Head of Engineering

Foundation Recruiting and Consulting; Itasca (IL); On-site; USD 165,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched 401k

Medical, Dental, and Vision

FSA

PTO and Holidays

Disability & Life Insurance

Job summary

Foundation Recruiting and Consulting seeks a seasoned Director of Engineering to lead mechanical and electrical teams across multiple sites. You will set engineering standards, mentor engineers, and ensure projects meet cost, quality, and schedule commitments.

The role is based in Itasca, IL with weekly travel to Milwaukee, WI, and requires experience guiding ERP implementations and ECOs. A PE license and SolidWorks proficiency are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Extensive progressive engineering experience in an industrial/manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering principles, systems, and design.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Ability to interpret mechanical and electrical drawings and schematics.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks as the system of record for 3D modeling/drawing.
• Experience with budgets, capex planning, and engineering KPIs.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and related modules.
• Familiarity with NEC, NFPA, UL, ANSI, ASME, OSHA codes.
• Experience with ECOs and new product development processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on mechanical and electrical engineering expertise across all projects.
• QA/QC review of mechanical designs, electrical schematics, and drawings for manufacturability.
• Ensure projects meet quality, scope, and budget parameters.
• Oversee drawing productivity including BOMs and documentation.
• Manage engineering staffing, hiring, performance, and development.
• Travel to Milwaukee, WI weekly to collaborate with manufacturing and methods engineering.
• Lead ERP-related initiatives and support ERP tool training and data migration.
• Align engineering strategy with executive goals and develop the department budget.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Mechanical design

Electrical design

Team management

Budget & KPIs

ERP systems

SolidWorks

AutoCAD / Revit

PE Certification

Reading schematics

Travel willingness

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) Certification

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Revit

ERP implementation experience

Job description

Director of Engineering (Head of Engineering)

Full Time Direct Hire

Base Salary is ~$165-180k+ and bonus

Itasca, IL 60143 and travel to Milwaukee, WI 53208

Required:

• Extensive progressive engineering experience in an industrial/manufacturing environment
• Hands-on knowledge of both mechanical and electrical engineering principles, systems, and design
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Understanding of the construction and manufacturing process, and the ability to interpret mechanical and electrical equipment drawings and schematics
• Proficiency or expertise in SolidWorks, as this is the company's system of record for 3D modeling and drawing
• Experience managing departmental budgets, capital expenditure planning, and engineering KPIs
• Knowledge and experience with ERP systems
• Working knowledge of relevant codes and standards (e.g., NEC, NFPA, UL, ANSI, ASME, OSHA) as applicable to mechanical and electrical equipment design
• Experience with new product development processes and engineering change management (ECOs)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline)
• Willingness and ability to travel to our Milwaukee, WI location at least once per week
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, and/or electrical schematic/design software
• Experience participating in or leading an ERP implementation, ideally including engineering-related modules such as BOMs, routings, and document control
• Understanding of, and openness to, leveraging technology and AI tools to drive greater efficiency across the engineering department
• Professional Engineer (PE) Certification

Summary:

We are seeking a seasoned, hands‑on Director of Engineering to lead our engineering function across both mechanical and electrical disciplines. This role serves as the senior technical authority for the department — setting engineering standards, mentoring a team of engineers, and ensuring every project meets our quality, cost, and schedule commitments. Based out of our Itasca, IL headquarters, this position will travel to our Milwaukee, WI manufacturing location at least once per week to partner directly with the manufacturing and methods engineering teams and ensure engineering output translates cleanly into buildable, producible equipment.

This is a role for an experienced engineering leader — someone who has spent a career solving real mechanical and electrical design problems, knows what it takes to bring industrial equipment from concept to the shop floor, and is ready to bring that depth of knowledge to a growing team.

Responsibilities:

Engineering Leadership & Technical Oversight

• Serve as the senior technical authority for engineering, providing hands‑on mechanical and electrical engineering expertise across all projects.
• Provide technical leadership and QA/QC review on mechanical designs, electrical schematics, and equipment drawings to ensure accuracy and manufacturability.
• Provide oversight to projects to ensure quality standards are achieved consistently within established hours, scope, and cost parameters.
• Ensure drawing and documentation productivity — mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and BOMs — is maintained within established quality standards.
• Provide timely, expert consultation to engineering staff to manage workloads, resolve technical challenges, and meet deadlines.
• Provide daily management of engineering staff, including hiring and selection, performance management, and training & development.
• Assign staff to projects in accordance with company standards of quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Train and mentor engineers, serving as a technical resource and role model for both mechanical and electrical engineering best practices.
• Establish accountability, performance expectations, and development plans for the engineering team.

Cross‑Site & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Travel to the Milwaukee, WI location at least once per week to partner with manufacturing and methods engineering on production readiness and design‑for‑manufacturability.
• Actively engage with Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Sales to continuously improve processes, create efficiencies, and reduce costs.
• Support production readiness and manufacturability of engineered products across both mechanical and electrical systems.
• Communicate engineering priorities, project status, and risks clearly to executive leadership.

Strategic & Business Leadership

• Partner with the President/CEO and executive leadership team to align engineering strategy with overall business goals and growth plans.
• Develop and manage the engineering department's annual budget, including labor, tooling, software, and capital expenditures.
• Evaluate and recommend capital equipment, tooling, and technology investments that improve engineering capability and throughput.
• Report on engineering KPIs — including on‑time project delivery, drawing accuracy, and engineering hours versus budget — to executive leadership.
• Participate in long‑range strategic and technology roadmap planning for the organization.

ERP Implementation & Systems

• Serve as a key engineering stakeholder in the company's ERP implementation, representing the engineering department's requirements and workflows.
• Provide feedback on system design, data structure, and workflows related to BOMs, routings, engineering change orders, and drawing/document control.
• Partner with IT, Purchasing, and Manufacturing to ensure the ERP accurately reflects engineering data and supports accurate cost estimating and production planning.
• Test ERP engineering‑related modules and processes prior to go‑live, and provide feedback for corrections and enhancements.
• Support the training and onboarding of engineering staff on new ERP tools and processes.
• Help ensure a smooth migration of historical engineering data — drawings, BOMs, and part numbers — into the new ERP system.
• Lead or support new product development initiatives from concept through production release, applying both mechanical and electrical engineering expertise.
• Oversee prototype development and testing to validate designs before release to manufacturing.
• Evaluate new materials, components, technologies, and design approaches to improve product performance, reliability, and cost.
• Manage engineering change orders (ECOs) and ensure proper documentation and approval workflows are followed.

Safety, Compliance, & Standards

• Ensure engineering designs comply with applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements (e.g., NEC, NFPA, UL, ANSI, ASME, OSHA).
• Partner with Quality and EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) to ensure designs support safe manufacturing, installation, and operation.
• Maintain awareness of evolving industry codes and standards relevant to mechanical and electrical equipment design.
• Support ISO or other quality management system requirements as they relate to engineering documentation and change control.
• Provide technical evaluation and support for the qualification of new suppliers, components, and materials,
• partnering with Purchasing.
• Review and provide technical input on supplier and vendor contracts related to engineering services,
• components, or equipment.
• Represent engineering in discussions with key customers, suppliers, and industry partners as needed.

Process & Standards

• Establish and maintain engineering priorities and processes aligned with company growth objectives.
• Follow, and ensure the team follows, established work rules, policies, and procedures.
• Cooperatively take on other duties, roles, or responsibilities as assigned.

Company:

Well‑established, privately held, manufacturing company headquartered in Itasca, IL with operations in Milwaukee, WI with approximately 80 employees. Founded over 125 years ago and led by a fifth‑generation family ownership, they manufacture water treatment, industrial water heating, and industrial laundry equipment serving national markets.

• Matched 401k
• Medical, Dental, and Vision (multiple plans)
• FSA
• PTO and Holidays
• Long‑term and short‑term disability, Life Insurance, AD&D