Director / Manager, Engineering

Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing
Columbus, MS | On-Site
$140,000–$165,000

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Director / Manager of Engineering to lead engineering execution within a growing aerospace and defense manufacturing operation in Columbus, Mississippi.

This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Engineering Technicians, and Configuration Management. The successful candidate will work closely with Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain to translate customer and program requirements into executable manufacturing plans that meet quality, cost, schedule, and compliance objectives.

The ideal candidate is an operationally focused engineering leader who understands the demands of regulated aerospace or defense manufacturing and can balance strong engineering discipline with the urgency of production.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Execution

• Lead day-to-day activities across Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Engineering Technicians, and Configuration Management.

• Translate program requirements into executable manufacturing and production plans.

• Align engineering resources with production priorities, program schedules, and manufacturing ramp-ups.

• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, metrics, and priorities across the engineering organization.

• Develop and mentor engineering leaders and technical personnel.

Manufacturing & Program Support

• Serve as the primary engineering interface with Program Management.

• Support proposal activities, production planning, program execution, and manufacturing readiness.

• Partner with Manufacturing leadership on process readiness, capacity planning, production flow, and operational performance.

• Collaborate with Supply Chain on make/buy decisions, supplier readiness, tooling strategies, and manufacturability.

• Partner closely with Quality to ensure strong process controls, FAI readiness, AS9100 compliance, and adherence to customer requirements.

New Product Introduction

• Lead engineering execution for New Product Introduction (NPI) programs from development through production.

• Establish and lead formal NPI gate and phase reviews.

• Ensure technical, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain readiness before production launch.

• Lead manufacturability reviews, risk assessments, and production readiness reviews.

• Ensure tooling, fixtures, test equipment, work instructions, and manufacturing documentation are developed and validated prior to production authorization.

• Identify and mitigate technical, manufacturing, and schedule risks early in the NPI process.

Tooling, Automation & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development and deployment of production tooling, fixtures, and test equipment.

• Identify and implement automation opportunities that improve safety, quality, throughput, and cost.

• Drive error-proofing and poka-yoke strategies across manufacturing and test operations.

• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Support the adoption of robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies where appropriate.

Configuration Management & Compliance

• Maintain disciplined configuration management, engineering change control, and documentation practices.

• Oversee engineering change implementation while minimizing disruption to production.

• Ensure compliance with AS9100, customer specifications, and internal engineering standards.

• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits.

• Maintain strong engineering documentation and traceability within a regulated manufacturing environment.

Team Development

• Coach, mentor, and develop engineering leaders and technical staff.

• Support workforce planning, recruiting, organizational development, and succession planning.

• Build a culture centered on accountability, collaboration, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.

• 12 years of progressive engineering experience within aerospace or defense manufacturing.

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.

• Strong knowledge of AS9100, First Article Inspection (FAI), configuration management, engineering change control, and production engineering.

• Demonstrated success leading New Product Introduction, manufacturing readiness, tooling development, and process improvement initiatives.

• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing operations and production environments.

• Experience working cross-functionally with Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain.

• Familiarity with ERP and MES systems within a regulated manufacturing environment.

• Strong communication, decision-making, organizational, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or an MBA.

• Experience supporting U.S. government or defense programs.

• Experience with automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience.

• Experience leading significant manufacturing ramp-ups or complex NPI programs.

Ideal Leadership Profile

We are looking for someone who is:

• Hands-on and operationally focused.

• Comfortable working directly with production and engineering teams.

• Able to balance engineering rigor with production urgency.

• Decisive and effective at prioritizing resources.

• Strong at developing technical teams and future leaders.

• Collaborative across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management.

• Committed to safety, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Compensation

$140,000–$165,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

This is a full-time, on-site position in Columbus, Mississippi.

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MOHR Talent is an equal-opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military/veteran status, or any other protected status. If you believe you have been discriminated against or have concerns about our compliance, please contact our Human Resources department at hr@themohrgrp.com