Director of Industrial Engineering
About the Role:
The Director of Industrial Engineering is responsible for developing and executing the vision and strategy for the Industrial Engineering division at ES Foundry Corp. This role leads industrial engineering managers, engineers, and team members while driving factory performance, capacity improvement, labor productivity, cost optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Director will use production data, performance metrics, operational parameters, and lean manufacturing methods to identify bottlenecks, strengthen manufacturing capacity models, improve throughput, and support operational excellence across the factory.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop a vision and strategy for the Industrial Engineering division.
- Hire, coach, and mentor Industrial Engineering Managers, engineers, and team members.
- Manage, coach, and mentor a high-performing Industrial Engineering division, including setting performance expectations, conducting regular performance evaluations, and identifying training needs to strengthen team member skills and knowledge.
- Review production data, performance metrics, and operational parameters to identify trends, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement.
- Make data-driven recommendations to optimize cycle time, cost, productivity, and factory performance, including driving improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), labor productivity, and capacity.
- Oversee materials management, inventory control, and consumption control.
- Lead budgeting for labor, materials, and utilities.
- Establish cost models for products and manage and control operating expenses.
- Aid in the development, maintenance, and automation of manufacturing capacity models.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement by promoting lean manufacturing methods, driving waste reduction initiatives, and implementing best practices across the factory.
- Encourage employee involvement and engagement in process improvement activities.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement, evaluate existing workflows through value stream mapping, and develop strategies to increase throughput and capacity.
- Plan, coordinate, and oversee project deliverables, ensuring timely completion and adherence to high-quality standards, including defining deliverables, setting priorities, allocating resources, and managing timelines.
Minimum Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in the job offered or as an Operations Support Director in solar manufacturing.
- Demonstrated experience leading industrial engineering, manufacturing operations, capacity planning, cost modeling, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong experience using production data, performance metrics, and operational analysis to improve factory performance.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in solar manufacturing or advanced manufacturing environments.
- Experience leading lean manufacturing, waste reduction, value stream mapping, and throughput improvement initiatives.
- Experience developing or automating manufacturing capacity models.
- Advanced understanding of OEE, labor productivity, inventory control, materials management, and operating expense management.
Desired Skills:
- Strategic Leadership: Develops the vision, goals, and operating strategy for the Industrial Engineering division.
- People Leadership: Hires, coaches, mentors, and develops managers, engineers, and team members.
- Data Analysis: Uses production data, performance metrics, and operational parameters to identify trends and drive improvements.
- Continuous Improvement: Applies lean manufacturing, value stream mapping, and waste reduction methods to improve throughput and capacity.
- Financial Acumen: Supports budgeting, cost modeling, inventory control, consumption control, and operating expense management.
- Project Management: Defines deliverables, sets priorities, allocates resources, and manages timelines to achieve high-quality results.
Working Conditions:
- Work is primarily performed in an office environment with regular interaction on the manufacturing floor.
- May require walking through production areas and wearing appropriate PPE when entering designated manufacturing spaces.
Benefits and Perks:
- Competitive benefits package designed to support employees and their families.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
- Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave.
- Opportunities to grow with a rapidly expanding U.S.-based solar manufacturing company.
- Supportive team environment focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
