Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance Director

API Heat Transfer; Franklin (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive compensation package

Bonus opportunity

Benefits: medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off & holidays

Professional development

Job summary

General ThermoDynamics, an API Heat Transfer Company, is seeking a strategic Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance to lead manufacturing engineering, maintenance, facilities, reliability, automation, continuous improvement and capital project initiatives across Wisconsin operations (Franklin, Iron Ridge and Germantown).

This executive role oversees three facilities, drives uptime and productivity, shapes capital investment strategy, and develops high‑performing technical teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/ Manufacturing/ Industrial Engineering required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing engineering and maintenance leadership.
• 5+ years leading multiple facilities or business units.
• Experience in heavy manufacturing or heat exchanger industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-site manufacturing engineering and maintenance strategy.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive uptime, reliability and MTBF/MTTR metrics across facilities.
• Oversee capital expenditure budgets and facility upgrades.
• Standardize best practices across Wisconsin operations.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Reliability-Centered Maintenance

Total Productive Maintenance

Automation Technologies

Capital Project Management

Facilities Management

CMMS

ERP Systems

Root Cause Analysis

SPC

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering/ Operations Management or MBA

Tools

CMMS Systems

ERP Systems

Job description

Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance

General ThermoDynamics, An API Heat Transfer Company

Location: Wisconsin Operations (Franklin, Iron Ridge & Germantown, WI)

Reports To: Vice President, Wisconsin Operations

General ThermoDynamics, an API Heat Transfer Company, is seeking a strategic and results-driven Director of Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance to lead manufacturing engineering, maintenance, facilities, reliability, automation, continuous improvement, and capital project initiatives across our Wisconsin operations.

This executive-level leadership role provides oversight for three manufacturing facilities and serves as a key member of the Wisconsin Operations Leadership Team. The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, equipment reliability, productivity improvements, capital investment strategy, and the development of high-performing technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-site manufacturing engineering and maintenance strategy aligned with business goals.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Safety, Human Resources, Finance, and Executive Leadership to achieve operational objectives.
• Evaluate and recommend manufacturing technologies, automation opportunities, and capital investments.
• Lead organizational development, succession planning, and talent management initiatives for engineering and maintenance teams.

Manufacturing Engineering

• Direct manufacturing engineering activities across Franklin, Iron Ridge, and Germantown facilities.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive productivity improvements through process optimization, automation, and standardization.
• Support new product introduction (NPI), scalability initiatives, and manufacturing best practices.
• Ensure manufacturing processes meet quality, safety, and customer requirements.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Lead preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Establish equipment reliability strategies that maximize uptime and improve OEE.
• Develop asset management and lifecycle planning strategies.
• Optimize maintenance planning, scheduling, CMMS utilization, and spare parts management.
• Implement metrics focused on uptime, MTBF, MTTR, and maintenance cost performance.

Capital Projects & Facilities

• Develop and manage annual capital expenditure budgets.
• Lead facility upgrades, expansions, automation projects, and equipment installations.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Manage relationships with engineering firms, equipment suppliers, contractors, and service providers.

Operational Excellence

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives focused on productivity, safety, quality, waste reduction, and cost savings.
• Utilize data-driven decision-making to identify opportunities and monitor results.
• Standardize best practices across Wisconsin operations.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related discipline preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing engineering and maintenance leadership experience.
• 5+ years leading multiple facilities, departments, or business units.
• Proven success in manufacturing process improvement, equipment reliability, and capital project management.
• Experience in heavy manufacturing, industrial equipment, metal fabrication, heat exchanger manufacturing, or related industries strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing significant capital budgets and large-scale improvement initiatives.

Technical Expertise

• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma
• Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)
• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)
• Automation Technologies
• Capital Project Management
• Facilities Management
• CMMS Systems
• ERP Systems
• Root Cause Analysis
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)

What We Offer

• Competitive executive compensation package
• Annual incentive bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and career growth opportunities
• Opportunity to make a significant impact on the growth and operational performance of a leading heat transfer manufacturer

Why Join General ThermoDynamics?

As the senior technical and reliability leader for Wisconsin Operations, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our manufacturing footprint. This position offers the opportunity to influence capital strategy, operational excellence, equipment reliability, workforce development, and long-term business growth across multiple facilities.

General ThermoDynamics, an API Heat Transfer Company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact API Heat Transfer at [phone] for assistance.