Director, Engineering

NIDEC Defense Group; Hoffman Estates (IL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Nidec is a global leader in motors and drive technology, seeking a Director of Engineering to define strategy, align teams with business goals, and drive innovation. You will oversee multiple engineering programs, mentor managers, and ensure safe, reliable, high-quality products while advancing cross-functional partnerships across Product, Manufacturing, and IT.

The role emphasizes strategic thinking, executive communication, and a track record of delivering complex projects on schedule and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of managerial experience.
• Typically 10–15+ years of progressive engineering experience.
• Experience leading engineering teams, managers, and complex programs.
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute engineering strategy aligned with business goals and product roadmaps.
• Establish engineering priorities, roadmaps, and investment plans.
• Oversee delivery of engineering projects, programs, and initiatives.
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, design practices, and review processes.
• Ensure outputs meet performance, reliability, and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with Product, Manufacturing, and Operations on new introductions and scale-ups.
• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering managers, engineers, and specialists.
• Own engineering budgets, forecasts, and resource planning.
• Balance cost, schedule, and performance across programs.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Job description

We begin with dreams. Dreams drive our motivation. Dreams are our future. The world's dreams, people's dreams, our dreams. Our passion creates ideas that make dreams come alive. Technology and products that were only dreams become reality.

All for dreams. Dreams challenge and the Nidec-Group will continue to meet the challenge. For the world's and people's tomorrows; the world's first, the world's best technologies and products; we will continue our part in creating a better society.

Job Summary

Nidec is the world's No.1 comprehensive motor and drive manufacturer handling "everything that spins and moves", miniature to gigantic. Nidec is a global enterprise comprised of over 300 subsidiaries/affiliates. We are a leading manufacturer of commercial motors, industrial motors, appliance motors, and controls. Nidec motors can be found in products that range from cell phones, computers and home appliances to industrial and mining equipment – and everything in between. Our product line features a full line of high efficiency motors for industrial applications in water treatment, mining, oil and gas, and power generation, and for commercial applications such as pool and spa, condensers, cooling towers and large refrigeration units. From keeping us comfortable in our homes to pumping clean water to making our cars more safe, electric motors are an indispensable part of our daily lives. At Nidec, our employees are on the forefront of developing new motor technologies. As we move deeper into the age of robotics, the impact of motors will only increase. With over 140,000 employees stationed worldwide, Nidec continues to be a unique organization, and each location maintains its individual personality.

The Director, Engineering is a senior management role responsible for defining and executing engineering strategy to support business objectives, operational excellence, and innovation. This role oversees engineering teams and programs to ensure delivery of safe, reliable, high‑quality, and cost‑effective products, systems, or services.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute engineering strategy aligned with business goals, product roadmaps, and operational needs
• Establish engineering priorities, roadmaps, and investment plans
• Ensure alignment between engineering execution and enterprise standards, safety, and quality expectations
• Oversee delivery of engineering projects, programs, and initiatives
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, design practices, and review processes
• Ensure engineering outputs meet performance, reliability, regulatory, and customer requirements
• Support development and optimization of products, processes, or systems across the lifecycle
• Partner with Product, Manufacturing, or Operations on new introductions, scale‑ups, and continuous improvement
• Evaluate and adopt new technologies, tools, or methodologies to enhance engineering effectiveness
• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering managers, engineers, and technical specialists
• Establish performance expectations, capability models, and succession plans
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and innovation
• Collaborate with Product Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, EHS, and IT
• Support enterprise initiatives such as growth, transformation, digitalization, and M&A integration
• Ensure engineering activities comply with safety, regulatory, and quality requirements
• Identify and mitigate technical, operational, and execution risks
• Support investigations and corrective actions for significant technical or quality issues
• Establish KPIs to measure engineering performance, quality, delivery, and efficiency
• Use data and analytics to drive decisions and continuous improvement
• Standardize processes and improve engineering productivity and scalability
• Own engineering budgets, forecasts, and resource planning
• Balance cost, schedule, and performance priorities across programs
• Ensure effective utilization of engineering talent and external partners

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field
• Requires 3+ years of managerial experience.
• Typically 10–15+ years of progressive engineering experience
• Significant experience leading engineering teams, managers, and complex technical programs
• Broad knowledge of engineering principles, systems, and development methodologies
• Proven people‑leadership and organizational‑development capability
• Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills
• Ability to influence executive leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders
• Experience managing complex projects, trade‑offs, and technical risk
• Executive‑level communication and presentation skills
• High integrity, accountability, and results orientation

Travel

• Both Domestic and International Travel up to 10%

Additional Job Details

Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action at Nidec Nidec is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affluent Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, genetic information, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following website: http://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf

No Soliciting

Nidec will not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies in response to Nidec job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers. Pre-approval from the Nidec Talent Acquisition team is required before any external candidate can be submitted and such candidate must be submitted to the Nidec Talent Acquisition team.