The posting
Kentucky Trailer
As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway—you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best.
Director of Engineering
Department: Engineering Reports To: General Manager Location: KTSV - Wixom, MI
Position Summary
The Director of Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership for all engineering functions within the manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for leading product engineering, manufacturing engineering, process improvement, capital projects, automation initiatives, and engineering talent development. The Director of Engineering partners closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Leadership teams to drive innovation, improve manufacturing efficiency, ensure product quality, and support the organization's long-term growth objectives.
The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader who combines technical expertise with strong business acumen to improve productivity, reduce costs, enhance product performance, and develop a high-performing engineering organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership
- Develop and execute the engineering strategy aligned with business objectives and operational goals.
- Lead and mentor engineering managers, manufacturing engineers, design engineers, project engineers, and engineering technicians.
- Establish engineering priorities, resource allocation, and project plans to support company growth initiatives.
- Build a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Product Development & Engineering
- Oversee design, development, validation, and implementation of new products and product enhancements.
- Ensure manufacturability, reliability, compliance, and cost-effectiveness of engineered solutions.
- Collaborate with customers, sales teams, and operations to develop solutions that meet market demands.
- Manage engineering change processes and product lifecycle activities.
Capital Projects
- Develop business cases, project budgets, ROI analyses, and implementation plans.
- Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, and within budget.
Quality, Compliance & Safety
- Partner with Quality and Operations teams to resolve complex manufacturing and product issues.
- Support root cause analysis and corrective action activities.
- Ensure engineering practices comply with applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
- Promote a strong safety culture and incorporate safety considerations into all engineering designs and processes.
Financial Management
- Develop and manage the engineering department budget.
- Identify opportunities to reduce operational costs while improving product quality and performance.
- Monitor project expenditures, staffing levels, and capital investments.
- Drive measurable financial results through engineering initiatives.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Directly supervises Engineering Managers, Manufacturing Engineers, Product Engineers, Design Engineers, Project Engineers, and Engineering Technicians.
- Responsible for hiring, performance management, coaching, succession planning, and employee development within the engineering organization.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field required.
- Master's degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or Business Administration preferred.
Experience
- 10+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
- 5+ years leading engineering teams and managing direct reports.
- Experience with manufacturing process improvement, automation, capital projects, and product development.
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and large-scale operational improvement initiatives.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience managing engineering budgets and capital expenditures.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to analyze complex technical and business challenges and implement practical solutions.
- Proficiency with ERP systems, CAD software, and engineering management tools.
Working Conditions
- Combination of office, manufacturing floor, and customer/vendor interaction.
- Occasional travel to customer sites, suppliers, and other company locations.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and respond to operational priorities as needed.
Following receipt of a conditional offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete additional job-related screening processes as permitted or required by applicable law.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require any reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to [email protected], and please be sure to include the title and the location of the position for which you are applying.
