A confidential defense precision manufacturing company — supporting U.S. Naval and aerospace programs with complex, build-to-print components and assemblies — is seeking an Engineering Technical Director to lead and scale its engineering function. This is a senior leadership opportunity for a hands-on engineering executive who thrives in a high-accountability, production-driven environment where quality, delivery, and margin matter.

This role is ideal for a defense or aerospace manufacturing engineering leader with experience in build-to-print environments, AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality systems, and a track record of building high-performance teams. Naval shipbuilding, marine systems, and maritime defense backgrounds are particularly valued.

The Engineering Technical Director has full ownership of the engineering function, including:

Manufacturing Engineering
Cost Estimating & Pre-Production Planning
Quality Engineering
CNC Programming
Engineering Specialists & Technical Staff

You'll transform engineering into a competitive advantage — improving throughput, estimating accuracy, first article success rates, and on-time delivery performance across all active programs.

Key Responabilities

Build & Lead a High-Performance Engineering Organization

Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-discipline engineering team across manufacturing engineering, estimating, quality, and CNC programming functions
Build organizational capacity and capability aligned to current and projected program growth
Establish clear performance expectations tied to delivery, quality, and margin outcomes
Drive technical depth through structured coaching, career development, and performance management

Transform Estimating & Pre-Production into a Competitive Advantage

Establish standardized, repeatable cost estimating methodologies and pricing models
Ensure all quotes are technically sound, manufacturable, and aligned with shop floor capability
Translate winning bids into executable manufacturing plans and work packages with precision
Reduce quote cycle time while increasing margin confidence and program execution accuracy

Drive Throughput & On-Time Delivery Performance

Own engineering-driven KPIs including throughput, estimating cycle time, quality escapes, first article success, and on-time delivery
Identify and eliminate engineering bottlenecks impacting production flow
Accelerate new program launches and first article inspection (FAI) success rates
Partner with Operations, PMO, and Production Planning to improve schedule adherence and delivery performance

Operational Discipline & Process Excellence

Standardize engineering processes, manufacturing methods, and documentation to enable consistent, error-free execution
Drive continuous improvement across cross-functional handoffs, documentation clarity, and departmental workflows
Ensure compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, and applicable defense quality standards

Cross-Functional Leadership & Business Partnership

Partner with Business Development to evaluate new opportunities, assess technical fit, and identify bid risks early
Support customer-facing interactions requiring senior engineering credibility and subject matter expertise
Collaborate with PMO and Production Planning to align engineering capacity with program demand and forecasted workload
Contribute to operational strategy, execution priorities, and long-range business planning

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering — Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or related field
10+ years of progressive experience in complex, precision manufacturing environments
Proven track record leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams in a defense, aerospace, or regulated manufacturing setting
Demonstrated experience in build-to-print or highly specified manufacturing environments
Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, cost drivers, and quality systems
Strong proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and blueprint interpretation
Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar quality management systems
U.S. Citizenship required (defense program security requirements)

You should be proficient in:

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
ITAR Compliance
AS9100 Experience