Director of Engineering & Maintenance

Job Description

Job Description

Do you get energized by turning engineering strategy into improvements you can actually see on the manufacturing floor?

• Do you enjoy solving complex manufacturing challenges through engineering, automation, technology, and disciplined problem solving?
• Do you take pride in building strong Engineering and Maintenance teams while creating the capability needed for future growth?

If so, this role may be the perfect fit for you.

Palermo’s is a family-owned company with a passion for great pizza and great people. As our Director of Engineering, you’ll provide strategic and operational leadership for Engineering and Maintenance across Palermo’s manufacturing operations.

Reporting to the VP of Operations, you’ll partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, Quality, Marketing, and other business leaders to translate Palermo’s current and future needs into engineering solutions that improve our manufacturing capabilities and prepare us for continued growth.

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee discount on Palermo’s products

This role is based at Palermo’s Canal Street location in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with regular presence on the manufacturing floor. Periodic travel to other Palermo’s locations, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and project sites may be required.

• Develop and execute short- and long-range engineering strategies aligned with manufacturing, capacity, and growth priorities.
• Partner with plant leadership to improve safety, quality, throughput, waste, reliability, productivity, and cost.
• Provide strategic direction for Maintenance, including preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, spare parts, troubleshooting, and asset performance.
• Evaluate automation, equipment, technology, and AI-enabled opportunities that can strengthen manufacturing capability and efficiency.
• Lead engineering support for new product commercialization and manufacturing capability needs.
• Develop strong partnerships with equipment manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and technical partners.
• Lead, coach, and develop Engineering and Maintenance teams while building the technical and leadership capabilities needed for Palermo’s future.

You can move comfortably between the plant floor and the leadership table. You understand the technical details behind manufacturing performance, but you also know how to evaluate investments, prioritize resources, communicate risk, and connect engineering decisions to business results.

You’re equally focused on building capability in people and processes. You challenge teams to solve problems at the root cause, look for better ways to work, and thoughtfully apply automation, emerging technology, and AI where they can create meaningful value.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
• 10+ years of progressive engineering experience, including significant manufacturing, project, mechanical, or food manufacturing engineering experience
• Food or beverage manufacturing engineering experience
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams, direct reports, and complex capital projects
• Experience developing budgets, business cases, and long-range capital plans
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing equipment, automation, process improvement, equipment reliability, and project management
• Working knowledge of food safety, employee safety, hygienic design, and applicable engineering and safety standards
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, and relevant engineering technology

An advanced degree, multi-site Engineering and Maintenance leadership, experience with high-speed automated food manufacturing and packaging systems, or Lean, Six Sigma, project management, or reliability certification is a plus.

Projects deliver their expected scope, cost, schedule, safety, quality, and business results. Manufacturing capability, reliability, productivity, and efficiency improve, while Engineering and Maintenance operate with clear priorities and disciplined execution.

Just as importantly, new products receive effective engineering support, Engineering and Maintenance talent grows in capability and ownership, and cross-functional leaders view Engineering as a proactive and trusted business partner.

At Palermo’s, Engineering has a direct impact on how we make our products today and how we prepare our manufacturing operations for tomorrow. You’ll have the opportunity to develop talented teams, embrace technology, solve meaningful manufacturing challenges, and help shape the capabilities that support Palermo’s continued growth.