Engineering & Development Manager

Lead with purpose at Kanthal, a world-leading brand in industrial heating technology and resistance materials, part of the Alleima Group. Based in Concord, NC, this role drives engineering, technical development, and continuous improvement to support safe, reliable, and innovative manufacturing operations.

About the role

As Engineering & Development Manager, you will lead engineering activities that strengthen manufacturing performance, product development, process reliability, and long-term operational growth. Partnering with operations, quality, maintenance, production planning, sales, and global technical teams, you’ll translate business needs into practical engineering solutions. This role is ideal for a collaborative technical leader who enjoys solving complex problems, developing high-performing teams, and driving improvements that impact safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering and development activities that support safe, compliant, efficient, and reliable manufacturing operations.
• Drive process improvement, equipment development, technical problem-solving, and manufacturing optimization initiatives.
• Partner with production, maintenance, quality, QEHS, planning, purchasing, sales, and global engineering resources to support business priorities and customer needs.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to engineering and technical team members while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support new product development, process changes, equipment upgrades, capital projects, and technology transfer activities from concept through implementation.
• Use data, engineering analysis, and practical problem-solving methods to identify root causes, reduce variation, improve performance, and support right-first-time results.
• Ensure engineering practices align with internal standards, regulatory requirements, safety expectations, quality systems, and Kanthal/Alleima policies.
• Contribute to site strategy, investment planning, resource prioritization, and long-term technical capability development.
• Promote a culture of safety, innovation, inclusion, learning, and sustainable performance across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Proven experience in engineering, manufacturing, product development, process development, technical leadership, or a related industrial environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to coach, engage, and develop technical professionals.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment reliability, process improvement, project management, and problem-solving tools.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects, capital initiatives, continuous improvement activities, or technical change implementation.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence across functions and levels of the organization.
• A safety-first mindset, strong business judgment, and the ability to balance technical excellence with practical operational needs.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, ERP systems, CAD, data analysis, or industrial automation is preferred.

Your leadership style empowers others, builds trust, and creates clarity. You are curious, adaptable, hands-on when needed, and motivated by the opportunity to improve today while preparing for tomorrow.

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional development, leadership growth, and global collaboration.
• A mission-driven workplace focused on safety, sustainability, innovation, and customer partnership.
• A culture that values diversity, inclusion, collaboration, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
• The opportunity to help shape solutions that support the electrification of industrial heating and a more sustainable future.

At Kanthal, we create solutions that power some of the world’s most exciting projects. With safety as our priority and innovation as our driver, we offer a workplace where you can grow both personally and professionally while contributing to meaningful work that improves life for people and planet.