Engineering Supervisor

The Engineering Supervisor - Countertop Equipment provides leadership to the countertop equipment engineering team in a way that leads to product and information outputs from the team that exceed the expectations of internal and external customers.

The supervisor will guide the engineering team regarding key technical decisions, project scheduling and priority, interaction with other departments, and maintaining the cultural goals within the team. The position also engages in continuous improvement of the processes, procedures, and best practices of the team and looks forward to long term improvement goals.

Job Responsibilities

• New Product Development – Work on NPD projects within the stage/gate process. The supervisor will be expected to participate in as an advisor, and lead engineer in NPD projects.

• Supervise Technical Activities – Have a working knowledge of the different technical challenges that the team faces at any given time. Be prepared to step in as an advisor for difficult challenges and be able to search for and provide resources in the form of equipment, knowledge and/or personnel. Act as a resource for other departments to understand what the team is working on, and the status of difficult technical initiatives.

• Process Improvement Initiatives – Understand the company’s processes and procedures including ERP, accounting, document control, and other business systems. Use this knowledge to drive improvements in the team to reduce inefficiencies, improve communication, reduce tribal knowledge, and properly document work accomplished.

• Warranty and Cost Reduction – Working from the company’s strategic plan, create strategies using design, documentation, supply chain and VA/VE projects to lower warranty claims and implement cost reductions in existing products while continuing to deliver products of a high level of quality and performance to customers.

• Management Tasks – Manage direct report’s vacation and sick day requests as well as hourly employee schedule approval. Work with employees who are struggling and implement improvement plans. Conduct mid-year and yearly performance reviews.

• Goal Setting and Measurement – Create a strategy each year for goals within the engineering team and collaborate with engineers to implement on an individual level. Create SMART goals that are derived from the organization’s overall strategic plan that can be clearly measured.

• Personnel Development – Develop a knowledge of individual direct reports, and where they fit in the team. Work with them to create a plan for future development both in an educational and skills-based manner. Ensure that the team is empowered towards self-improvement and advancement in the organization.

• Use a computer - Desk or laptop, though always with at least 1 if not 2 external monitors, to process email associated with the various job tasks – essential to job performance.

• Infrequent lifting and/or carrying of objects – Objects ranging in size (OSHA Regulations apply) – help is readily available if unable to accomplish the desired task.

• Travel – Light travel will be expected throughout the company’s Wisconsin facilities to observe manufacturing processes, perform quality and engineering tasks, and interface with other team members. Infrequent travel to other locations nationwide and worldwide is expected.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports

• Responsible for team of Product Development Engineers and Test Lab Technicians

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements with an additional 2-3 years of supervisory experience with a team including engineers and technicians. Supervisory experience involving a test lab a plus.
• Minimum requirements with the addition of a masters in an engineering discipline or an MBA.
• Advanced understanding of manufacturing processes including injection molding, casting, deep drawing, stamping, circuit board production, metal forming and assembly processes.
• Knowledge of engineering best practices and tools such as DVP, FMEAs and VA/VE.
• Proficient with solid modeling, ideally in SolidWorks, though Pro-E or Inventor would be acceptable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products surpassing basic ability.
• Outlook for communication and scheduling, Excel for statistical evaluations of large data sets, Teams and SharePoint for document control and sharing.
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization and with customer contacts, as appropriate, to define, develop, and produce new products as well as improve existing products/services.
• Competency in basic and sometimes advanced mathematical and statistical analysis.

Vollrath's Core Values

Equal Opportunity Employer
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