Engage Search Partners, LLC · 1 day ago
Director of Manufacturing Engineering
Barrington, NJ
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$120K/yr - $150K/yr
7+ years expEngage Search Partners, LLC is seeking a Director of Engineering who will be responsible for all maintenance, engineering, and asset reliability functions within the manufacturing facility. This role involves leading a multi-layered maintenance organization, overseeing complex automation systems, and ensuring equipment uptime and safety through strategic engineering oversight.
Staffing & Recruiting
Hiring Manager
John Begley
Responsibilities
Direct leadership responsibility for:
3 Maintenance Supervisors
25–30 Mechanics, Technicians, and Line Leads
Sets vision, structure, accountability, and performance standards for the entire maintenance and engineering organization
Develops bench strength through coaching, training, and succession planning
Establish and enforce plant safety, food safety, food defense, and GMPs as absolute, non-negotiable priorities
Lead by example as a member of the senior plant leadership team
Ensure full compliance with regulatory, safety, and internal operating standards
Provide strategic direction for preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs
Own the asset reliability strategy, using downtime data, repair history, and production input to proactively address risk
Develop and maintain long-term equipment improvement and standardization plans
Ensure data integrity and advancement within maintenance tracking systems (EAM/CMMS)
Serve as the technical authority for industrial controls, automation, and electrical systems
Oversee and support Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) with specific emphasis on Allen-Bradley SLC platforms from Rockwell Automation
Ensure PLC programming, troubleshooting, documentation, and system integrity are best-in-class
Partner with internal teams and external vendors on controls upgrades and automation projects
Lead all engineering initiatives and capital projects, including budgeting and execution
Utilize CAD software to support plant reconfiguration and layout redesign projects aimed at improving:
Production flow
Line efficiency
Packaging throughput
Overall plant productivity
Collaborate with operations and project teams to execute facility upgrades and expansions
Own MRO spend, maintenance budgets, and capital expense planning
Define, track, and drive performance against key Maintenance KPIs
Ensure effective use of maintenance systems for work orders, inventory, and scheduling
Drive a structured technical training and skills-development program for the maintenance organization
Ensure the team maintains accurate documentation, schematics, and maintenance records
Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration
Qualification
Required
7+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, industrial maintenance, or heavy automation environments
Proven experience leading large, multi-level maintenance teams in a manufacturing setting
Strong hands-on knowledge of mechanical systems
Strong hands-on knowledge of electrical systems
PLC programming and troubleshooting (Allen-Bradley SLC / Rockwell Automation required)
Strong hands-on knowledge of industrial controls and automation systems
Proficiency with CAD software for engineering design and plant layout reconfiguration
Strong understanding of manufacturing workflows and production processes
Experience with CMMS/EAM systems and maintenance analytics
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Background in Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma environments
Experience using data analytics to drive maintenance and reliability improvements
Prior ownership of large-scale capital projects and facility upgrades
Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Automation Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related technical discipline
Company
Engage Search Partners, LLC
Engage Search Partners is a boutique recruiting firm that specializes in identifying, assessing, placing and retaining top Accounting, Finance, and Human Resource talent for public and private companies in the Philadelphia area.
0-1 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
John Begley
Managing Partner
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