Director of Engineering

Position Summary

The Director of Engineering & Maintenance is responsible for the mechanical and technical integrity of Stellar Snacks' manufacturing operations across two production sites. This role combines hands-on engineering leadership with direct managerial accountability, overseeing and holding the site-level Maintenance Managers accountable for equipment reliability, safety, and performance. The Director splits time between both locations to ensure consistent execution.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Accountability

• Directly manage and hold the Maintenance Manager(s) at both sites accountable for KPIs including equipment uptime, PM compliance, work order closure rates, and down time to repair
• Conduct regular performance reviews and daily/weekly accountability check-ins with maintenance leadership at each location
• Set clear, measurable goals for maintenance teams and enforce corrective action when targets are missed
• Build and coach a bench of qualified maintenance technicians and mechanics across both sites; own hiring, training, and succession planning
• Standardize maintenance practices, SOPs, and safety protocols across both locations to ensure consistency

Hands-On Technical Ownership

• Personally diagnose and troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, PLC, and automation issues when escalated beyond site-level capability
• Serve as the technical authority on critical production equipment (fillers, packaging lines, conveyors, ovens/fryers, refrigeration, etc.) — able to get hands dirty, not just manage from a spreadsheet
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) on recurring or catastrophic equipment failures and implement permanent corrective actions
• Review and approve engineering specs for equipment repairs, upgrades, and capital projects
• Step in on the floor during critical downtime events to drive faster resolution alongside the team

Engineering & Capital Projects

• Lead engineering evaluation, design, and specification for new equipment, process changes, and plant upgrades across both facilities
• Oversee the capital project lifecycle end-to-end: scoping, budgeting, vendor/contractor selection, installation, commissioning, and validation of new lines or equipment
• Read, create, and maintain accurate electrical schematics, P&IDs, and mechanical drawings for critical equipment at both sites
• Partner with production/process engineering to improve line speeds, reduce changeover time, and raise OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
• Evaluate and implement automation and controls upgrades (PLC programming, HMI, sensors, networked controls) to reduce manual intervention and unplanned downtime
• Oversee equipment lifecycle planning — make repair-vs-replace calls, plan for end-of-life equipment, and forecast multi-year capital needs across both sites
• Manage relationships and hold accountable equipment OEMs, engineering contractors, and integration vendors
• Ensure all new installations and modifications meet food safety, OSHA, electrical (NEC), and local code requirements
• Drive energy efficiency and utility cost-reduction projects (compressed air, refrigeration, steam, electrical distribution)
• Establish and enforce engineering documentation standards — equipment manuals, spare parts BOMs, and as-built drawings kept current at both locations

Preventive & Reliability Programs

• Oversee the preventive/predictive maintenance (PM/PdM) program across both sites, ensuring schedules are built, followed, and continuously improved
• Drive reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) initiatives to reduce unplanned downtime and extend asset life
• Establish and monitor spare parts inventory strategy, critical spares lists, and vendor relationships across both facilities
• Implement and audit CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) usage for accurate data, tracking, and reporting

Cross-Site Operations & Strategy

• Travel between both locations regularly to maintain visibility, consistency, and direct oversight of on-the-ground execution
• Align maintenance strategy with production schedules, plant management, and operations leadership at both sites
• Develop and manage the combined maintenance budget (labor, parts, contractors, capital) across both locations
• Lead capital equipment planning, installation, and commissioning projects for both sites
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, food safety (GMP/SQF), and environmental regulations across all maintenance activities
• Report site-level and consolidated maintenance performance metrics to senior leadership

Culture & Safety

• Champion a safety-first culture, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, and incident investigation
• Foster a culture of ownership and urgency within maintenance teams, eliminating a "that's not my job" mentality
• Drive continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma principles) in maintenance processes to reduce cost and downtime

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering preferred; equivalent hands-on experience will be considered in lieu of a degree
• 8 years of progressive maintenance/engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including 3 years in a multi-site or department-head leadership role
• Proven track record of managing and holding maintenance managers/supervisors accountable to measurable performance standards
• Strong hands-on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills — must be able to work alongside technicians on the floor, not just direct from an office
• Working knowledge of PLCs, industrial automation/controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, and food/beverage processing or packaging equipment (or comparable industrial equipment)
• Experience managing a CMMS, PM/PdM programs, and maintenance budgets
• Demonstrated experience in food manufacturing environments preferred (GMP, SQF, HACCP familiarity a plus)
• Strong understanding of OSHA regulations, LOTO, and industrial safety standards
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly between two sites
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to give direct, candid feedback and hold people accountable
• Six Sigma / Lean certification a plus

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Regular travel between both production sites required (frequency to be defined by leadership — e.g., weekly or biweekly rotation)
• Ability to work on the plant floor, including exposure to noise, temperature variation, moving machinery, and typical food-manufacturing conditions
• Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, kneel, and lift up to 50 lbs when diagnosing or assisting with equipment repairs
• Availability to respond to urgent equipment failures outside normal business hours, including some nights/weekends
• Comfortable wearing required PPE and following all plant safety protocols
• Some office-based work required for budgeting, reporting, and administrative duties