Dakota Bodies · 19 hours ago
Senior Director of Engineering
Watertown, SD
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expDakota Bodies is seeking a Senior Director of Engineering for their Truck Equipment business. This role will provide strategic leadership and oversee all engineering functions to drive innovation and operational excellence.
AutomotiveCommercialManufacturing
Responsibilities
Serve as the senior engineering leader for the Truck Equipment business, accountable for strategic, technical, financial, and cultural outcomes
Develop and execute the engineering strategy aligned with company growth, product innovation, operational capability, and margin expansion
Establish long-term engineering roadmaps, technology strategies, organizational design, and resource plans to support business objectives
Champion a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, accountability, and operational discipline
Partner with senior leadership to support long-term capacity planning, capital investment, and enterprise-wide initiatives
Collaborate with Sales and Product Management on customer engagement, growth initiatives, and strategic accounts
Lead the design and development of truck bodies, equipment, and custom solutions in compliance with regulatory, customer, and industry standards
Oversee the full engineering project lifecycle from concept, design, and validation through commercialization
Ensure on-time, on-budget delivery of engineering projects through strong project and portfolio management discipline
Drive standardization, modular design, value engineering, cost reduction, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) initiatives
Improve speed-to-market while maintaining quality, safety, and compliance
Lead, manage, and develop cross-functional engineering teams including mechanical, electrical, design, applications, and sustaining engineering
Establish and continuously improve engineering systems, tools, and processes including drawing standards, BOM accuracy, configuration control, change management, and documentation quality
Build strong operating rhythms and interfaces between Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to resolve production constraints and improve flow
Ensure structured problem solving using 8D, A3, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and standard work
Own and drive key engineering performance metrics including throughput, lead time, quality, and first-time-right
Partner with Sales and Product Management to support Voice of the Customer (VOC), quoting, feasibility reviews, and complex custom configurations
Provide executive engineering leadership during customer visits, escalations, audits, and major new business pursuits
Drive improvements in customer responsiveness, order accuracy, and engineering cycle times
Ensure full compliance with applicable OEM standards, DOT regulations, industry codes, and internal quality systems
Maintain engineering certifications, technical files, and documentation required for audits, approvals, and regulatory compliance
Support and promote a strong culture of safety and regulatory discipline across engineering operations
Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing engineering leaders and technical experts
Build organizational capability through training, coaching, succession planning, and performance management
Foster a collaborative, high-expectation culture focused on accountability, innovation, and business results
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field
10–15+ years of progressive engineering experience with significant leadership responsibility
Proven success leading large, complex engineering teams
Strong technical expertise in mechanical design, fabrication, hydraulics, electrical systems, and truck upfitting
Proficiency with CAD platforms, PLM/PDM systems, and engineering project management tools
Demonstrated ability to deliver measurable business results through engineering execution
Excellent communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills
Preferred
Master's degree in engineering, MBA, or related field
Experience in Truck Equipment, automotive, heavy equipment, or industrial manufacturing environments
Experience leading multi-site or matrixed engineering organizations
Background in Lean product development, DFM, and cost-reduction initiatives
Company
Dakota Bodies
Dakota Bodies designs and manufactures utility & service truck bodies.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2020-12-03Acquired
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