Job Description

Robert Half Executive Search has been exclusively retained by a prominent aerospace and defense manufacturer to identify a Director of Engineering. This is a critical role that will be responsible for leading and overseeing product development and sustaining programs, with a particular focus on passive microwave designs for military, space, and commercial aerospace clients.

Reporting directly to the Vice President and General Manager of Microwave Solutions, the Director will be an integral part of the leadership team. The position requires a full-time, on-site presence in West Caldwell, New Jersey, offering an immersive experience that allows for deep collaboration and leadership in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in RF microwave engineering, particularly in passive designs, along with proven expertise in budgeting, planning, and aligning resources with business-unit strategy. This role also involves participation in daily GAPPA meetings, presenting monthly and annual business reviews to the President, and engaging directly with customers to offer tailored solutions and technical support.

Our client fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, friendly competitive, and high performance. They’re looking for a dynamic leader to bring the best out of others and their team and is eager to make a significant impact and foster a solution-oriented environment.

Role and Responsibilities

The Director of Engineering sets the strategy and standards for the implementation of functionality and services for ensuring quality deliverables from both the in-house technical teams and external providers. This role is crucial in overseeing the entire engineering process to meet our client's standards. The position directly manages several teams across various engineering disciplines, including RF microwave engineers, mechanical engineers, and sustaining teams. This position may manage teams across multiple locations and will be critical in leading a small team in a competitive, fast-paced, and collaborative culture at the West Caldwell, New Jersey site.

A strong compensation and financial relocation package will be offered.

Working Environment

• Location: West Caldwell, New Jersey.
• Requirement: 5 days a week, in-office, full-time.
• The site houses 130 employees. Products are designed at this location before transitioning to production.
• The culture is collaborative, with a competitive edge and a mix of long-tenured employees and newer staff. This will be critical to your success in driving technical excellence and team cohesion.
• Involved in daily engineering meetings, technical problem-solving, and managing status updates for ongoing projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop an environment that utilizes site skill sets and promotes collaboration on development projects.
• Work with the business development team to drive the technology roadmap for future skills and projects.
• Provide leadership for Solution-wide product development and sustaining programs and activities, with a strong focus on RF microwave engineering, specifically on passive microwave designs (not power amplifiers).
• Support customer development phases, ensuring effective communication and technical expertise during these phases.
• Lead daily GAPPA meetings and participate in brainstorming sessions to address challenges in product development.
• Develop, enhance, and maintain relationships with key customers in aerospace, managing both large and smaller clients.
• Provide leadership efforts to enhance current products and develop new products.
• Evaluate and develop improved techniques for the control of design activities.
• Plan and manage the deployment of resources for multiple projects.
• Establish and monitor departmental budget.
• Establish and manage operating plan budgets for IR&D, sustaining, funded engineering, and marketing support.
• Encourage and provide opportunity for continued relevant technical training and provide mentoring to new engineers.
• Review and set up optimized workflow.
• Establish and maintain design guidelines and design processes.
• Provide the appropriate skill mix to sustain and grow the business and to meet customer requirements.
• Provide interface and direct/indirect support to outside suppliers, 3rd party development activities, and customer product integration.
• Provide technical contact for customer support.
• Support business proposals and engineering estimates for development and recurring costs on new programs.
• Develop, enhance and maintain a core team as well as an external network of consultants, contractors and suppliers to support product development.
• Develop a culture that is focused on results and that balances innovation and accountability.
• Any other tasks assigned by supervisor or management.

Education and Certification/License Credentials

• BSEE (Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering) or related technical Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree (with an emphasis in the RF field) preferred

Functional Competencies

• Demonstrated understanding of Military, Space and Commercial Aerospace standards and related processes.
• Strong background in RF microwave engineering, with a focus on passive designs for space and defense customers.
• Proven ability to budget, plan, and assign resources, as well as develop strategic business-unit plan objectives.
• Demonstrated experience with industry supply standards and practices.
• Demonstrated problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
• Demonstrated ability in employee development, team building, communication, CI and PM principles.

Leadership and Management

• 10-15+ years of experience in product design and manufacturing
• A minimum of 10 years of experience as a technical leader, specifically leading a team of at least 5-10 engineers.
• Strong experience in leading engineering teams through the design, development, and transition of products from concept to customer delivery.

Personal Characteristics

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to leadership teams including the President and CEO of Crane Aerospace & Electronics.
• Clear and concise communicator, capable of preparing monthly and annual business reviews.
• Collaborative and competitive mindset, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Proven ability to work hands-on in an engineering environment, regularly engaging with the team and walking the floor.

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