Director of Engineering

Nidec Automation; Chicago (IL); Sur place; USD 180 000 - 260 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Nidec Automation is seeking a Director of Engineering to define and execute the strategic engineering plan that fuels growth, quality, and customer success. This role leads multidisciplinary teams in gearbox, gearing, gear motor, motion control, and electromechanical product development to deliver safe, reliable, high‑quality solutions.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical depth with strategic vision, partnering with Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
• 10–15+ years of progressive engineering experience.
• 3+ years of managerial experience leading engineering teams.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills.

Responsabilités

• 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.

Connaissances

Managerial experience

Engineering leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Problem-solving

Technical program mgmt

Risk management

Budget control

Travel willingness

Formation

Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field

Description du poste

The Director, Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the engineering strategy that drives business growth, operational excellence, product innovation, and customer success. This position leads multidisciplinary engineering teams through the full product lifecycle, ensuring the development and delivery of safe, reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective solutions.

We are seeking a proven engineering leader with deep expertise in gearbox, gearing, gear motor, motion control, and electromechanical product development. The ideal candidate has a track record of building high-performing teams, leading complex engineering programs, and transforming innovative concepts into commercially successful products. This leader will partner closely with Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to establish technology roadmaps, accelerate new product development, and strengthen the organization's competitive position within the power transmission and motion control markets.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical depth with strategic vision, driving engineering excellence while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

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

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field

Required Skills

• 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
• 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

Preferred Skills

• Travel Both Domestic and International Travel up to 10%