Leader of Engineering

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Methods Machine Tools was established in 1958 with three employees and a handful of refurbished machines. Since then, the company has become one of the largest privately owned machine tool importers in North America.

Job Summary:

The Leader of Engineering is a senior leader responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of several engineering functions, including Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Process, and National Applications Engineering. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), this role is accountable for aligning engineering efforts with business objectives, driving innovation, and ensuring technical excellence across the organization.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the engineering vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with the company's growth objectives and market position.
• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to corporate strategy, long range planning, and investment decisions related to technology and product development.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitive developments to maintain and expand the company's technology leadership position.

Engineering Operations & Execution

• Provide direct oversight of several engineering disciplines: Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, Process and National Applications.
• Ensure all engineering projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget while meeting or exceeding quality and performance standards.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, design methodologies, and best practices across disciplines to ensure consistency, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee engineering change management, product lifecycle processes, and documentation standards.

National Applications Engineering

• Lead the National Applications Engineering team responsible for technical sales support, machine configuration, process development, and customer-facing engineering solutions.
• Ensure National Applications Engineering collaborates effectively with Sales, Service, and Product Management to deliver optimized solutions that meet customer requirements.
• Drive development of turnkey application packages, fixturing solutions, and process validation to support revenue growth and customer satisfaction.

Product Development & Innovation

• Lead new product development and product enhancement initiatives from concept through launch, ensuring technical feasibility and market alignment.
• Develop and implement standard engineering stage-gate processes and similar engineering best practices.
• Evaluate and recommend innovative technologies, materials, and manufacturing methods to improve product performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Champion a culture of innovation, encouraging cross-functional collaboration and creative problem-solving.

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing engineering organization across multiple disciplines.
• Design and implement professional development programs, career paths, and succession plans for engineering staff.
• Recruit, retain, and develop top engineering talent at all levels.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented team culture.

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage the annual engineering budget, including headcount, capital expenditures, tools, and infrastructure.
• Optimize resource allocation across projects and disciplines to maximize throughput and ROI.
• Track and report on engineering performance metrics, project status, and financial targets to senior leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary engineering liaison to Sales, Operations, Service, Quality, and Supply Chain, translating complex technical concepts into actionable business language.
• Partner with Quality to support ISO 9001 compliance, root cause analysis, and corrective action processes.
• Coordinate with external vendors, OEM partners, and technology providers to ensure availability, reliability, and quality of sourced components and systems.

Minimum Knowledge & Experience required for the position:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 15+ years of progressive engineering experience in a manufacturing, capital equipment, or machine tools environment.
• Minimum 7–10 years in a senior engineering leadership role managing multi-discipline teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing Mechanical, Electrical, and Applications Engineering functions.
• Strong knowledge of product development processes, engineering design standards, and manufacturing methods.
• Proven ability to develop and execute engineering strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Master's degree in Engineering or MBA a plus.
• Experience in the machine tool, automation, or CNC industry preferred.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems is a plus.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills
• Organizational leadership and talent development
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence
• Technical depth across multiple engineering disciplines
• Budget management and financial accountability
• Customer orientation and market awareness

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 50% travel, as required

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Additional Information

This job description is designed to provide an overview of basic skills, experiences and education required to perform the job and is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee to perform the essential functions of the job. In instances where educational degrees are required, the company will take into consideration factors such as additional experience, training, or certifications in lieu of specific educational requirements .

Methods Machine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.