We're looking for an experienced and visionary Plant Manufacturing Engineering Leader to shape the future of our manufacturing operations. This newly created leadership role offers a unique opportunity to build and lead a high-performing Manufacturing Engineering organization while driving operational excellence across engineering, maintenance, and facilities.

As a key member of the plant leadership team, you'll be responsible for developing technical capabilities, optimizing manufacturing performance, leading capital and continuous improvement initiatives, and creating the processes and systems that will support long-term operational success. If you're passionate about building teams, solving complex manufacturing challenges, and driving meaningful change, we'd love to hear from you.
Position
Director, Manufacturing Engineering
Location
USA, Decatur, AL

How You'll Create Possibilities

Build and Lead a World-Class Engineering Organization

• Establish and lead an integrated Manufacturing Engineering organization, including Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities Engineering, and Maintenance teams.

• Develop team objectives, build technical capability, and mentor engineering and maintenance talent.

• Recruit, coach, and develop a high-performing team while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  

Drive Manufacturing Performance

• Own the overall technical performance of the plant, including production equipment, tooling, and facility infrastructure.

• Partner with Operations to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), equipment reliability, quality, productivity, and manufacturing efficiency.

• Lead equipment, tooling, and process improvements that support safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

Lead Maintenance & Reliability Strategy

• Develop and execute preventive maintenance strategies that maximize equipment performance while minimizing downtime.

• Optimize maintenance resources to support production schedules and long-term equipment reliability.
  

Shape the Future of the Plant

• Develop manufacturing strategies that support future business needs, including:

  • New Product Introductions (NPI)

  • Product line expansions and volume changes

  • Cost reduction initiatives

  • Long-term manufacturing planning

• Evaluate future capacity through scenario planning and manufacturing strategy development.
  

Partner on New Product Introductions

• Represent the plant during NPI program reviews to ensure manufacturing readiness.

• Coordinate seamless transitions from product development into production by ensuring equipment, tooling, staffing, and technical resources are prepared for successful launches.
  

Lead Capital Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Own the plant's capital project portfolio and annual spending plan.

• Prioritize investments that improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational performance.

• Partner with Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME), Advanced Quality Engineering (AQE), Operations, Lean, and Product teams on strategic manufacturing initiatives.
  

Champion Lean Manufacturing

• Drive Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement throughout the plant.

• Identify waste, improve processes, and support productivity initiatives using Lean tools and the Appliance Performance System.
  

Ensure Safe & Sustainable Operations

• Maintain ownership of plant facilities, infrastructure, and space utilization.

• Ensure all equipment and process changes comply with Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS), ergonomic, and Human Organizational Performance (HOP) standards.

What You'll Bring to Our Team

Minimum Qualifications:

• Technical Degree or equivalent experience.

• Minimum 7+ years in progressive manufacturing leadership roles.

• Strong operational plant finance background and understanding.

• Strong understanding of Union Relations and demonstrated experience building relationships with Union leadership.

• Experience managing large manufacturing and engineering projects.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, grow and maintain a skilled engineering team.

• Fluent with Lean manufacturing principles.

• Strong communication skills – will be expected to communicate to all levels of the organization. From the plant floor up to executive staff members.

• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of cross-functional program deliverables and ability to drive decisions based on the overall benefit to the company.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BS Engineering (IE, ME or EE) or equivalent.

• Six Sigma certification with strong knowledge of LEAN, DMAIC, workout and other change mechanisms.

• Demonstrated leadership responsibility in a union manufacturing environment.

• Lean Manufacturing implementation experience.