VP, Engineering

Candidates With a Future; Dallas, Fort Worth (TX, TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Candidates With a Future seeks a Vice President of Engineering to build high-performing teams and guide engineering strategy from concept to delivery. This executive will shape organizational development and drive operational excellence across mechanical, electrical, controls/automation, and process engineering.

The role requires hands-on leadership with strategic vision, overseeing programs in custom automation and regulated environments, and partnering with executives to advance technical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field; 15+ years in custom automation and advanced manufacturing.
• 8+ years in engineering leadership with multidisciplinary teams.
• 5+ years in government contracting or regulated environments.
• Proven cross-disciplinary leadership across Mechanical, Electrical, Controls/Automation and Process Eng.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across Mechanical, Electrical, Controls/Automation, and Process Engineering.
• Build and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams and future leaders.
• Establish engineering standards, best practices, and scalable processes.
• Oversee budgets, staffing, and organizational performance.
• Lead complex engineered-to-order programs from concept to customer acceptance.
• Ensure designs meet performance, safety, quality, manufacturability, and cost goals.
• Support proposals, estimates, resource planning, and risk assessments.
• Drive technology roadmaps and engineering investments.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Controls/Automation, Systems Engineering, or related

Tools

AS9100

ISO 9001

EVMS

BOEs/Estimate at Completion (EAC)

PLM/PDM

Job description

We are partnering with an established organization specializing in advanced manufacturing, complex engineered-to-order systems, and customized industrial automation solutions serving highly regulated industrial and government markets.

We are seeking an accomplished Vice President of Engineering who is passionate about building high-performing engineering teams, solving complex technical challenges, and driving innovative engineering solutions from initial concept through successful delivery.

This is an opportunity for an experienced engineering executive to have a meaningful influence on engineering strategy, organizational development, technical execution, and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on leader who can think strategically while remaining closely connected to the engineering and manufacturing processes that drive successful outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Organizational Development

Provide strategic and operational leadership across Mechanical, Electrical, Controls/Automation, and Process Engineering.

Build, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams and future engineering leaders.

Establish engineering strategies, technical standards, best practices, and scalable processes.

Oversee engineering resource allocation, staffing, budgets, and organizational performance.

Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.

Engineering & Technical Execution

Lead complex, custom-engineered manufacturing and automation programs from concept and design through integration, testing, commissioning, and customer acceptance.

Oversee engineering solutions involving mechanical systems, electrical systems, industrial controls, PLC/HMI/SCADA, robotics, and manufacturing processes.

Ensure engineering designs meet performance, safety, quality, manufacturability, and cost objectives.

Provide executive oversight of technical design reviews, engineering challenges, risk mitigation, and problem resolution.

Drive engineering standardization, configuration management, design verification, and continuous improvement.

Business & Program Leadership

Collaborate with Program Management, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to ensure successful program execution.

Support complex technical proposals, engineering estimates, resource planning, and project budgeting.

Oversee engineering labor forecasts, technical risks, cost performance, and project deliverables.

Contribute to technology roadmaps, engineering investments, and long‑term organizational growth.

Engage with customers and stakeholders on technical matters, program performance, and engineering solutions.

Quality, Compliance & Safety

Ensure engineering activities align with applicable government contracting requirements, including FAR/DFARS.

Support engineering quality systems consistent with AS9100 and ISO 9001 principles.

Promote disciplined engineering processes, technical documentation, change management, and corrective‑action practices.

Champion safe engineering and manufacturing practices, including applicable OSHA requirements and industrial safety standards.

Qualifications

Required Experience

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Controls/Automation, Systems Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

15+ years of progressive engineering experience in custom automation, advanced manufacturing, industrial equipment, systems integration, or complex engineered-to-order environments.

8+ years of engineering leadership experience managing engineering leaders and multidisciplinary technical teams.

5+ years of experience supporting government contracting, regulated manufacturing, or comparable federal contracting environments.

Demonstrated leadership across multiple engineering disciplines, including Mechanical, Electrical, Controls/Automation, and Process/Manufacturing Engineering.

Proven experience leading engineering organizations responsible for designing, developing, building, and delivering complex engineered systems.

Experience supporting major technical proposals, engineering estimates, budgeting, resource planning, and risk assessments.

Strong financial and commercial understanding of engineering budgets, labor forecasting, project costs, and technical tradeoffs.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

Experience with specialized manufacturing equipment, automated production systems, complex industrial machinery, or advanced automation.

Experience operating within AS9100-certified engineering or manufacturing environments.

Familiarity with EVMS, engineering Basis of Estimates (BOEs), and Estimate at Completion (EAC) processes.

Experience with PLM/PDM, ERP/MRP, engineering change management, and digital engineering tools.

Professional certifications such as PE, PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or comparable credentials.

Active or previously held U.S. Government security clearance.

The Leadership Profile

We're particularly interested in engineering executives who bring more than traditional management experience.

The ideal leader has personally guided engineering organizations responsible for creating and delivering complex engineered solutions, not simply overseeing the installation or implementation of automation systems.

You should enjoy developing talented engineers, strengthening processes, making critical technical decisions, and partnering across an organization to turn ambitious engineering concepts into successful operational solutions.