VP of Engineering

Brief Description

Who We Are

SSP is the largest single-site, vertically integrated supplier of fittings, valves, and tubing systems in the industry. For 100 years, we’ve been a trusted leader in innovation and manufacturing. As a third generation, privately owned company, our mission is clear: to build trust with our customers while investing in our most valuable asset—our associates.

Recognized as a Top Workplace, we bring together talented people, cutting-edge technology, efficient processes, and a commitment to safety to deliver extraordinary results. Guided by our core values of Truthfulness, Resourcefulness, Unity, and Execution (TRUE), SSP is a company where you can grow, contribute, and thrive. Our collaborative environment is built on trust, respect, and a shared drive to achieve extraordinary results. Together, we’ll shape the future of our industry—one TRUE step at a time!

If you’re ready to start a career while being part of something meaningful and make an impact -- SSP is the place for you.

Summary/Objective

The Vice President of Engineering is a senior leadership position responsible for the technical, engineering, quality, and manufacturing-support functions of the organization. This position provides strategic and operational leadership across Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Product Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Forge Operations, and Tooling. This position is a member of the senior leadership team.

The VP will ensure that engineering and technical resources are aligned with company objectives for safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, capacity, and profitable growth. This leader will play a critical role in supporting a high-mix precision CNC manufacturing environment serving aerospace and other highly regulated industries.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in aerospace manufacturing, AS9100 quality systems, CNC machining, manufacturing engineering, and technical operations leadership. This individual must be equally comfortable developing long-term technical strategies and working directly with engineering and operations teams to solve manufacturing, quality, equipment, tooling, and customer issues.

Engineering Leadership

• Provide executive leadership for Manufacturing Engineering and Design Engineering, establishing priorities, standards, processes, and accountability across the engineering organization.
• Lead manufacturing engineering efforts related to CNC machining processes, process development, manufacturing methods, work holding, tooling, cycle-time optimization, process capability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective transition of new products from customer requirements and design through process development, qualification, production launch, and full-rate manufacturing.
• Oversee engineering changes, technical documentation, process specifications, manufacturing instructions, drawings, and configuration requirements.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and collaboration between engineering, quality, operations, tooling, and customers.
• Develop engineering capabilities required to support current customers, new programs, and future growth.
  
  

Aerospace & AS9100 Quality Leadership

• Provide executive oversight of the Quality organization and ensure continued compliance with AS9100 and applicable customer, regulatory, and aerospace requirements. Maintain the Quality function’s authority to identify and reject nonconforming product, stop affected processes when necessary, and escalate unresolved quality concerns directly to the CEO.
• Partner with Quality leadership to maintain an effective Quality Management System and promote a company-wide culture of quality and accountability.
• Support AS9100 audits, customer audits, corrective actions, root-cause investigations, risk management, and continuous improvement activities.
• Ensure engineering and manufacturing processes appropriately address aerospace requirements including product traceability, configuration control, document control, change management, nonconforming material, special processes, and customer-specific requirements.
• Provide leadership in resolving significant customer quality concerns and preventing recurrence through disciplined corrective action.
  
  

Manufacturing & Process Engineering

• Develop and continuously improve manufacturing processes for CNC-machined and forged metal components.
• Drive improvements in first-pass yield, scrap, rework, cycle time, setup reduction, throughput, equipment utilization, and manufacturing cost.
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts using methodologies such as 8D, 5-Why, Fishbone, FMEA, SPC, and root-cause analysis.
• Establish process capability and process-control strategies for critical manufacturing operations.
• Partner with Operations to identify manufacturing constraints and develop technical solutions that improve capacity and flow.
• Evaluate and recommend new manufacturing technologies, automation, CNC equipment, inspection technology, tooling systems, and capital equipment.
  
  

Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the Maintenance function.
• Establish preventive and predictive maintenance strategies that maximize equipment availability and reliability.
• Develop metrics and accountability for equipment uptime, downtime, maintenance response, preventive maintenance completion, and recurring equipment failures.
• Partner with Operations and Finance to establish capital replacement and equipment modernization plans.
• Ensure maintenance resources appropriately support CNC machining, forging, facility systems, and other critical production equipment.
  
  

Forge Operations

• Provide direct leadership and accountability for Forge Operations, including departmental personnel, safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, process capability, tooling, equipment, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure forging processes consistently meet engineering, metallurgical, dimensional, quality, and customer requirements.
• Partner with Operations and Quality to investigate and resolve forging-related defects and process variation.
• Support development and qualification of new forged products and processes.
  
  

Tooling

• Provide leadership for tooling strategy, design, development, manufacture, maintenance, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure tooling, fixtures, dies, workholding, and related manufacturing aids support repeatable, capable, and efficient production.
• Establish standards for tooling life, preventive maintenance, spare tooling, documentation, and change control.
• Drive improvements in tooling performance that reduce setup time, scrap, downtime, and manufacturing cost.
  
  

New Product Introduction & Program Support

• Provide technical leadership for new product introduction from initial customer requirements through production launch.
• Ensure appropriate manufacturing feasibility reviews, capacity assessments, tooling requirements, process development, risk analysis, and quality planning are completed before production release.
• Support APQP, PFMEA, control plans, First Article Inspection (FAI), and AS9102 requirements as applicable.
• Partner with Sales and Estimating on technical reviews of new opportunities, manufacturing feasibility, capital requirements, and technical risk.
  
  

Continuous Improvement

• Develop a culture of data-driven problem solving and continuous improvement throughout Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Forge, and Tooling.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles and disciplined problem-solving methodologies.
• Identify opportunities for automation, technology implementation, process standardization, and productivity improvement.
• Establish measurable annual improvement objectives and hold teams accountable for results.
  
  

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, develop, and mentor managers and technical professionals across Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Forge, and Tooling.
• Build a strong technical leadership pipeline and succession plans for critical positions.
• Establish clear expectations, goals, KPIs, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Evaluate organizational structure and staffing requirements as the business grows.
• Promote collaboration between Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance.
• Develop an organizational culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, urgency, teamwork, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction.
  
  

Required Qualifications & Competencies

• Hands-on knowledge and leadership experience with AS9100 Quality Management Systems is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Typically 12 years of progressive engineering/manufacturing experience, including significant leadership responsibility in a precision manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple technical functions and developing managers and engineering professionals.
• Strong understanding of precision CNC machining and metal manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing engineering, process development, tooling, work holding, process capability, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in aerospace precision manufacturing, including direct responsibility for AS9100 quality system compliance, aerospace customer requirements, manufacturing process controls, and customer or certification audits.
• Strong knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerancing, and manufacturing specifications.
• Demonstrated experience with structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, PFMEA, control plans, SPC, and corrective-action systems.
• Experience developing and managing technical organizations, budgets, capital plans, and major improvement initiatives.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to connect technical decisions to quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and profitability.
• Excellent communication skills and the executive presence necessary to interact effectively with customers, auditors, employees, suppliers, and senior leadership.
  
  

Performance Expectations

• Improve scrap, rework, first-pass yield, manufacturing cycle times, and engineering-driven productivity.
• Improve equipment uptime, preventive maintenance execution, tooling performance, and manufacturing reliability.
• Deliver engineering projects, new product launches, and capital improvements on schedule and within approved budgets.
• Maintain effective AS9100 audit performance, timely corrective actions, and strong aerospace customer quality results.
  
  

Work Environment

• This position operates in both office and manufacturing environments and requires regular presence on the production floor to provide leadership, assess operations, resolve technical challenges, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• This position requires limited travel
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or Business Administration.
• Experience with forging operations and metallurgy.
• Experience overseeing industrial maintenance and equipment reliability programs.
• Experience with aerospace First Article Inspection and AS9102 requirements.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with multi-axis CNC machining, complex aerospace components, tight-tolerance machining, and difficult-to-machine metals.
• Experience with aerospace OEMs and Tier 1/Tier 2 aerospace suppliers.
• Experience leading or participating directly in AS9100 certification and surveillance audits.
• Experience overseeing multidisciplinary technical teams in a high-mix manufacturing environment.
  
  

Why Work at SSP?

Benefits

We understand that your success starts with a workplace that prioritizes your well-being and fosters your growth. That’s why we offer industry-leading benefits and perks, including:

• Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Medical, dental, vision, accident, and company paid life insurance.
• Generous Time Off: Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays to support your work-life balance.
• Flexible Scheduling: Compressed work week options for a better work-life fit.
• Profit Sharing: Annual bonus to reward your contributions.
• On-Site Healthcare: Free access to Cleveland Clinic services for all employees.
• Wellness Resources: On-site wellness coach, fitness center, and gym reimbursement.
• Convenient Amenities: On-site market with fresh food and beverages.
• Work Perks: Shoe reimbursement, milestone rewards, and employee engagement events like picnics, holiday luncheons, and annual Thanksgiving turkeys.
• Secure Retirement: 401k/Roth plans with company matching and 100% vesting after just 90 days.
• Child Care Discounts: 10% off at any KinderCare location for just being employed.
  

AAP/EEO Statement

It is the employer’s policy that equal employment opportunities be available to all employees and applicants without regard to race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), age, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.