Director of Engineering

Buyers Products Company; Mentor (OH); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

PTO

Profit-sharing

Career growth

Employee programs

Job summary

Buyers Products Company is seeking an experienced Engineering Director to provide strategic and operational leadership across Product Engineering, Sustaining/Manufacturing Engineering, and Fixture Design Engineering on the shop floor. You will drive innovation, manufacturing excellence, and continuous improvement while developing engineering talent and aligning engineering with business goals.

You will play a key role in developing engineering talent, advancing new product development, and

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive engineering experience with leadership of multiple teams.
• Experience leading through managers/technical leads in a scaled organization.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
• Experience leading fixture/tooling engineering to enable automation.
• Fluency with CAD, ERP systems, and document control practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop Product, Sustaining/Manufacturing, and Fixture Design Engineering teams.
• Set priorities and execution cadence aligned with business objectives.
• Build team capability and drive accountability for results.
• Maintain a hands-on presence on the manufacturing floor.
• Lead design from concept through production with DFM and validation.
• Oversee design, analysis, testing, and release to quality standards.
• Drive cost reduction through design without sacrificing quality.
• Partner with manufacturing and CI to support lean initiatives.
• Own fixture and tooling strategy, capacity planning, and standards.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Hands-on leadership

Problem solving

Regulatory compliance awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD

ERP systems

Document control

Job description

Buyers Products Company, a leading manufacturer in the work truck industry, is seeking an experienced Engineering Director to join our team. In this role, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for Product Engineering, Sustaining/Manufacturing Engineering, and Fixture Design Engineering while driving innovation, manufacturing excellence, and continuous improvement across the organization. You will play a key role in developing engineering talent, advancing new product development, and ensuring alignment between engineering execution and business objectives.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineering leader with deep manufacturing expertise, a passion for developing high-performing teams, and a proven ability to drive results in a fast-paced environment. If you enjoy leading cross-functional initiatives, solving complex technical challenges, and influencing the future direction of products and manufacturing processes, we'd like to hear from you.

What You Will Do

• Lead, manage, and develop Product, Sustaining/Manufacturing, and Fixture Design Engineering teams.
• Set clear priorities and execution cadence aligned with business objectives.
• Build team capability, develop leaders, and drive accountability for results.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on presence on the manufacturing floor.
• Lead engineering ownership from concept through production and growth including Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and validation.
• Oversee design, analysis, testing, and release in compliance with quality and regulatory standards.
• Drive cost reduction through design without compromising quality or performance.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards and best practices.
• Partner with manufacturing and Continuous Improvement to support lean initiatives, solve problems, and drive continuous improvement.
• Improve welding, forming, and assembly performance through design, process capability, and tooling innovation.
• Work with manufacturing engineering to improve automation and apply best practices to improve quality, throughput, and repeatability.
• Directly lead the Fixture Design Engineering team, with full responsibility for performance and output.
• Own fixture and tooling strategy, capacity planning, and technical standards.
• Deliver solutions that enable automation and ensure safe, consistent, and repeatable builds.
• Partner with Product Management, Sales, Operations, Customer Service, Continuous Improvement, Quality, and Sourcing to execute business objectives.
• Support supplier qualification, make/buy decisions, and cost management.
• Establish and govern product change and release processes, documentation, and configuration management.
• Maintain engineering data within ERP/document control systems and develop product cost estimates.
• Support intellectual property efforts and provide technical expertise for complex customer and legal matters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills & Experience

• 15+ years of progressive engineering experience, including leadership of multiple teams in manufacturing.
• Experience leading through managers/technical leads in a scaled engineering organization.
• Strong technical depth with ability to lead through influence and make data-driven decisions.
• Proven lean manufacturing experience, including continuous improvement and shop floor problem solving.
• Experience leading fixture/tooling engineering to enable automation (e.g., robotic welding, automated assembly).
• Fluency with CAD, ERP systems, and document control practices.
• ERP experience including BOM structure, part creation, and engineering standardization.
• Portfolio management experience including prioritization, capacity planning, and risk management across multiple programs.
• Ability to influence across executive, plant, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills with a high sense of urgency and ownership.
• Hands-on leadership style with strong accountability for execution and results.
• Consumer products or industrial manufacturing experience preferred.
• Regulatory compliance experience is a plus (e.g., Prop 65, Conflict Minerals, REACH, RoHS).

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field required.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Regular presence on manufacturing and distribution floors, including extended walking in large-scale facilities.
• Exposure to industrial equipment, machinery, and active production environments.
• Periods of stationary, computer-based work in an office setting.

What We Offer

We believe in rewarding our employees for their hard work and commitment. As part of the Buyers Products team, you'll enjoy:

• Competitive pay
• Generous vacation and paid time off (PTO)
• Profit-sharing opportunities
• Career growth and advancement potential
• Additional employee programs, perks, and benefits

About Buyers Products Company

Established in 1946, Buyers Products Company is a premier manufacturer serving the work truck industry. Our products include durable truck boxes, heavy-duty towing equipment, hydraulics, controls, and trailer accessories. Our snow and ice equipment brands include SnowDogg® snowplows, SaltDogg® spreaders, and ScoopDogg® snow pushers.

Join a company with a long history of innovation, quality, and growth while building a rewarding career.