Head of Engineering, NPI & Manufacturing Innovation

Belcan; Farmington (CT); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Belcan in Farmington, CT seeks Head of Engineering to lead Manufacturing Engineering, NPI, and Continuous Improvement, ensuring compliance with AS9100/ISO9001 and NADCAP.

You will work with Operations, Quality, Sales and Executive Leadership to advance technology, manage budgets, mentor teams, and drive risk management and performance reporting.

This on-site role demands strategic vision and hands-on leadership to deliver new products and manufacturing capabilities.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and team management experience within engineering environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects.
• Strong understanding of engineering governance, processes, and performance metrics.
• Experience managing budgets and reporting to senior leadership.
• Ability to identify risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• 10-12+ years of progressive experience in Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or NPI roles.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Proven track record of introducing new products and manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with strategic technology planning and innovation roadmaps.
• Hands‑on experience with regulatory and industry standards (AS9100, ISO9001, NADCAP, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Engineering function, including Project Managers, Manufacturing Engineers, Machining & Finishing Engineers, Metrology Engineers, and Quality Engineers.
• Ensure the Engineering team has the skills, capabilities, and resources required to support operations and NPI projects.
• Provide leadership and direction to engineering staff, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Define performance objectives and support professional development within the Engineering team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and ethical conduct.
• Establish and maintain engineering processes, procedures, and standards.
• Prepare and manage the Engineering department budget.
• Provide regular performance reporting to senior leadership.
• Identify and elevate risks, issues, or events that may impact business performance.
• Oversee and ensure successful execution of New Product Introduction (NPI) activities.
• Support Operations and project teams with engineering expertise.
• Ensure all engineering activities comply with customer, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Partner with Sales to provide technical input for new business opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across engineering functions.
• Implement performance monitoring systems to track engineering quality and efficiency.
• Promote a culture of innovation, learning, and peer review.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the company"s technology roadmap.
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies relevant to aerospace, defense, and industrial markets.
• Introduce new manufacturing and engineering capabilities using maturity models (e.g., MRL/MCRL).
• Ensure proper documentation and protection of intellectual property and technical knowledge.
• Promote knowledge sharing across cross-functional teams.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Cross-functional teams

Governance & metrics

Budget management

Risk mitigation

NPI experience

Regulatory standards

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Aerospace Engineering

PM/QA certifications (Six Sigma, PMP)

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Project management software

Data analysis tools

Job description

Belcan in Farmington, CT seeks Head of Engineering to lead Manufacturing Engineering, NPI, and Continuous Improvement, ensuring compliance with AS9100/ISO9001 and NADCAP.

You will work with Operations, Quality, Sales and Executive Leadership to advance technology, manage budgets, mentor teams, and drive risk management and performance reporting.

This on-site role demands strategic vision and hands-on leadership to deliver new products and manufacturing capabilities.