Director of Custom Engineering

Landscape Structures • Delano, MN

1d

About The Position

The Director of Custom Engineering provides technical, people, and quality leadership for the Custom Engineering function. This is responsible for ensuring high‑quality, timely delivery of custom designs that meet customer, manufacturing, and business expectations. This role establishes expectations for engineering standards, design rigor, and quality ownership across the custom lifecycle, supporting strong connections between pre‑sale concept development and custom operations. The Director leads and develops engineering leaders and teams, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and engagement consistent with LSI values. Through strong cross‑functional relationships, sound judgment, and a focus on long‑term capability and quality, this role advances engineering effectiveness, scalability, and customer confidence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering field or other related bachelor's degree
• 15+ years of experience in an engineering and manufacturing environment, with progressive responsibility across technical leadership and people leadership roles.
• Proven ability to oversee complex engineering projects or portfolios, balancing quality, schedule, and business priorities.
• Strong working knowledge of mechanical design principles and 3D CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent), with the ability to set expectations and provide technical direction.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and organizational leadership for the Custom Engineering function, aligning departmental objectives with overall business unit and company strategy.
• Establish and oversee long‑term capability planning for custom engineering, ensuring design practices, tools, and talent align with current and future manufacturing strategies.
• Set expectations for engineering quality, technical rigor, and design standards, ensuring consistency, scalability, and compliance with LSI best practices.
• Provide executive oversight for engineering systems, technology platforms, and upgrades, ensuring investments deliver measurable value to the business.
• Represent Custom Engineering at the business unit and enterprise leadership level, clearly communicating risks, opportunities, and performance
• Support the planning and scheduling of design activities for custom products.
• Assess and determine design capabilities based on current manufacturing processes.
• Provides support to the project teams in scheduled concept design reviews
• Drive a culture of quality, ownership, and continuous improvement, championing innovation and the evolution of engineering processes, systems, and tools to improve quality, speed, and customer satisfaction.
• Assist project teams in scheduled project reviews
• Direct, review, and approve product designs and changes
• Works with customers as needed to understand design requirements.
• Collaborates internally with custom presale, engineering, manufacturing, and installation support to ensure on-time delivery, quality, morale, safety and cost.
• Works with other value streams to create new operational capabilities and smooth processes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering team members, building a strong leadership bench and succession pipeline to support business growth and complexity.
• Establish and monitor performance (individual and team), ensuring accountability, engagement, and alignment to strategic goals.
• Maintain ultimate accountability for engineering deliverables, outcomes, and the performance of all teams within scope.
• Act as a key leader within the Custom Leadership Team, contributing to business unit strategy, investment decisions, and enterprise initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• eligibility for a profit-sharing opportunity
• competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits
• vacation and paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan and employee stock ownership plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees