Vice President, Engineering

VP Of Engineering

Standex International is a global industrial growth company operating through our market-leading brands in electronics, cutting-edge forming technologies, engraving and scientific refrigeration. We work with our customers to advance progress through innovation. From inventing and producing parts for next-generation space vehicles, to evolving vaccine refrigeration, designing functional textures for everyday products, improving renewable energy technology and much more, we are focused on making what's next possible. Standex Aerospace & Defense (A&D) segment manufactures large customized near-net-shaped metal-formed components such as fuel domes, lip skins, and other aerospace components. Our unique spin forming process is the most efficient forming process for these parts, while we also have a complementary deep draw forming process for parts with varying shapes and contours. These parts are difficult to manufacture due to their size and tight specifications. With facilities in the US and UK, our segment is positioned to serve customers in the space, aviation, and defense markets in the North American and European regions. Our deep knowledge of the forming process, combined with our multiple decades of experience, has positioned us as a critical manufacturing partner.

Reporting to the Business President, the VP of Engineering (VPE) serves as the strategic engineering leader for the business. This executive will sit on the executive leadership team alongside the President, VP of Sales, and division VP General Managers, acting as the central point for advancing engineering capabilities across the organization Overseeing four Principal Engineers, each at one of the company's sites, the VPE will unify engineering strategy and execution across all business units. The role encompasses both strategic leadership and functional oversight, ensuring new processes are aligned with manufacturability, customer requirements, and long-term business objectives What You'll Do

• Create and own Standex Engineering Technologies' engineering strategy roadmap, aligning it with the company's growth objectives and market direction
• Assess current engineering capabilities, market trends, and competitive processes within Standex's core markets
• Align engineering initiatives with in-house process capabilities and capital investment planning (CapEx) to support future development.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all engineering activities across multiple manufacturing sites or business units
• Develop and execute the global project engineering strategy aligned with corporate objectives
• Unify the four geographically distributed engineering teams through structured collaboration frameworks, ensuring consistent processes and communication across sites
• Develop and implement a company-wide skills matrix to identify technical expertise, highlight capability gaps, and guide cross-site resource deployment.
• Establish mechanisms for structured problem-solving, knowledge transfer, and best-practice sharing to maximize engineering capacity and technical depth
• Ensure the organizational design supports both current execution needs and long-term capability growth, balancing site-specific requirements with enterprise-wide priorities
• Support long-term capital planning, capacity expansion, modernization, and sustainability initiatives
• Lead the design, development, and implementation of efficient, scalable, and cost-effective manufacturing processes
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to enhance productivity, quality, and safety
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including process engineering, quality, maintenance, and production to support new product introductions and process transfers
• Oversee stage-gate approval processes and ensure compliance with internal governance standards
• Oversee the evaluation and integration of new technologies, automation, and digital manufacturing tools
• Establish and maintain process standards, documentation, and performance metrics
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, resource planning, and capital project execution Support the development and improvement of engineering departmental procedures
• Participate in the maintenance of engineering drawings and standards
• Analyze technology and resource needs to plan and assess the feasibility of processes and associated equipment
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment while following all safety and quality procedures
• Attending meetings and trainings as assigned
• Complete projects as assigned

Team Management

• Hold multi-site Engineering Team accountable to goals and objectives set by the Company
• Train and mentor new team members and be an ambassador of our culture
• Delegate job assignments and review workload as necessary
• Maintain employee schedules such as approving time-off & staff coverage
• Collaborate with Human Resources for employee performance discussions, recruitment needs, hiring, and terminations
• Work to resolve interpersonal issues and conflicts as they arise
• Lead performance and compensation reviews for direct reports
• Develop employees and facilitate career conversation, including feedback for promotions or additional professional development
• Advocate a safe and professional work environment
• Attending trainings, meetings, and participate in continuous improvement programs
• Provide necessary support to the [location] facility as needed
• Have a daily presence on the manufacturing floor to work collaboratively with shop team

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering required
• 12+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience, ideally within metals manufacturing, forming, or processing in aerospace, defense, or related high-spec industries
• 5-8+ years of proven personnel management experienced
• Experience leading multi-site engineering organizations, including strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration with Operations and Sales
• Skilled at customer-facing engagement, including presenting value propositions and securing buy-in from senior technical decision-makers
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and project management tools (e.g., MS Project)
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and willingness to learn other software
• Reliable transportation
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• High level of confidentiality and professionalism when interacting with clients & vendors
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships
• Ability to effectively manage time, multi-task, and pay close attention to details
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Regularly required to move, sit, and bend for various hours throughout the day

Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.