VP, Engineering & Innovation

Summary/Objective

A key member of the executive team, responsible for leading and organizing the Engineering team in the design, development, and optimization of current and next generation beverage dispensing equipment. Leveraging a team of Engineers, designers, and support staff through new product development, continuous improvements, modern design, and IOT, this role will build market demand and increase profitability with products that allow customers to pour more, pour better, and pour responsibly with the latest in beverage dispensing technology.

Essential Functions

• Establish and implement the strategic direction of the company's engineering and development initiatives and
• Build a culture of innovation and high-quality standards across the Engineering organization, embedding an innovative and growth
• Define, communicate, and implement metrics, methodologies, and best practices for quality execution and continuous improvement of engineering disciplines and evaluate opportunities to reduce time to market and improve customer position, without sacrificing
• Evaluate long and short-term products for alignment with strategic
• Understand business requirements and collaborate vertically and horizontally to achieve business objectives with technical solutions, building collaborative working relationships for product alignment with strategic goals, customer needs, and manufacturing strengths and
• Ensure that departmental decisions such as staffing, people management, development, organizational structure, hardware acquisitions, and facilities are in line with the organization's plan and
• Create programs and activities to foster team growth, engagement, and a results-oriented
• Develop engineering leaders and teams capable of building strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to move the business towards digitally enabled
• Maintain knowledge of emerging technologies and industry trends in engineering and modern technologies, acting as a thought leader across global engineering and technology functions, providing expertise and guidance on projects, operations,
• Lead the development and integration of automation, connected technologies, smart controls, and IoT-enabled capabilities into current and future product platforms to enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and competitive differentiation.
• Partner with and provide support to Operations to identify, evaluate, and implement manufacturing automation solutions, including robotics, automated assembly, vision systems, and digital manufacturing technologies, to improve safety, quality, throughput, and productivity.
• Manage relationships with vendors and service providers to ensure quality output and
• Estimate, prioritize and plan budgets and resources to deliver engineering

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of engineering principles and
• Strong leadership skills, with ability to motivate, develop, teach, and enable staff to achieve high- performance.
• Strong understanding of automation technologies, smart controls, connectivity, and digital product solutions.
• Knowledge of manufacturing automation principles and Industry 4.0 technologies, with the ability to align engineering and operational objectives.
• Deep understanding of our customers' inner workings and changing requirements or ability to learn quickly and adapt
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and time management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to envision the future state, and plan over a 1-2-year time span
• Ability to organize people, resources, and multiple
• Strong understanding and execution of Design for Manufacturing & Lean manufacturing
• Commitment to high ethical standards and company

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required (Mechanical or Electrical preferred); Master's degree preferred.
• 15+ years of engineering leadership experience required, preferably within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading new product development from concept through commercialization required.
• Experience with connected products, IoT, automation, cloud-based technologies, and digital customer solutions required.
• Experience supporting manufacturing automation initiatives, including robotics, automated equipment, vision systems, or Industry 4.0 technologies required.
• Experience in foodservice, beverage, refrigeration, or other industrial equipment manufacturing preferred.
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), and continuous improvement methodologies required.
• Proven ability to build and develop a company's engineering function required.
• Experience in managing product quality, reliability, and cost improvement initiatives required.

Work Environment

This job operates in an office environment. This role routinely involves standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands

Standing, sitting, walking, and bending as needed. Using the proper lifting technique may be required to lift objects up to 30 lbs. May have to reach for object at or above shoulder height. May be required to operate traditional office equipment including computers, copiers, fax machines and telephones.

Other Duties

By signing this document, the employee acknowledges that they have read and understood the job description. The employee agrees to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined to the best of their ability and understands that these may be modified or updated as necessary to meet the needs of the organization. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.