Director, Manufacturing Engineering, Body

Blue Bird Corporation•Fort Valley, GA

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Director of Manufacturing Engineering will champion the technical vision of the production floor. This senior leader will direct a high-performing team of engineers and technicians to resolve manufacturing bottlenecks, manage capital expenditures (CapEx), and enforce rigorous safety standards. By partnering with cross-functional stakeholders, you will drive continuous improvement, optimize process capabilities, and implement scalable manufacturing solutions to ensure on-time delivery and top-tier customer satisfaction.

Requirements

Process Optimization: Expert in line balancing, process development, and eliminating bottlenecks to increase throughput.
CapEx Management: Proficient in capital expenditure oversight, financial planning, and construction management.
Tooling Integration: Skilled in the transition, calibration, and maintenance of error-proofing torque tooling.
Financial Planning: Adept at developing project budgets, cost analyses, and estimating production labor and equipment costs.
Project Management: Highly proficient in managing multiple, complex projects simultaneously from inception to completion.
Technical Software: Advanced user of MS Office Suite, with experience in MS Project.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to bridge the gap between departments, fostering teamwork and achieving shared objectives at all levels of the organization.
Strategic Problem Solving: Methodical, balanced, and dynamic approach to resolving operational challenges.
People Management & Conflict Resolution: Empathetic leadership style focused on motivation, assertiveness, and maintaining high team morale.
Communication & Organization: Strong written and oral communicator, capable of translating complex ideas into clear, actionable presentations.
Professional Ethics: Committed to a strong work ethic, professional conduct, and the highest standards of integrity.
Bachelor's in Engineering required
10+ years of manufacturing engineering experience required
5+ years of relevant professional leadership experience
All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

7+ years of relevant professional leadership experience, preferred
Experience in Production Supervision required
Knowledge of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) principles preferred
PMP Certification and recognized process improvement training (Lean, Six Sigma), preferred
Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
Ability to influence stakeholders
Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

Direct and develop a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Technicians, setting clear performance expectations, individual goals, and conducting annual appraisals.
Allocate engineering resources to ensure the timely delivery of tooling, labor standards, routers, and process instructions for all engineering changes.
Oversee the entire capital spending plan, actively participating in budgeting, recommending improvements, and drafting justification data for capital equipment procurement.
Architect the manufacturing strategy for new product launches, ensuring seamless transitions from prototype to pilot to full-scale production.
Eliminate operator decision points and mitigate risks by analyzing line complexity drivers and deploying effective poka-yoke (error-proofing) solutions.
Spearhead lean manufacturing initiatives, production support, and line material presentation to drive cost reductions and process improvements.
Partner with Design Engineering to resolve chronic Design for Manufacturing (DFM) issues and implement corrective actions.
Perform rigorous evaluations of projects to ensure top-tier performance, safety, and reliability.
Review engineering analyses including PFMEA, DVP&R, and 8D root cause analysis to continuously improve product designs.
Maintain strict compliance with ISO 9000 standards, producing comprehensive and customer-ready documentation.