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Kistler Group · 7 hours ago

VP of Operations and Engineering

Amherst, NE

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

12+ years exp

Kistler Group is a global leader in measurement technology, seeking a Vice President of Operations and Engineering to lead their North American production, engineering, and logistics. The role focuses on driving localization strategies and operational excellence while ensuring strong connections with customers and scalable capacity.

ElectronicsIndustrialManufacturingTest and Measurement

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of the localization strategy, focusing production and engineering for North American focus markets

Oversee Operations, including logistics, planning, purchasing, assembly and the machine shop

Provide strategic and operational leadership for Engineering, including Custom Product Engineering, Application Engineering, and R&D interfaces

Ensure organizational structure, processes, and capabilities are in place to support full lifecycle engineering from requirements gathering and feasibility analysis to design, validation, release, and production ramp-up

Take ownership for the Custom Product Engineering organization, including technical content responsibility, decision authority on engineering concepts, and overall delivery quality

Lead Quality Management and Assurance as part of Operations, including compliance systems, audits, and continuous improvement

Ensure adherence to AS9100D, ISO 9001, and ISO 17025

Manage production and engineering KPIs, such as productive hours, delivery reliability, throughput, scrap rate, and on-time launch of development and improvement projects

Establish performance dashboards and drive data-based decisions using Celonis, Power BI, and other analytics tools

Provide strong, presence-based leadership at the Amherst site, fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement

Collaborate closely with Sales Directors and the General Manager to maintain proximity to customers and align operations with commercial priorities

Represent Operations and Engineering during customer meetings, audits, and site visits

Develop and manage capital investment plans for production assets, engineering equipment, and process capabilities

Maintain functional alignment with corporate platform leaders in Engineering and Production

Ensure seamless cross-functional collaboration between Engineering, Production, Sales, Quality, and Product Management to enable customer-centric, technically sound solutions

Lead and develop teams in accordance with Kistler leadership principles, ensuring talent development, succession planning, and retention

Qualification

Operations leadershipEngineering leadershipLean manufacturingERP systemsSAPBudget managementCapital investment planningStakeholder engagementContinuous improvementCommunication skillsDecision-making skills

Required

Experienced Operations and Engineering leader with a successful track record in complex industrial or high-precision environments

Twelve or more years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, or engineering; experience in MedTech, Aerospace and Defense, Infrastructure, or Automotive Production is highly valued

Proven leadership of engineering organizations, including responsibility for product engineering, design, customization, and technical decision-making

Hands-on leadership style, comfortable engaging directly with teams on the shop floor, in labs, and across operations

Strong understanding of ERP and manufacturing execution systems; SAP experience strongly preferred

Skilled in lean manufacturing, digital operations, capacity planning, and cross-functional coordination

Demonstrated success in budget management, capital investment planning, and asset utilization

Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making skills

Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence

Willingness to travel occasionally to Novi, MI, and other sites