Director of Engineering

Alamo Group Inc.•Mukwonago, WI

24d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for the overall direction, performance, and results of the engineering function. Reporting directly to the President, this role is accountable for new product development, the continuous improvement of current products, production support for all manufactured products, and the ongoing evolution of the department. The Director will drive product innovation and planning, ensuring products are technically sound, manufacturable, cost-effective, and aligned with the company’s business objectives while exceeding customer expectations.

Requirements

Proven expertise in strategic planning and developing long-range organizational goals.
Strong customer-focused mindset for product development and innovation.
Ability to analyze complex processes and reorganize them into efficient value streams.
Proficiency in Lean Six Sigma methodologies within an engineering environment.
Skilled in project management tools and meeting deadlines under pressure.
Deep product knowledge, including design principles, testing methods, features, usage, and safety standards.
Ability to review and approve advanced engineering calculations and test reports.
Demonstrated leadership and team-building skills with a proven history of developing high-performing teams.
Strong problem-solving and change management
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for internal and external stakeholders.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel as needed.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent technical field necessary.
Minimum twelve (12) years of product design experience, DFMA, and project management.
Minimum eight (8) years of engineering management and leadership.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering, business, or project management is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute long-term strategies for product development and engineering operations.
Align engineering initiatives with overall business goals and product lifecycle plans.
Partner with other department leaders to set business goals and ensure seamless integration of engineering with sales, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain functions.
Own the process from concept through design, validation, launch, and production release.
Champion a Voice of Customer (VOC) approach to ensure product designs exceed customer expectations.
Translate customer input into actionable engineering requirements and innovative product features.
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service to ensure products are on target with respect to features, cost, performance, reliability, and serviceability.
Drive feature innovation and differentiation to maintain industry leadership and competitive advantage.
Accurately translate sales orders and customer special requests into a product bill of materials.
Promptly investigate and resolve assembly and performance issues that arise during production.
Actively support the factory implementation of product changes and the building of prototypes and pilots.
Collaborate with Customer Service and Sales teams to resolve complex field issues.
Oversee resource planning, recruiting, and professional development of engineering staff.
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Establish and maintain engineering procedures, including:
New Product Development (NPD)
CAD & Documentation standards
Engineering Change Management
R&D and product testing protocols
Project management best practices