Director, Manufacturing Engineering, Body

Blue Bird Careers • Fort Valley, GA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Blue Bird Corporation is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Engineering to champion the technical vision of the production floor. Reporting to the Plant Manager, this senior leader will direct a team of manufacturing engineers and technicians, resolve manufacturing bottlenecks, manage capital expenditures, enforce safety standards, and work with cross-functional stakeholders to improve processes and support on-time delivery and customer satisfaction.

The role oversees manufacturing strategy for new product launches, process optimization, continuous improvement, tooling integration, capital planning, and manufacturing quality and compliance. The director partners with Design Engineering to address Design for Manufacturing issues, reviews engineering analyses, and maintains compliance with ISO 9000 standards. The role requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, at least 10 years of manufacturing engineering experience, and at least 5 years of relevant professional leadership experience. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and authorized to work in the United States.

The work takes place in office and production environments, including a fast-paced manufacturing area with exposure to heat, cold, noise, moving objects, and sheet metal. Employees must wear appropriate PPE when required. Occasional extended periods of standing or sitting and frequent weeks of 40 or more hours are noted.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• At least 10 years of manufacturing engineering experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional leadership experience.
• Experience in Production Supervision.
• All candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and authorized to work in the United States; proof of employment eligibility is required at hire.
• Expertise in line balancing, process development, and bottleneck elimination.
• Proficiency in capital expenditure oversight, financial planning, and construction management.
• Skill in transitioning, calibrating, and maintaining error-proofing torque tooling.
• Ability to develop project budgets and cost analyses and estimate production labor and equipment costs.
• Strong project management ability, including management of multiple complex projects from inception through completion.
• Advanced user of MS Office Suite and experience with MS Project.
• Ability to collaborate across functions and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong written and oral communication, organization, strategic problem-solving, people management, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Commitment to professional conduct, a strong work ethic, and high standards of integrity.

Nice To Haves

• At least 7 years of relevant professional leadership experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) principles.
• PMP certification.
• Recognized process improvement training, such as Lean or Six Sigma.
• Exposure to difficult or complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Direct and develop a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Technicians; set performance expectations and individual goals, and conduct annual appraisals.
• Allocate engineering resources to deliver tooling, labor standards, routers, and process instructions for engineering changes on time.
• Oversee the capital spending plan, participate in budgeting, recommend improvements, and prepare justification data for capital equipment procurement.
• Develop manufacturing strategy for new product launches and manage transitions from prototype to pilot to full-scale production.
• Analyze line complexity drivers and implement poka-yoke solutions to reduce operator decision points and mitigate risks.
• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives, production support, and line material presentation to reduce costs and improve processes.
• Partner with Design Engineering to resolve chronic Design for Manufacturing issues and implement corrective actions.
• Evaluate projects for performance, safety, and reliability.
• Review PFMEA, DVP&R, and 8D root cause analyses to support ongoing product design improvement.
• Maintain compliance with ISO 9000 standards and produce comprehensive, customer-ready documentation.
• Communicate frequently with people throughout the day and work collaboratively with stakeholders across the organization.

Benefits

• Continued professional development.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 14 paid holidays.
• Vacation time.
• 401(k) matching.
• Flexible workspaces and work hours.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director