Vice President of Engineering (Apply via External Search – See Description for details)

How to Apply
This search is being conducted in partnership with an external recruiter. To be considered, please submit your resume directly to David Magy at david@abelnmagy.com 

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Engineering provides enterprise leadership for Product Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering across Steffes’ core business platforms, including Electric Thermal Storage (ETS), Oil & Gas Equipment, and Contract Manufacturing. This role is responsible for integrating product innovation with manufacturing scalability, ensuring the development of differentiated technologies supported by efficient, reliable, and cost-effective production systems. The VP of Engineering establishes the multi-year engineering strategy, technology/automation roadmap, and operating model that aligns engineering innovation with business growth, while building a high-performing, cross-functional engineering organization.

Steffes Core Values:

• Trust: We promote growth and long-term success by making wise decisions with trust as an essential component.
• Respect: We unleash creative talents of our diverse workforce by treating each other the way we would like to be treated.
• Teamwork: We believe people achieve much more by working together.
• Integrity: We follow through and keep our word while being open, honest, ethical, and fair.
• Safety: We view our co-workers as family members of our business and strive to ensure safety for all.
• Humility: We recognize and appreciate strengths and contributions beyond oneself. We are modest, genuine, and authentic.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Define and lead the enterprise engineering strategy aligned with Steffes’ long-term corporate objectives
2. Establish and execute a multi-year engineering technology roadmap and investment priorities
3. Develop and implement engineering standards, governance, and scalable operating processes
4. Ensure alignment between product innovation, engineering execution, and operational capabilities
5. Lead New Product Development (NPD) across all business units
6. Establish product architecture standards and scalable product platforms
7. Implement Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Cost principles
8. Oversee full product lifecycle management (PLM) and engineering execution
9. Ensure product performance, reliability, and engineering rigor
10. Lead manufacturing engineering strategy to support scalable and efficient production
11. Drive development of advanced manufacturing processes, tooling, and automation
12. Optimize production flow, industrial engineering, and throughput across facilities
13. Support the Focus Factory operating model
14. Partner closely with the Chief Manufacturing Officer on capacity planning and production strategy
15. Support SIOP, production planning, and facility expansion initiatives
16. Drive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement efforts
17. Ensure seamless transition of products from development into production
18. Lead technology innovation strategy and identify emerging technologies and market opportunities
19. Develop proprietary product platforms and expand intellectual property portfolio
20. Advance innovation across energy systems, automation, and industrial technologies
21. Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization across multiple disciplines
22. Recruit, develop, and retain engineering leadership and technical talent
23. Establish career development frameworks and capability-building programs
24. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and execution
25. Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating collaboratively with customers, suppliers, co-workers, and management
26. Helps company meet its Strategic, Quality and Safety objectives
27. Other duties may be assigned

Decision-Making Authority:

The Vice President of Engineering owns the enterprise engineering strategy, including the development and execution of the technology roadmap and prioritization of engineering investments. This role is responsible for making key decisions related to product architecture, engineering standards, and development priorities to ensure alignment with business objectives.

The position leads organizational design and talent decisions within the engineering function, ensuring the structure and capability of the team supports long-term growth. In addition, the VP of Engineering partners cross-functionally on capital investment decisions, capacity planning, and overall operational strategy.

This role also provides recommendations and influences executive-level decisions that impact company growth, innovation, and the development of scalable product platforms.

Measures of Success:

Success in this role is defined by effective leadership and execution across product development, manufacturing performance, innovation, and engineering organizational effectiveness. This includes driving improvements in new product development cycle times, product launch success, and adherence to engineering milestones. Success is also measured by enhanced manufacturing performance, including cost efficiency, production yield, throughput, and labor productivity.

The role is accountable for advancing innovation through the development of proprietary technologies, expansion of the intellectual property portfolio, and contribution of new products to revenue.

Additionally, success is reflected in the strength and performance of the engineering organization, including productivity, program execution, talent development and retention, and cross-functional alignment in support of business objectives.

Core Expectations: 

• Customer Service - Demonstrate excellent customer service and display a positive attitude and behavior consistent with the Steffes Code of Conduct and Core Values.
• Environmental, Health, Safety (EHS) – Perform work in compliance with EHS training and identified procedures/standard work. Report any EHS incident or concern to your supervisor immediately.  Cooperate and contribute to the overall success of the EHS program.
• Quality – Participate in job-specific training. Complete work as indicated by standard work, processes, and/or procedures. If your work can’t be completed as required, notify your supervisor immediately for guidance.  
• Conduct - Demonstrate and support the Steffes Code of Conduct.
• Policies and Procedures - Demonstrate and support Steffes Policies and Procedures by:
  • Using tact, sound judgement, and maintaining a professional attitude in communication and relationships with others.
  • Striving to deliver the best quality in daily work.
  • Promoting a positive image of Steffes and its products.

Job Requirements/Qualifications:

• Indicate the minimum requirements/qualifications for the position. Things to consider:
  • Education
    • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required
    • Advanced degree preferred
  • Experience
    • 15 years of progressive engineering leadership experience
    • Experience leading both product and manufacturing engineering teams
    • Background in industrial manufacturing, energy systems, or OEM platforms
    • Proven cross-functional leadership with operations integration
  • Skills & Capabilities
    • Strong systems thinking across product, process, and operations
    • Deep technical and engineering rigor
    • Operational and manufacturing focus
    • Strategic thinking with execution capability
    • Strong leadership and collaboration skills
  • Travel standard - <10%

OR

An acceptable combination of education and experience

Functional & Cognitive Requirements of Position:

• This position requires walking, sitting or standing to a significant degree.
• Must have the ability to lift 70 pounds from floor to waist, carry 50 pounds, and push and/or pull up to 100 pounds.
• Must have the ability to climb ladders and/or stairs.
• Stooping, crouching, kneeling and bending.
• Handling, feeling, and gripping would be required for some activities.
• Visual acuity is required to inspect work completed.
• This role may be subject to internal and external environmental conditions.
• Learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in the context of a workflow, ability to communicate with visitors, ability to complete tasks in situations that have a speed or productivity quota.