VP, Engineering

Clearfield, Inc.; Minneapolis, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 195,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Business travel insurance

Employee Assistance Program

401(k) match

Stock Purchase Plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Clearfield, Inc. is seeking an accomplished leader to head design and compliance engineering, ensuring alignment with business objectives and strategic goals. The role leads and mentors the engineering team while managing budgets and capital projects to deliver high‑quality outputs.

The position drives modernization of manufacturing technologies, enforces standards, and collaborates with product management to keep engineering efforts in sync with market demands. Travel up to 30% is required.

Qualifications

• Fifteen years of experience leading and managing engineering teams.
• BS in Engineering or related technical field; MBA preferred.
• Able to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Aligns engineering goals with business objectives and the technological vision of the organization.
• Drives adoption of new methodologies, tools, and technologies to enhance processes.
• Manage quarterly and annual budgeting process; justify and execute capital projects.
• Oversee priorities for development of new manufacturing technologies and process development.
• Lead Engineering and Compliance teams: hire, train, mentor, and provide technical direction.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Establish engineering standards, development methodologies, and testing procedures.
• Collaborate with Product Management and other departments to align with product vision.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical mentoring

Education

BS in Engineering

MBA preferred

Job description

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

Responsible for all aspects of Clearfield’s design and compliance engineering organizations. Aligns technical execution with company objectives to ensure the successful delivery of engineering projects. Develops and implements strategic and tactical engineering processes and practices to enable new business growth and improve existing functional effectiveness. Leads and manages the engineering team. Key member of the Operations Leadership Team responsible for contributing and collaborating on the tactics and strategies needed to achieve Operation goals.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Aligns and executes engineering goals with business objectives and the technological vision of the organization.
  • Drives the adoption of new methodologies, tools, and technologies to enhance engineering processes and maintain competitiveness in the industry
  • Manages the quarterly and annual budgeting process.
  • Plan, justify, and execute capital projects.
  • Determine priorities for testing programs, and that needed testing performed and documented.
  • Oversee priorities and progress for development of new manufacturing technologies and process development.
  • Establishes and enforces engineering standards, development methodologies, and best practices for documentation and testing procedures to ensure high-quality outputs.
• Lead and manage the Engineering and Compliance Teams:
  • Interview, hire, train, and mentor team members. Ensure necessary people resources are in place to meet commitments.
  • Motivate team members and provide technical direction and guidance.
  • Monitor performance to proactively identify efficiency issues and engage team members to collaboratively propose and implement improvement solutions.
  • Source, select, contract, and manage service providers.
  • Provide leadership for the portfolio of engineering projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and to the expected quality and technical standards.
  • Monitor project progress, resolve technical challenges, and ensure that engineering practices comply with organizational policies and industry standards.
• Establish and grow Engineering best practices:
  • Keep abreast of current functional and industry trends, ensuring Clearfield maintains and expands its technology leadership position.
  • Select, contract, and manage suppliers and own quality, cost, and lead-time of purchased engineering materials and services.
• Provides critical cross-functional support:
  • Collaborates with Product Management/Product Marketing and other departments to ensure that engineering efforts are in sync with product vision and market demands.
  • Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical teams, translating complex technical concepts for stakeholders.

This description of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive or to limit the discretionary authority to assign other tasks of a similar nature and/or level of responsibility.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• BS in Engineering or related technical field. An MBA degree is preferred.
• Fifteen years of experience leading and managing engineering teams.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze work processes and outcomes to ensure they meet or exceed established standards of accuracy, completeness, and excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals and teams from different functional areas to achieve shared organizational goals and drive integrated solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to develop long-term goals and actionable plans to achieve an organization's
  mission and vision, while adapting to changing internal and external environments.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, develop action plans, and allocate resources effectively to achieve goals within specified timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply deep knowledge of Clearfield's products, services, and underlying technical systems to solve problems and drive value.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and oversee projects from initiation to completion by managing resources, stakeholders, and constraints to deliver defined objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to master complex product specifications and technical features to provide accurate solutions, troubleshooting, and strategic guidance to stakeholders .
• Ability to travel 30%

BENEFITS for full-time:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits.
• 100% company paid Short-term and Long-term disability insurance coverage.
• 100% company paid Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage.
• 100% company paid Business Travel Accident (BTA) insurance.
• 100% company paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Additional voluntary benefits are offered.
• 401K plan: Maximum match is 4.5% of the first 6% of contribution.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan:
• Clearfield's Time Off Policy includes Paid Time Off (PTO) beginning at three weeks annually, accrued on the first of the month, starting on the day of hire. The policy also includes nine paid holidays each calendar year, and one 8-hour day of Volunteering Time-Off.

SALARY RANGE:

$194,977 - $243,722 - $292,466; Bonus Eligible

An Offer of employment will be extended at a level consistent with the experience and qualifications of the candidate. This information reflects the anticipated salary range for this position at the time of posting. The salary range may be modified in the future and actual compensation may vary from the posting based on various factors such as geographic location, work experience, education and/or skill level.