What are the responsibilities and job description for the Engineering Manager – MEP position at Shipbuilders of Wisconsin?
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Engineering Leader for MEP Systems is first and foremost a leader of people, responsible for building, developing, and holding accountable the MEP Engineering Team, including Design and Process Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Drafters, and external engineering partners. This role integrates engineering with manufacturing, supply chain, program management, quality, and regulatory requirements to deliver build-ready designs, reliable work sequencing, and timely resolution of production issues. Serving as the business owner for MEP Engineering, this leader establishes standardized processes, strengthens team capability and accountability, advances Lean and continuous improvement, and drives safe, high-quality, on-time, and cost-effective project execution with minimal rework.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Culture & Leadership
- Maintain a strong, visible presence on the shop floor to drive engagement, accountability, and problem-solving
- Reinforce company values of Trust, Belonging, Recognition, and Resilience through daily leadership behaviors
- Foster an environment where teams proactively identify issues and take ownership of solutions
- Recognize and reward behaviors that support operational excellence and continuous improvement
- Recruit, develop, and retain engineering talent; build bench strength and succession depth
- Set clear expectations, deliver direct and timely feedback, and manage performance — including addressing underperformance
- Coach engineers in structured problem-solving rather than solving problems for them
Standardization & Process Discipline
- Establish and enforce a consistent way of working across the Mechanical, Electrical, Piping Engineering Team
- Define and sustain installation standards, sequencing, and quality checkpoints in partnership with Quality Assurance and Quality Control
- Reduce variability, rework, and process inconsistency through disciplined execution anchored on the daily tiered system (SQDC).
Lean, Continuous Improvement & Performance Execution
- Assist Lean/CI transformation within the value stream by demonstrating standard work, daily management, and structured problem-solving
- Drive continuous improvement tied directly to SQDC performance gaps
- Establish a culture of proactive, daily improvement vs. reactive firefighting
- Hold teams accountable to daily, weekly, and program-level execution and results
Drive Engineering Execution
- Own the performance and execution of core engineering and manufacturing engineering within the value stream, ensuring engineering outputs are buildable, timely, and aligned with operational sequencing and installation standards
- Ensure strong integration between engineering and manufacturing to eliminate rework, delays, and floor-driven interpretation
- Drive build readiness, clear work sequencing, and rapid resolution of engineering issues impacting production
- Regulatory Compliance Management: Acting as the engineering gatekeeper for systems approval, ensuring all process loops, electrical loads, and marine piping systems pass strict regulatory audits (e.g., American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), DNV, or USCG rules) before drawings hit the production floor.
- Vendor & Contractor Governance: Evaluate needs and perform make vs. buy exercises to determine scope of work for vendors. Oversee outside engineering firms and specialized contract drafters to ensure schematics and production packages adhere strictly to shipyard construction standards and budget hours. Retains full accountability for the cost, schedule, quality, and buildability of outsourced engineering scope — partner performance is this role's performance.
Planning, Materials & Cross-Functional Integration
- Integrate planning, materials, and engineering into execution by partnering with Supply Chain, Planning, Production Supervision, Quality, and Program Management
- Provide input into capacity planning, sequencing, and constraint management
- Support predictable project execution aligned with program schedules and budget
- Ensure seamless flow of material and information upstream and downstream
LEADERSHIP:
- Operates as the business owner of MEP Engineering, driving accountability and collaboration between Engineers of various fields, both internal and external
- Demonstrates the ability to lead cross-functional teams in a highly collaborative, matrixed environment
- Drives alignment across functions and eliminates siloed behavior
- Leads through process discipline, data, and standard work
- Makes sound decisions and effectively solves problems within organizational policies and objectives
DECISION MAKING:
Exercises independent judgment and accountability for decisions, outcomes, and performance of the MEP Engineering Team, including impacts to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and team capability.
COMMUNICATION:
Communicates clearly and effectively with all levels of the organization, including frontline employees, supervisors, engineering, supply chain, program management, and executive leadership. Able to translate operational challenges into actionable plans and align teams around execution priorities. Able to cooperate proactively with other leaders to drive standard processes across functions.
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial), Manufacturing, or a related field strongly preferred
- Equivalent combination of technical training and progressive manufacturing leadership experience will be considered
- Lean / Continuous Improvement certifications (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) strongly preferred
- Additional certifications or training in manufacturing systems, tooling, fabrication, or project/program management (APICS, PMP, etc.) are advantageous
EXPERIENCE:
- Demonstrated success leading and developing people — hiring, coaching, performance management, and building team capability — with a track record of engineers who grew under their leadership
- Minimum 8 years of Engineering experience in a manufacturing, shipbuilding, or complex assembly environment, including a minimum of 3 years directly leading engineering teams
- Proven experience implementing Lean / Continuous Improvement systems in a production environment
- Experience integrating engineering and manufacturing execution in a complex, cross-functional environment
- Strong background in workforce development and capability building
- Experience working closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management functions
- Strong hands-on and leadership experience in mechanical/MEP systems and metal fabrication, including welding, forming, machining, and assembly, with the ability to interpret engineering drawings and translate design intent into execution
- Proven experience in tooling, fixturing, and manufacturing systems, including process design, integration of engineering and production, and optimization of fabrication processes to drive repeatability, quality, and throughput
- Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills with the ability to influence across functions
Leadership capability is the primary qualifier for this role, complemented by strong technical depth in engineering fundamentals; specific marine MEP experience can be developed.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Sitting in a typical office position while also requiring regular presence in operational areas, including standing, walking, climbing stairs, and interacting with shop floor teams.
GENERAL STATEMENT:
This description is intended to outline the general responsibilities and requirements of the role and is not exhaustive. Additional duties may be assigned as required to support operational and business objectives.