Chief Engineer

Oshkosh•Jefferson City, MO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

JLG, an Oshkosh company, is seeking a Chief Engineer to lead the technical direction and engineering performance of its Jefferson City, Tennessee manufacturing facility. This role is a key member of the plant leadership team, responsible for advancing manufacturing capability through strong engineering execution, disciplined continuous improvement, and strategic investment in automation and technology. The Chief Engineer will lead a diverse engineering team, influence critical business decisions, and ensure the facility's processes, equipment, and talent are positioned for current production demands and future growth. This opportunity is suited for a leader with deep technical expertise, business acumen, and a strong presence on the plant floor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in operations, engineering, or related field.
Ten (10) or more years of relevant experience.
Leadership experience.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of equipment manufacturing industry or automobile industry.
Experience with lean manufacturing systems and structured problem solving methodologies such as Six Sigma or similar.
Track record of driving measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost across a complex manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated ability to build and develop high performing engineering teams, including succession planning and leadership development.
Willingness to work on the shop floor and lead by example; ability to influence decision making with or without authority; facilitate groups with diverse perspectives; and bring teams to agreement.
Analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

Set and execute the engineering vision and strategy for the Jefferson City facility, aligning with enterprise objectives, product roadmap, and operational goals.
Lead, develop, and scale a high performing engineering organization across Manufacturing Engineering, Controls, Robotics, and Automation, building both technical depth and leadership capability.
Drive plant wide continuous improvement through advanced manufacturing practices, automation, digital integration, and data driven decision making.
Own capital planning and deployment strategy, ensuring investments are prioritized, executed effectively, and deliver measurable returns in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Serve as the senior technical authority for the site, making and defending critical engineering decisions that impact product integrity, manufacturing capability, and long term competitiveness.
Partner cross functionally with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Product Engineering to remove constraints, accelerate new product introduction, and improve overall value stream performance.
Establish and reinforce a culture of accountability, innovation, and problem solving, with a strong presence on the shop floor and a focus on standard work and disciplined execution.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, customers, and external partners to support business growth and technical advancement.
Provide leadership in budgeting and financial performance, with ownership of engineering spend, capital forecasts, and contribution to overall plant profitability.
Champion talent development through coaching, succession planning, and creation of clear development pathways for engineering team members.