Director of Engineering

Cumberland Additive, Inc.; Pflugerville (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Cumberland Additive, Inc. in Pflugerville, TX seeks a Director of Engineering to lead the engineering team for a contract manufacturer specializing in laser powder bed fusion and turnkey manufacturing support for customer-designed components.

You will set the strategic direction, align processes and tools, and oversee safety, quality, and cost while collaborating with customers and internal teams. This role demands deep powder bed fusion knowledge and hands-on leadership on the production floor.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree in a related discipline (additive manufacturing, mechanical, metallurgical, etc.)
• Minimum 12 years of experience in a production environment incl. additive manufacturing, CNC machining, heat treating, and/or metal fabrications technologies.
• Experience with senior-level decision making and budget control.
• Proficiency with CAD and build preparation/slice software; MS Office.
• ITAR requires U.S. person status and visa sponsorship not available.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering organization for a contract manufacturer focused on laser powder bed fusion and turnkey manufacturing.
• Set strategic vision and align processes, tools, and innovation with company growth plans.
• Balance safety, quality, cost, execution and innovation to drive sustainable growth.
• Bridge boardroom and production floor to address priorities.
• Lead and guide customers and internal stakeholders with strong communication.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Strategic planning

Interpersonal communication

Education

Engineering degree

Masters/PhD preferred

Tools

CAD (SolidWorks, Catia)

Slice software (Materialise Magics, 3DExpert)

Microsoft Office

Job description

Role and Responsibilities

• The candidate will lead the engineering organization for a top contract manufacturer in the additive manufacturing industry, primarily focused on laser powder bed fusion and turnkey manufacturing support for customer-designed components.
• The Director of Engineering is responsible for the strategic vision of the engineering team, aligning processes, tools, and innovation with the overall company growth plans. Due to the breadth of manufacturing scope we handle, this role requires considerable background knowledge in powder bed fusion, post-processing, heat treating, destructive and non-destructive testing, and finishing methods.
• The ideal candidate has experience in a production environment, balancing safety, quality, cost, execution, and innovation to create an environment for company success and sustainable growth. Excellent interpersonal skills are critical for properly communicating with customers and internal stakeholders.
• As a small business, this position requires the flexibility to seamlessly move from board room to production floor to address priorities.
• Key focus areas for this position include:
• Shaping the strategy of the company with input on industry trends and technology advancements
• Supporting business development by serving customers well with technical support
• Defining and optimizing engineering processes to enable consistent and efficient execution of work
• Promoting continuous improvement, on-time delivery, and quality output
• Solving problems as they arise with a collaborative approach
• Driving innovation through industry/academic partnerships, consortiums, and internal R&D

Engineering and Manufacturing

• Lead a team of Additive Manufacturing Engineers and Production Engineers through quoting, digital order loading, process definition, and technical support for production. This scope includes:
• Assess design for manufacturability, material selection, equipment selection, and design optimization
• Guide customers in the selection of materials
• Develop content and best practices for design and manufacturability by establishing design guidelines to ensure lessons learned and best practices are documented
• Create build files, layouts, and use cost estimation models
• Prepare bills of material (BOM) and routings in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system
• Lead and provide technical direction for technicians
• Provide "hands-on" support with printing and inspection equipment
• Manage acquisition of necessary capital, maintenance contracts, consumables, and software to support growth strategies
• Read and understand dimensional drawings, including GD&T
• Analyze and specify post-processing steps such as heat treatment, finish machining, and coatings
• Support and guide the root cause and corrective action (RCCA) process for technical issues

Customer Programs

• Promote growth with key customers, new parts, and new industries by leading and supporting New Product Introduction (NPI).
• Focus technology and process development to enable high-volume production.
• Support the Project Management team in the following ways:
• Assist in assembling quotations in response to customer RFQ's
• Lead customer projects as the assigned project engineer
• Prepare project schedules to define project scope deliverables
• Lead and/or participate in regular customer meetings
• Monitor and manage project costs in respect to the established budget
• Anticipate problems and concerns relevant to project management and provide timely solutions
• Coordinate document submittals, approvals, distribution, and revision control
• Initiate purchase requisitions for tools, fixtures, operational equipment, and outside services
• Maintain a strong working relationship with the customer
• Occasional travel may be required to support project or program goals

Engineering Technical Programs / R&D

• Lead advanced technical engineering programs (material/product/process development)
• Lead statistical process control initiatives
• Lead operational and supply chain cost reduction and optimization projects
• Provide guidance on facility improvements, equipment selection, and in-sourcing

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Engineering degree in a related discipline (additive manufacturing, mechanical, metallurgical, etc.)
• Minimum 12 years of experience in a production environment, including additive manufacturing, CNC machining, heat treating, and/or other metal fabrications technologies.
• Prior experience must include technical roles and senior-level decision making roles with budget control.
• Experience with the following software: CAD (e.g. SolidWorks, Catia), Build Preparation/Slice software (e.g. Materialise Magics, 3DExpert), Microsoft Office Suite
• This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status. ITAR defines U.S. person as an U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), Political Asylee, or Refugee.
• Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred Additional Qualifications and Education

• Masters or PhD in additive manufacturing or related engineering discipline
• Previous experience working for a Contract Manufacturer in laser powder bed fusion

• Experience with ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 Revision D