Director of Engineering & Quality
About The Position
The Director of Engineering & Quality is responsible for leading APC's engineering, quality assurance, and environmental health & safety (EHS) functions. This executive role oversees product engineering, manufacturing engineering, quality management, product compliance, continuous improvement, research and development, and workplace safety. The Director partners closely with Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership to ensure APC delivers innovative products that meet the highest standards for quality, safety, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction while driving operational excellence across the organization. The ideal candidate combines strong engineering expertise with strategic leadership, project management, and a passion for innovation while ensuring engineering solutions support APC's growth, operational excellence, and customer-first culture. At American Polymer Company (APC), we manufacture innovative underground utility enclosure solutions that protect critical infrastructure across North America. We believe we are only as good as our last production shift, and we continually strive to improve every aspect of our business.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline.
- 10+ years of engineering experience within manufacturing.
- 5+ years leading engineering teams.
- Experience with product development from concept through production.
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes including composites, polymers, fiberglass, precast concrete, plastics, or similar materials.
- Experience supporting manufacturing operations.
- Experience managing multiple engineering projects simultaneously.
- CAD software (SolidWorks or Inventor preferred).
- ERP/MRP systems.
- Product lifecycle management (PLM).
- Design for Manufacturing (DFM).
- Root Cause Analysis/Lean Manufacturing.
- Six Sigma principles.
- Project management software.
- Engineering documentation control.
Nice To Haves
- Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred but not required.
- Master's degree is a plus.
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) preferred.
Responsibilities
- Lead Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, CAD Design, and R&D.
- Establish engineering standards, design procedures, and technical documentation.
- Develop new products while improving existing designs for manufacturability and cost.
- Support manufacturing through tooling, automation, process improvements, and technical expertise.
- Lead engineering project management and capital improvement initiatives.
- Lead the company's Quality Management System (QMS).
- Develop and maintain quality standards across all manufacturing operations.
- Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee incoming, in-process, and final product inspections.
- Lead root cause analysis, corrective actions (CAPA), and preventive actions.
- Monitor customer complaints, warranty claims, and quality metrics.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce scrap, rework, and defects.
- Partner with Operations to improve first-pass yield and overall product quality.
- Prepare for and manage customer and third-party quality audits.
- Develop and lead APC's safety strategy and culture.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
- Lead safety training, audits, inspections, and incident investigations.
- Develop corrective actions following safety incidents or near misses.
- Maintain required safety documentation and reporting.
- Ensure all manufacturing processes are performed safely.
- Promote employee engagement through proactive safety initiatives.
- Lead continuous improvement of workplace ergonomics and risk reduction.
- Ensure products comply with ASTM, ANSI, AASHTO, DOT, utility, municipal, and customer specifications.
- Oversee product validation and certification testing.
- Maintain engineering change control and technical documentation.
- Manage relationships with third-party testing laboratories and certification agencies.
- Lead Engineering, Quality, and Safety teams.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop department managers and technical staff.
- Establish annual department objectives and budgets.
- Promote cross-functional collaboration between Engineering, Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain.
- Build a culture focused on accountability, innovation, quality, and employee safety.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
