Senior Director of Engineering:The Senior Director of Engineering will build, lead, and develop a team of process, manufacturing, reliability, and project engineers while partnering closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and the Corporate PMO. This position will provide the technical leadership necessary to optimize manufacturing processes, drive equipment reliability, execute capital projects, and establish the engineering systems and standards required for long-term operational excellence.
Success in this role requires a hands-on leader who thrives in fast-paced manufacturing environments, has experience leading complex start-ups or major facility expansions, and can balance strategic planning with day-to-day execution. The ideal candidate is passionate about developing people, solving complex technical challenges, and creating a culture focused on safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
What will you do in this newly created role?- Lead the engineering organization through the final phases of greenfield startup and operational readiness.
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of manufacturing, process, project, and reliability engineers.
- Establish engineering standards, preventive maintenance strategies, and reliability systems to maximize equipment uptime.
- Partner with Operations to improve safety, quality, throughput, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
- Lead commissioning, equipment acceptance, startup, and production ramp-up of new manufacturing assets.
- Prioritize and execute capital projects while ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.
- Develop root cause analysis and continuous improvement processes using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and reliability engineering principles.
- Collaborate with corporate engineering and the PMO to standardize best practices across Fiber operations.
- Develop engineering succession plans and technical capability within the organization.
- Serve as a key member of the Fiber Leadership Team, helping establish the long-term operating strategy for the Van Wert facility and the broader Fiber business.
What skills do you bring?- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree is required for this role.
- 10+ years of progressive engineering, maintenance, or facilities leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience building, leading, and developing high-performing engineering or maintenance teams.
- Strong knowledge of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems.
- Comprehensive understanding of industrial building systems, including HVAC, electrical distribution, plumbing, utilities, and building automation systems.
- Demonstrated experience maintaining manufacturing equipment, utilities, and facility infrastructure to maximize reliability and performance.
- Hands-on leader with a strong ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues and drive practical solutions.
- Leads by example with a strong commitment to safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Experience supporting a greenfield startup, major plant expansion, or facility commissioning.
- Project management experience, including capital project planning and execution.
- Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and maintenance planning software.
- Working knowledge of CAD or other engineering design software.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships across all levels of the organization.
- Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to quality, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
The compensation range for this position is $185k-$230k.
