Director, Engineering

Stark Aerospace Inc.; Columbus (MS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Stark Aerospace Inc. seeks an accomplished engineering leader to direct Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, and Configuration Management in a high-reliability aerospace environment in Columbus, Mississippi.

You will translate program requirements into actionable manufacturing plans, align resources to production ramp-ups, and establish clear metrics and accountability across the engineering organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Aerospace).
• 12+ years of progressive aerospace/defense manufacturing experience.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of AS9100, FAI, configuration management, and production engineering.
• Experience with ERP/MES in regulated environments.
• Experience leading NPI, tooling development, and process improvements.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day activities for Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technicians Test Engineering, and Configuration Management.
• Translate program requirements into manufacturing plans that meet cost, quality, schedule, and compliance.
• Ensure engineering resources are aligned to production priorities and ramp-ups.
• Establish clear accountability, metrics, and performance expectations across the engineering organization.
• Serve as the primary engineering interface to Program Management, supporting proposals, production planning, and execution.
• Partner with Manufacturing leadership to ensure process readiness, capacity planning, and efficient production flow.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain on make/buy decisions, tooling strategies, supplier readiness, and manufacturability.
• Work with the Quality Director to ensure robust process controls, FAI readiness, and AS9100/customer compliance.
• Lead NPI execution and gate/phase reviews, ensuring readiness at each phase.
• Drive tooling, fixtures, test equipment development and release prior to production authorization.
• Identify and mitigate technical, schedule, and manufacturing risks early in the NPI lifecycle.
• Champion continuous improvement with Lean, Six Sigma, and aerospace best practices.
• Mentor and develop engineering staff; support workforce planning, hiring, and succession with the engineering organization.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Program management

Communication

Lean Six Sigma

AS9100 knowledge

NPI

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree (MBA)

Tools

ERP systems

MES systems

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

Engineering Leadership & Execution

• Lead and manage day-to-day activities for Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technicians Test Engineering, and Configuration Management.
• Translate program requirements into executable manufacturing plans that meet cost Quality, schedule, and compliance objectives.
• Ensure engineering resources are aligned to production priorities and program ramp-ups.
• Establish clear accountability, metrics, and performance expectations across the engineering organization.

Manufacturing & Program Support

• Serve as the primary engineering interface to Program Management, supporting proposal activities, production planning, and execution.
• Partner with Manufacturing leadership to ensure process readiness, capacity planning, and efficient production flow.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to support make/buy decisions, tooling strategies, supplier readiness, and manufacturability.
• Work closely with the Quality Director to ensure robust process controls, FAI readiness, and continuous compliance with AS9100 and customer requirements.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Lead engineering execution for New Product Introduction efforts, ensuring a disciplined transition from development to production.
• Establish and lead formal NPI gate/phase reviews, ensuring technical, manufacturing, Quality, and supply chain readiness at each phase.
• Drive manufacturability reviews, risk assessments, and production readiness reviews as part of the gated NPI process.
• Ensure tooling, fixtures, test equipment, and work instructions are developed, validated, and released prior to production authorization.
• Identify and mitigate technical schedule, and manufacturing risks early in the NPI lifecycle.

Tooling, Automation & Process Improvement

• Lead development and deployment of production tooling, fixtures, and test equipment.
• Drive automation initiatives to improve safety, Quality, through put, and cost.
• Implement error-proofing(poka-yoke) strategies across manufacturing and test processes.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and aerospace manufacturing best practices.

Configuration Management & Compliance

• Ensure Disciplined configuration management, change control, and documentation practices.
• Oversee engineering change implementation to minimize disruption to production.
• Maintain compliance with AS9100, customer specifications, and internal engineering standards.
• Support internal and external audits, including customer and regulatory audits.

People Development & Organizational Growth

• Mentor and developed engineering leaders and technical staff.
• Support workforce planning, hiring, and succession development with the engineering organization.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Aerospace, or related field).
• Familiarity with ERP and MES systems in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong working knowledge of AS9100, FAI, configuration management, and production engineering.
• Demonstrated success leading NPI, tooling development, and manufacturing process improvements.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and leadership skills

Preferred

• Master's degree in engineering or business (MBA)
• Experience with automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience.
• Experience supporting government or defense programs.

Leadership Competencies

• Operationally focused, hands-on leadership style.
• Strong decision-making and prioritization skills.
• Ability to balance engineering rigor with production urgency.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence across organizations.
• Commitment to Quality, safety, and compliance.