Vice President of Engineering

Confidential; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 275,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching 100% up to 5% of comp.

Employee assistance program

FSA Flexible Spending Account

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Confidential seeks a strategic VP of Engineering to lead our growing organization, bridging business strategy and technical execution for aviation ground support equipment and heavy-duty tooling. You will scale capabilities, modernize systems, and drive a culture of safety and accountability.

The role is onsite at the Santa Fe Springs facility, reporting to the executive team; relocation sponsorship is not offered. Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field.
• 15+ years in engineering in heavy manufacturing, industrial equipment, or aerospace environment.
• 7+ years in a senior leadership role (Director or VP).
• Strong understanding of structural fabrication, hydraulics, and electrical‑mechanical systems.
• CAD software proficiency (SolidWorks, Inventor, Autodesk) and PLM/ERP integrations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and scale a multi-generational engineering team.
• Coach and mentor engineering directors and managers, establishing career pathways.
• Foster a high-performance, safety-driven engineering culture.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Inventor

Autodesk

PLM

ERP integrations

Job description

We are seeking a strategic, results-driven Vice President (VP) of Engineering to lead our growing engineering organization. The successful candidate will bridge the gap between business strategy and technical execution, overseeing the design and development of high-quality aviation ground support equipment (GSE), specialized tooling, and heavy-duty mechanical equipment. As a key member of the executive team, the VP of Engineering will scale our engineering capabilities, modernize our systems and processes, and foster a culture of safety, innovation, and accountability. This role involves cross-functional leadership and customer engagement in a nimble, results-driven environment.

Work Location & Travel Requirements

This is a fully ONSITE position based at the company’s Santa Fe Springs facility. Regular in-person collaboration is required to support daily activities, and manufacturing operations.

Relocation assistance or sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to the worksite.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leadership and Scale

• Structure and Grow: Lead, mentor, and scale a multi-generational engineering team.
• Develop Leaders: Coach and mentor engineering directors and managers, establishing clear career progression pathways.
• Cultivate Culture: Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and learning culture rooted in safety, rigorous engineering standards, and continuous improvement.

Operational Excellence and Manufacturing Delivery

• Optimize lifecycle: Oversee the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from initial concept and prototyping through qualification to manufacturing handoff and field deployment.
• Modernize Processes: Implement and optimize standard operating procedures (SOPs), establish design standards, design review protocols, and configuration management tools (PLM/CAD).
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work hand-in-hand with Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to design for manufacturability (DFM), reduce lead times, and optimize product costs.

Strategic Execution and Product Delivery

• Develop and execute product and technology roadmaps: Translate market, commercial and customer requirements into robust, executable engineering project plans
• Budget & Resources: Own and manage the engineering department’s annual budget, headcount planning, and resource allocation.
• Executive Reporting: Provide clear visibility into project timelines, technical risks, and resource constraints to the executive leadership team.

Compliance, Quality & Safety

• Industry Standards: Ensure all equipment and tooling designs comply with strict aviation safety regulations and industry standards (e.g., SAE, IATA, CE, OSHA).
• Quality Assurance: Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate product field issues, implement corrective actions (CAPA), and continuously improve product reliability.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 15+ years of engineering experience in a heavy manufacturing, industrial equipment, or aerospace environment, with 7+ years in a senior leadership role (Director or VP level).
• Technical Domain: Strong understanding of structural fabrication, hydraulics, and electrical-mechanical systems.
• New product development: Proven experience designing or leading the design of new products and creating product & technology roadmaps.
• Systems Proficiency: Deep familiarity with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor, Autodesk) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integrations.
• Communication: Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to communicate highly technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, customers, and board members.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent communication, analytical, and leadership skills

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or related technical field
• Experience scaling engineering teams through growth phases
• Experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience overseeing distributed and global teams
• Skilled in Projected Management, PMP desired
• M&A experience in evaluation, due diligence, and integration

Job Type:

Full-Time Employment

Pay:

Salary $275,000-$290,000 per year PLUS discretionary bonus up to 35% of base.

This role is considered exempt and an “ONSITE” role only. Relocation assistance or sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to the worksite.

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching 100% up to 5% of compensation
• Employee assistance program
• FSA “Flexible Spending Account”
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off.

What We Offer

We offer an excellent benefits package, which includes healthcare, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement.

We are required by law in certain jurisdictions to include a pay scale in the job posting for this position. "Pay scale" means the salary or hourly range that reasonably expects to pay for this position; it is neither a promise nor a guarantee of the compensation that the successful candidate will receive. The pay scale for this position considers the wide range of factors that considers in making compensation decisions, including, without limitation: skill set, experience, and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that it is not typical for employees to be at or near the top of the pay scale for their role - especially as a new hire - and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

This position involves a combination of office-based and operational activities. The employee may spend time sitting, standing, and walking throughout the workday and will regularly communicate with others in person and by telephone. The role requires routine use of the hands for tasks such as handling materials, operating office or workplace equipment, and performing repetitive movements. Employees may also need to reach overhead or outward and handle or lift items weighing up to 25 pounds.

The position requires the ability to view materials at varying distances and adjust focus as necessary to perform job-related tasks.

Work conditions may vary depending on business needs and assigned responsibilities. The primary work setting is generally an office environment with low to moderate noise levels. At times, the employee may work in or near operational areas where exposure to machinery, chemicals, fumes, biological materials, outdoor conditions, or elevated noise levels may occur.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to assist them in performing the essential functions of the position.