Vice President of Engineering

LHH; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

LHH is seeking an accomplished engineering executive to lead a broad transformation across Mechanical Engineering, Design, Controls, and Automation. Reporting to the CEO, the VP of Engineering will drive business and cultural change, challenge existing processes, and define the future-state technical strategy.

The role requires leading a large, multidisciplinary organization and partnering with the CEO and executive leadership to deliver innovation, growth, and competitive advantage.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience.
• Experience in industrial automation, systems integration, robotics, or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, design, controls, and automation.
• Proven track record in organizational change and transformation.

Responsibilities

• Lead 100+ engineers and designers through 10–15 leaders.
• Develop and execute long-term engineering and technology strategy.
• Drive standardization, scalability, and accountability across engineering.
• Identify and implement emerging technologies in robotics, controls, and automation.
• Elevate engineering leadership through coaching and talent development.
• Partner with CEO and executive team to shape strategic direction.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Industrial automation

Robotics

Digital engineering

AI & machine vision

Job description

Reporting directly to the CEO, the VP of Engineering will have broad responsibility for transforming the organization's engineering capabilities across Mechanical Engineering, Design, Controls, Automation, and related technical disciplines.

This is not a traditional engineering management role. The successful executive will be a catalyst for business and cultural transformation, with the authority and visibility to challenge existing processes, introduce new technologies and methodologies, strengthen the engineering organization, and help define the company's future-state technical strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead an organization of 100+ engineers and designers through approximately 10-15 engineering and design leaders.
• Develop and execute a long-term engineering and technology strategy aligned with the company's growth objectives.
• Lead the transformation of Mechanical, Design, Controls, and Automation Engineering.
• Evaluate existing organizational structures, processes, technologies, and talent and establish a future-state roadmap.
• Drive greater standardization, scalability, efficiency, and accountability throughout engineering.
• Identify and implement emerging technologies across robotics, controls, simulation, digital engineering, AI, machine vision, and advanced automation.
• Strengthen collaboration between Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Sales, Program Management, and other business functions.
• Develop and elevate engineering leadership through coaching, succession planning, and talent development.
• Establish Engineering as a strategic driver of innovation, growth, and competitive advantage.
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and strategic partner to the CEO.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking an executive who combines deep technical credibility with transformational leadership ability.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 15+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience.
• Significant experience within industrial automation, systems integration, robotics, advanced manufacturing, capital equipment, or a related environment.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations across mechanical, design, controls, and automation.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change and business transformation.
• Experience managing large technical organizations and developing engineering leaders.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to influence CEO/C-suite leadership.
• A forward-thinking mindset with a passion for emerging automation and engineering technologies.
• The ability to challenge the status quo while bringing people along through meaningful change.

The Opportunity

The successful leader will have the executive visibility, organizational scope, and mandate to fundamentally influence how the company engineers, designs, controls, and delivers automation solutions.

If you are an accomplished engineering leader who has successfully transformed organizations, built high-performing teams, and believes the future of manufacturing belongs to companies willing to continuously innovate, we would welcome a confidential conversation.