VP Engineering: Product Development & Manufacturing

Sterling St James LLC; Franklin (WI); On-site; USD 105,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

Equity compensation

Job summary

Sterling St James LLC is seeking a Vice President of Engineering to lead product development and manufacturing in the Franklin, WI area. This executive role will own the engineering organization, guide R&D efforts, and optimize manufacturing and sourcing strategies to scale operations.

You will mentor cross-functional teams, drive end-to-end product development, and work closely with senior leadership on growth initiatives, performance metrics, and long-term incentives.

Qualifications

• Executive engineering leadership within a custom machinery or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience taking complex products from concept through manufacturing release.
• Strong foundation in mechanical engineering with exposure to fluid power and automated controls.
• Demonstrated skill in evaluating internal vs external sourcing decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and transform the Engineering Function with strategic priorities and accountability.
• Drive R&D and product development from concept to full production launch.
• Standardize processes, reviews, and workflows to improve schedules and reduce changes.
• Provide executive technical direction across mechanical design, fluid power, and PLC integration.
• Optimize internal vs external manufacturing capabilities for quality, cost and scalability.
• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, and Sales to solve field challenges and improve manufacturability.

Skills

Executive leadership

R&D & product development

Mechanical design

Fluid power systems

PLC/controls integration

Sourcing & manufacturing

Hands-on leadership

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

PLC/Controls

Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Job description

Sterling St James LLC is seeking a Vice President of Engineering to lead product development and manufacturing in the Franklin, WI area. This executive role will own the engineering organization, guide R&D efforts, and optimize manufacturing and sourcing strategies to scale operations.

You will mentor cross-functional teams, drive end-to-end product development, and work closely with senior leadership on growth initiatives, performance metrics, and long-term incentives.