Mechanical Engineering Leader - Sustaining Engineering

Barry-Wehmiller•Sheboygan, WI

21h

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineering Leader – Sustaining Engineering leads the mechanical engineering team supporting released and legacy folding carton product lines. The Sustaining Engineering team owns post-release product support, including issue resolution, product improvements, cost reduction, obsolescence management, and technical support for Operations, Supply Chain, Technical Service, and customers. The role partners with New Product Design Engineering to ensure timely handoff of new products into production and ongoing lifecycle support. New Product Design Engineering retains ownership of products in active development until an agreed-upon release and handoff are complete. Reporting to the Sheboygan Engineering Leader, this leader directs approximately 5–7 mechanical engineering professionals focused on lifecycle support and continuous improvement of released folding carton machinery. The leader manages priorities, team capacity, and schedules to complete work in line with business needs and deadlines, and leads responses to field and production issues through root-cause analysis, containment, corrective-action design, validation, and implementation. The position also develops the team and establishes the standards, processes, change controls, and governance needed to support released products and approved customer-specific modifications. It requires strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, cross-functional coordination, effective communication with internal and external customers, and the ability to translate business priorities into disciplined execution.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering; mechanical, manufacturing, electrical, systems, or industrial engineering is accepted.
Minimum of 5 years of capital equipment experience, including significant leadership experience.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to apply structured problem-solving to complex process, equipment, and manufacturing issues.
Ability to initiate and drive systemic improvements, including standardization of documents, processes, materials, and change control.
Ability to champion Lean tools and Lean culture in engineering.
Ability to initiate and drive cost-reduction activities.
Ability to provide global technical support.
Strong project management skills.
Strong technical and analytical skills, with experience in design for manufacturability.
Proven leadership ability and experience leading technical professionals while strengthening team cohesiveness through team building.
Ability to develop detailed goals and project plans that align strategically with company vision.
Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office, MRP, and CAD systems.
Strong understanding of operational requirements from third-party industry standards such as OSHA, UL, and CE.
Ability to communicate professionally with all levels of the organization.
Ability to work extended days and hours as needed to meet business needs.
Willingness to travel as necessary.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage daily sustaining engineering activities supporting Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Technical Service, and customers.
Serve as the primary engineering owner for production and field issues after formal product release and handoff from New Product Design Engineering.
Lead and develop the Sustaining Mechanical Engineering team, coordinating with electrical, controls, manufacturing, and product engineering resources as needed.
Develop and maintain engineering standards, sustaining workflows, prioritization practices, and change-control processes.
Act as the principal engineering contact for technical inquiries involving released products, approved modifications, and recurring product issues.
Support Operations and Engineering requirements for safety, quality, service, performance, and productivity improvement opportunities.
Engage engineering teams and customers to eliminate trending issues and concerns affecting customers.
Analyze internal and external customer-support processes and develop plans to address areas of need.
Lead sustaining projects addressing safety, quality, reliability, cost, obsolescence, manufacturability, and customer requirements.
Support continuous improvement through the Lean journey, including developing and coaching associates and team leaders on Lean principles.
Lead engineering response to field and production issues through structured root-cause analysis, containment, corrective-action design, validation, and implementation.
Manage team priorities, capacity, and schedules to deliver sustaining work in line with business needs and agreed deadlines.
Provide professional development for the Sustaining Engineering team and implement standards, processes, change controls, and governance for released products and approved customer-specific modifications.