Division Engineer - Maintenance Operations

Elevate Textiles is a leading global manufacturer of fabric and thread solutions focused on innovation, sustainability, and quality craftsmanship. The company’s portfolio includes American & Efird (A&E), Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann, and Safety Components. The Division Engineer will support maintenance operations for the Burlington and Safety Components manufacturing platform at the Raeford, NC facility, leading and supporting maintenance functions across multiple plants.

About the role

The Division Engineer provides strategic direction, technical expertise, project administration, and leadership to plant maintenance teams to optimize performance, ensure reliability, efficiency, and safety of facilities infrastructure and equipment, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Develop and implement division maintenance investment strategy aligned with organizational goals.
  • Lead, mentor, and support maintenance managers and teams across multiple facilities.
  • Standardize maintenance practices, policies, and procedures across all plants.
  • Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Operational Excellence
  • Guide preventive and corrective maintenance programs.
  • Monitor equipment performance and reliability metrics.
  • Ensure timely resolution of equipment failures to minimize production disruptions.
  • Drive root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Budgeting & Capital Projects & Engineering Support
  • Participate in the development of maintenance budgets for multiple sites.
  • Optimize labor, materials, and contractor utilization.
  • Maintain a five‑year plan for facilities capital investment needs.
  • Submit capital project proposals and administer execution of approved projects on time and on budget.
  • Provide technical guidance on equipment selection, installation, and commissioning.
• Compliance & Safety
  • Ensure compliance with Company and regulatory safety, environmental, and other requirements.
  • Promote and enforce safe work practices across all facilities.
  • Lead audits, inspections, and risk‑mitigation initiatives.
• Data & Continuous Improvement
  • Utilize CMMS and other systems to track and analyze maintenance performance.
  • Implement reliability‑centered maintenance (RCM) and lean manufacturing principles.
  • Drive continuous improvement projects to enhance efficiency and reduce downtime.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (required).
• 8+ years of maintenance or engineering experience in manufacturing environments.
• 5+ years of leadership experience across multiple sites or large‑scale operations.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing facilities and industrial equipment, including boilers, steam and condensate distribution systems, air compressors and compressed‑air distribution, HVAC systems (chiller and air‑washer experience preferred), potable & process water and effluent systems.
• Experience with CMMS platforms and data‑driven maintenance strategies; I‑maint experience preferred.
• Knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and other manufacturing compliance regulations; Higg Index experience preferred.
• Proven ability to lead maintenance teams and coordinate with manufacturing leaders.
• Strong problem‑solving, decision‑making, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Working Conditions

• Ability to work assigned schedule with on‑call availability during non‑office hours.
• Travel 25–50% between manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and South Carolina.
• Exposure to industrial environments, including noise, heat, and heavy machinery.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Equipment uptime and reliability.
• Maintenance cost as a percentage of production.
• Safety incident rates.
• Preventive maintenance compliance.