budgets, departmental resources, and technical performance. Strong organizational leadership with the ability to establish common standards across multiple facilities. Effective communication and relationship-building skills with employees, customers, executives, inspectors, and regulators. Strong commercial judgment and experience supporting technical estimating and project proposals. Ability to make sound technical decisions while balancing operational, commercial, and regulatory considerations. Commitment to safety, professional integrity, quality assurance, and continuous improvement. Preferred Qualifications & Additional Assets Experience obtaining, renewing, or expanding ASME nuclear Certificates of Authorization. Exposure to small modular reactors (SMRs) , nuclear new-build projects, refurbishment, and life-extension programs. Experience with engineering or manufacturing projects supporting nuclear power generation, industrial processing, energy, hydrogen, water treatment, or advanced manufacturing. Exposure to medical, defence, or other highly regulated nuclear applications. Experience integrating Engineering and Quality departments into a unified organizational structure. Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems and formal auditing processes. Lead auditor training or equivalent audit-related qualifications. Experience introducing new manufacturing capabilities, engineering technologies, or operational improvement initiatives. Technical Software & Systems Candidates should have experience with relevant engineering and manufacturing systems, including: SolidWorks and/or AutoCAD for engineering design and technical documentation. Pressure vessel design software such as PV Elite, COMPRESS , or equivalent. Engineering analysis and calculation tools; finite element analysis (FEA) experience considered an asset. ERP/MRP systems and engineering resource planning tools. Quality management systems, document control platforms, and technical records management. Familiarity with Mastercam or comparable machining-related software considered an asset. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. Key Performance Expectations Maintain all applicable ASME certifications and authorizations without interruption. Ensure ASME surveys, regulatory reviews, and customer audit findings are addressed within agreed timelines. Improve nonconformance resolution, corrective action effectiveness, and quality performance. Strengthen the accuracy and completeness of engineering documentation, design registrations, and code reports. Improve engineering deliverable timelines and estimating accuracy. Maintain effective supplier qualification and audit programs. Establish qualified backup personnel for critical engineering and certification responsibilities. Support employee retention, technical development, and succession planning. Improve collaboration, consistency, and operational performance across Engineering and Quality functions. Work Environment & Travel Primarily based at a manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Ontario . Regular onsite presence and interaction with engineering, quality, operations, and senior management teams. Travel between additional manufacturing facilities in Southwestern Ontario, as well as occasional customer and supplier locations. Work includes both engineering office activities and visits to active manufacturing environments. Appropriate personal protective equipment may be required when entering production areas. Flexibility in working arrangements may be available depending on business requirements and operational responsibilities. Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is an experienced engineering leader who combines nuclear code expertise, manufacturing knowledge, technical accountability, and strong people leadership. They understand how engineering design, fabrication, machining, inspection, and quality assurance must work together to deliver complex products safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulatory requirements. This individual has the technical credibility to guide engineers, support manufacturing teams, engage with regulators and inspectors, and make sound decisions involving complex nuclear and pressure equipment requirements. Just as importantly, they enjoy developing people, improving engineering processes, and contributing to the long-term technical direction of a growing manufacturing organization. This is an opportunity for an accomplished engineering professional to lead an established multidisciplinary function, strengthen operational capabilities, and make a meaningful impact on the organization's continued growth. Why You’ll Love Working Here: Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates Why This Opportunity is Exciting: This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally. About Acara Solutions Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide. Sound like a good fit? What You’ll Do: Additional Information After you apply, you may receive a call or message from our AI Talent Scout about this role or other opportunities that match your skills and preferences. AI agent role is to help speed up your hiring process by answering questions, confirming basic information, and identifying whether there’s a mutual fit. The call or chat may be recorded so that our recruiting team can review it - they make all final hiring decisions, while AI agent simply helps move your forward faster. 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