Vice President of Engineering ~ RETAINED SEARCH

Software Placement Group; Morgantown (PA); On-site; USD 275,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Software Placement Group in Morgantown, PA, seeks a Vice President of Engineering to lead the engineering organization, overseeing design, R&D, production engineering, and technical support to deliver high-quality products on time and within budget.

The role requires strategic leadership, Lean/Six Sigma expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and strong financial acumen. Travel up to 25% and relocation options may be available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Fifteen years of engineering experience, including at least five years in a leadership role within a large organization.
• Demonstrated experience reducing product complexity and streamlining engineering processes.

Responsibilities

• Define long-term technical strategy and product development roadmap.
• Oversee R&D initiatives and product lifecycle from concept to launch.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement to reduce costs.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and capital expenditures; control technical debt.

Skills

Leadership

SolidWorks

Lean Manufacturing

Project management

Communication

Financial analysis

MS Office

Matrix leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Quality management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Location: Morgantown, PA / Dauphin County, PA | Schedule: Full-time, on-site with occasional plant visits | Compensation: $275,000 -$300,000 plus bonus

Overview

An established manufacturer generating roughly $200 million in annual revenue is seeking a Vice President of Engineering to lead its engineering organization. This senior executive will oversee design, R&D, production engineering, and technical support, ensuring products are developed, manufactured, and delivered on time, within budget, and at the highest quality while bridging technical execution with business strategy.

What you'll do

• Define the long-term technical strategy and product development roadmap aligned with enterprise targets and industry trends
• Identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies, materials, and processes such as automation, robotics, or Industry 4.0 digital manufacturing techniques
• Oversee R&D initiatives for new product development, process innovations, and product improvements to maintain technological leadership
• Partner with manufacturing and operations teams to bridge design and production for seamless new product incorporation
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and lower manufacturing costs
• Ensure new products are designed for manufacturability, reliability, and ease of production
• Oversee the full product development lifecycle from concept and feasibility through design, prototyping, validation, testing, and launch
• Manage project schedules and budgets, controlling technical debt and preventing bottlenecks
• Enforce rigorous quality control standards to meet internal and customer requirements
• Ensure engineering activities and products comply with applicable sector regulations and certifications
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation plans for product performance, reliability, and manufacturability
• Develop and refine continuous improvement and LEAN strategies supporting overall strategic direction, using data-driven priorities
• Provide proactive, strategic leadership for organizational planning and business initiatives
• Help define and sustain a positive, safety-focused team culture
• Promote a results-oriented culture of teamwork, employee development, communication, innovation, and inclusion
• Achieve financial goals through effective management of capital expenditures, operating expenditures, and overhead
• Maintain awareness of emerging engineering technologies and trends
• Identify training needs and ensure appropriate training is developed and delivered
• Establish and use operational and economic metrics to measure, analyze, and communicate business unit results
• Maintain technical knowledge relating to chassis OEMs and related products
• Support employee development through training, feedback, succession planning, and disciplinary actions as needed
• Provide timely support to sales and manufacturing groups
• Manage the Engineering Change Request (ECR) process
• Hold responsibility for several cost centers and profit & loss statements with total revenues greater than $50 MM

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline
• Fifteen years of engineering experience, including at least five years in a leadership role within an organization of comparable breadth and depth
• Demonstrated experience reducing product complexity and streamlining engineering processes to cut time, errors, and cost
• In-depth knowledge of SolidWorks
• Diverse knowledge of auxiliary equipment
• Experience supporting complex or customized product lines in a production-oriented engineering environment where volume and output are critical
• Experience with core financial principles including costing, budgeting, and financial analysis
• High level of proficiency with MS Office
• Well versed in Lean Manufacturing and 5S implementation
• Effective at operating in a matrix environment
• Strong oral and written communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Ability to work across traditional functional silos and build relationships at all organizational levels, including senior leaders and executives
• Willingness to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and work occasionally in a warehouse or manufacturing plant setting
• Ability to travel occasionally (25%)

Preferred qualifications

• MBA preferred
• Manufacturing industry background preferred
• Lean Six Sigma Certification preferred (not required)

Compensation and benefits

• Compensation of $275,000 -$300,000 plus bonus
• Relocation and benefit packages offered

Why this role

This is an immediate opportunity to lead engineering strategy and execution for a $200 million manufacturer, with direct influence over product development, operational efficiency, and a business unit generating more than $50 million in revenue.