Mechanical Engineering Leader, Applications

barrywehmiller; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Vante, a Machine Solutions company, seeks an experienced Applications Engineering Leader to build and mentor a high-performing team focused on customer success, process innovation, and technical excellence.

You will drive complex customer projects from concept to implementation, partnering with customers to solve manufacturing challenges and deliver innovative solutions. Lead cross-functional collaboration with engineering, product development, and operations to ensure project success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of engineering experience.
• 5+ years leading engineering teams, technical programs, or customer-focused engineering organizations.
• Strong background in tooling design, process development, customer validation, manufacturing equipment, and technical problem solving.
• Experience managing complex customer projects and cross-functional engineering initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and customer engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Applications Engineers supporting customer tooling, process development, custom engineering solutions, and technical support.
• Drive complex customer projects from concept through implementation and customer acceptance.
• Partner with customers to solve technical manufacturing challenges and deliver innovative solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for process development, tooling design, validation activities, and new product extensions.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Product Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Sales, and Program Management to ensure successful project execution.
• Guide engineering best practices, technical standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support key customer interactions, executive discussions, and technical presentations.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop future engineering leaders while building a strong culture of accountability, innovation, and customer focus.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Customer engagement

Tooling design

Process development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering

Job description

About Us:

Machine Solutions is the premier provider of advanced equipment and services for the medical device, biopharmaceutical, and blood- and plasma-collection industries. We support our customers' needs and growth by delivering quality and value through a wide breadth of products. Machine Solutions provides proprietary mechanical solutions to a variety of complex process, testing and device design challenges. Our equipment has become the industry standard for stent crimping, balloon catheter pleating and folding, catheter braiding and medical device manufacturing applications. As a pioneer in radio frequency technology, the company has continued to develop advancing technology for thermal forming, molding and welding plastic for medical manufacturing, biopharmaceutical, and blood- and plasma-processing applications. Our experienced team of engineers has been instrumental in automating manual processes that enable our customers to increase production volumes and profit margins, and we believe in providing a superior customer experience by designating resources to a dedicated aftermarket team that is always ready to provide technical service and process support. Machine Solutions is privately owned by BW Forsyth Partners, a Barry-Wehmiller company.

BW Forsyth Partners is the investment arm of multibillion-dollar global manufacturing and engineering consulting firm Barry-Wehmiller. Established in 2009, BW Forsyth Partners blends Barry-Wehmiller's unparalleled legacy of value creation and people-centric culture development with keen investing experience to help companies realize their true potential. With a focus limited to areas known well, BW Forsyth Partners seeks to partner with leadership teams to acquire small- to middle-market companies in the capital and component equipment, and professional services sectors. In each of our operating companies, BW Forsyth Partners deploys operational improvements and strategy development without compromising the autonomy, strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit of their leadership teams.

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY:

At Vante, a Machine Solutions company, we develop advanced manufacturing solutions that help the world's leading medical device companies bring life-changing technologies to market. We are seeking an experienced Applications Engineering Leader to build, mentor, and lead a high-performing engineering team focused on customer success, process innovation, and technical excellence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and develop a team of Applications Engineers supporting customer tooling, process development, custom engineering solutions, and technical support.
• Drive complex customer projects from concept through implementation and customer acceptance.
• Partner with customers to solve technical manufacturing challenges and deliver innovative solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for process development, tooling design, validation activities, and new product extensions.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Product Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Sales, and Program Management to ensure successful project execution.
• Guide engineering best practices, technical standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support key customer interactions, executive discussions, and technical presentations.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop future engineering leaders while building a strong culture of accountability, innovation, and customer focus.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent experience considered.
• 10+ years of engineering experience
• 5+ years leading engineering teams, technical programs, or customer-focused engineering organizations.
• Stong background in tooling design, process development, customer validation, manufacturing equipment, and technical problem solving.
• Experience managing complex customer projects and cross-functional engineering initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and customer engagement skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting medical device manufacturing equipment.
• Background in Applications Engineering, Product Development, Tooling Engineering, or Sustaining Engineering.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working with regulated manufacturing environments.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Minimal time will be spent near fumes or airborne particles, near toxic or caustic chemicals, in outdoor weather conditions, with risk of electrical shock, and with explosives. Sometime will be spent working near moving mechanical parts. Moderate noise can be expected.

WHY JOIN VANTE?

• Lead a team that directly impacts customers and product innovation.
• Work with cutting-edge medical device manufacturing technologies.
• Influence engineering strategy and shape the future of our Applications Engineering organization.
• Join a collaborative, fast-pace