Director of Engineering

Gomez Partners; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Miller Electric Manufacturing Co., based in Appleton, WI, seeks an Engineering Director to lead a cross-disciplinary team within its Commercial Solutions Division. The role focuses on NPD, CBI-driven product roadmaps, and long-range planning to defend and grow market share in welding equipment.

The director will oversee ~35 engineers (4–5 directs) across Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Quality, and Lab teams, shaping product strategy and accelerating R&D execution with a strong focus on

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required.
• 3+ years of engineering leadership experience.
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience with cross-functional product development.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of materials and manufactured products.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a divisional technology vision aligned with long-range strategic plans.
• Lead the Customer Back Innovation (CBI) pipeline from discovery through deployment.
• Build and manage a strategic product roadmap that drives growth and differentiation.
• Oversee budgeting, long-range planning, and annual objectives for the engineering organization.
• Drive time-to-market focus and value engineering initiatives across teams.
• Lead IP strategy in collaboration with ITW legal and cross-divisional partners.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Operations, and Segments.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic planning

Product roadmap

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

MBA (preferred)

Job description

Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. is a global leader in arc welding and cutting equipment. Founded in 1929 and a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), Miller serves diverse industries including manufacturing, construction, aviation, agriculture, motorsports, and marine. Known for innovation, reliability, and its iconic “Power of Blue®” brand, Miller continues to lead the industry through a strong focus on quality, safety, and customer-driven product development.

The Opportunity

Miller is seeking an Engineering Director to join its Commercial Solutions Division as a key member of the Divisional Leadership Team (DLT).

This role leads a cross-disciplinary engineering organization responsible for both:

• New Product Development (NPD)

The Engineering Director will drive innovation and organic growth through ITW’s Customer Back Innovation (CBI) framework, shaping and executing a long-range product roadmap that defends and grows market share in consumer and light industrial welding equipment.

This leader will oversee approximately 35 engineers and technical professionals (4–5 direct reports), spanning:

• Electrical & Power Electronics Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Quality Engineering
• Laboratory & Documentation Teams

This is a high-impact leadership role with direct influence on product strategy, R&D execution, and divisional growth.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a divisional technology vision aligned with ITW’s long-range strategic plan.
• Lead the Customer Back Innovation (CBI) pipeline from discovery through deployment.
• Build and manage a strategic product roadmap that drives organic growth and product differentiation.
• Contribute to annual planning, long-range planning, and engineering budget oversight.
• Drive disciplined execution of NPD initiatives with a focus on time-to-market and customer value.
• Lead Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VAVE) initiatives.
• Monitor key innovation metrics including pipeline health, product vitality, and IP development.
• Oversee the division’s intellectual property strategy in partnership with ITW legal.

Cross-Functional & Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Operations, Welding Engineering, and Segment Leadership.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison across ITW Welding divisions.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and alignment with industry standards.
• Support development of holistic welding system solutions across platforms.

Talent Development & Organizational Excellence

• Lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Build succession pipelines and cultivate future engineering leaders.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, safety, accountability, and innovation.
• Align resources and priorities between Product Support and NPD to maintain execution cadence.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Engineering Management (Electrical, Power Electronics, Mechanical, Software, or Welding Technology focus).
• 3+ years of engineering leadership experience.
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience.Demonstrated success leading cross-functional product development initiatives.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of materials and manufactured products.

Preferred

• MBA or advanced engineering management degree.Experience leading innovation through ITW’s CBI framework (or similar NPD methodology).
• Experience within welding equipment, industrial equipment, automation, or related manufacturing sectors.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance and IP strategy.
• Experience with product lifecycle management and engineering documentation systems.

What Success Looks Like (80/20 Outcomes)

• A robust and disciplined CBI pipeline delivering differentiated, high-quality products.
• A clear long-range product strategy aligned to customer needs and growth objectives.
• A strengthened engineering organization with depth, capability, and succession strength.
• Measurable organic growth and product vitality improvements.