Director, Engineering - Product Development - Engineering

Job Summary

The Director of Engineering & Quality is responsible for leading engineering and quality strategy across the Electrical Products portfolio, ensuring alignment between product innovation, operational execution, supplier quality, and customer expectations. This role oversees and coordinates activities across engineering and quality functions, managing multiple disciplines and providing broad functional leadership across operations, sourcing, manufacturing, and new product development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary Engineering & Quality teams, driving execution against departmental objectives while ensuring alignment with broader business priorities and organizational strategy.
• Partner with senior leadership to shape and execute the strategic direction of the Engineering & Quality organization, aligning initiatives with business goals, customer expectations, and long-term growth priorities.
• Develop and implement tactical and operational strategies that enhance engineering performance, product quality, process efficiency, and service delivery while supporting enterprise objectives and scalable business growth.
• Direct resource planning and prioritization across engineering and quality initiatives, ensuring effective allocation of personnel, capital, equipment, and budget resources to optimize execution, efficiency, and business impact.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, safety protocols, and quality systems across all engineering and manufacturing activities, promoting operational integrity and risk mitigation.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts focused on engineering effectiveness, operational optimization, cost reduction, product reliability, and overall quality performance across the Electrical Products portfolio.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Management, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and Sourcing teams to support the successful design, development, commercialization, and delivery of products and solutions aligned with customer needs and market opportunities.
• Establish and maintain engineering and quality governance standards through design reviews, audits, process controls, establishing guidelines, and continuous improvement methodologies to ensure consistency, reliability, and high-performance outcomes.
• Build and strengthen organizational capability by attracting, developing, and mentoring high-performing engineering and quality talent while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Drive performance management and employee development initiatives across the Engineering & Quality organization, coaching leaders and team members to support succession planning, capability growth, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Required Education & Experience

• Minimum Education Level: Bachelor's Degree
• Specialized Degree: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related technical field
• Years of Experience: 8-11 years of progressive experience in engineering, quality, manufacturing, or product leadership roles
• Field of Expertise: Electrical products, manufacturing operations, quality systems, product development, engineering leadership, and cross-functional operational support

Preferred Education & Experience

• Minimum Education Level: Master’s degree
• Specialized Degree: Engineering, Engineering Management, Business Administration (MBA), Quality Management, or related field
• Licenses/Certificates: PMP (Project Management Professional), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, ASQ certifications, or other quality/process improvement certifications
• Years of Experience: 12-14 Years of experience leading engineering and/or quality functions within manufacturing or industrial environments
• Field of Expertise: Electrical products, contractor/commercial markets, quality management systems, continuous improvement, product commercialization, regulatory compliance, and strategic engineering leadership

Spans of Control

• Does this role Manage Southwire Team Members: Yes
• Number of Direct Reports: 5-10

Travel

• Travel: Domestic, occasionally international
• % of Time: Up to 25%

Physical Requirements

• Driving
• Moving
• Sitting
• Standing
• Walking

Working Conditions

• Office
• Laboratory
• Other

Equipment

• Computer/Keyboard
• Safety Glasses
• Hard Hat
• Steel toe shoes
• High Visibility Vest

Competencies

• Skills

Benefits We Offer:

• 401k with Matching
• Family and Individual Insurance Packages (Health, Life, Dental, and Vision)
• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Long & Short-Term Disability
• Supplemental Insurance Plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Advancement & Professional Growth opportunities
• Parental Leave
• & More

Southwire is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.