Vice President of Engineering

About the Role

The Vice President of Engineering is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing all engineering functions within a fast-paced co-manufacturing environment. This executive role drives innovation, continuous improvement, and technical excellence across multiple product lines and facilities. The VP of Engineering leads cross-functional teams in project engineering, process engineering, purified water system engineering, maintenance and reliability, capital planning and execution, automation, and technical services to ensure high-quality production and operational efficiency aligned with customer requirements and company growth objectives.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the engineering, maintenance and facilities infrastructure strategy aligned with corporate goals; identify technology and process investments to support business growth, scalability, and customer expectations; own a multi-year engineering roadmap with clear prioritization and trade-offs.
• Oversee facilities engineering, including site layout, utilities, and infrastructure upgrades. Manage maintenance programs, reliability initiatives, and preventive/predictive maintenance strategies. Ensure facilities and infrastructure meet operational, safety, and environmental standards.
• Own the engineering capital expenditure budget, forecasting, and scenario planning, including facility expansions or strategic closures, new equipment installations, and automation initiatives. Oversee ROI analyses, project timelines, and stakeholder communication in collaboration with each site. Lead cross-functional project teams to deliver engineering initiatives on time and within budget.
• Guide continuous improvement efforts in process design, quality assurance, production efficiency, and sustainability. Collaborate with operations and quality to reduce waste, downtime, and variability. Manage change management for process improvements and technology upgrades. Drive reliability programs to reduce downtime and improve equipment performance.
• Manage and mentor a multi-disciplinary engineering team (process, packaging, facilities, maintenance). Ensure ongoing development, succession planning, and performance management.
• Partner with Commercial, R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to launch new products, resolve technical challenges, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Ensure all engineering and maintenance activities meet regulatory, safety, and environmental standards (e.g., FDA, ISO, GMP, OSHA). Champion safety-first culture.
• Represent engineering, facilities infrastructure and maintenance & reliability-leadership in executive strategy meetings, customer presentations, and board updates.
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing technologies and systems (e.g., smart manufacturing and flow to the customer).
• Develop and manage engineering budgets, timelines, and KPIs.
• Oversee third-party contractors, consultants, and vendors.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Industrial) required.
• Master's Degree in Engineering, MBA, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive engineering leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a senior/executive role within a contract manufacturing, personal care, CPG, or food/personal care/pharmaceutical industry required.
• Proven success managing multi-site engineering operations and leading capital investment programs exceeding $10M required.
• Proven success in leading and managing Facilities Engineering as well as Maintenance and Reliability of infrastructure and manufacturing assets required.

Skills

• Ability to align engineering vision with corporate goals and long-term growth strategies.
• Mastery in planning, budgeting, and executing large-scale capital projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of lean six-sigma principles and continuous improvement tools (e.g., Kaizen, Gemba, Root Cause and Corrective Action, Problem Solving Techniques, DMAIC).
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing systems, equipment, automation, and packaging technologies.
• Ability to lead, coach, and inspire engineering teams at all levels.
• Skilled in presenting to executives, managing stakeholders, and fostering cross-functional alignment.
• Familiarity with FDA, GMP, ISO, OSHA, EPA, and other relevant regulations.
• Commitment to delivering high-value technical solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations.