Vice President of Engineering

Vice President of Engineering Carter Hoffmann Carter-Hoffmann Mundelein, IL Description

Company Overview:

A leading manufacturing company dedicated to delivering innovative food holding and transporting solutions to the foodservice industry. Carter Hoffmann is an industry expert in food holding and transporting solutions whereas NU-VU Foodservice Systems is recognized leader in "On-Premises" Baking. NU-VU manufactures a wide variety of commercial baking equipment for use in all types of food service, including chain restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores. Products include baking ovens, oven-proofers, proofers, and even smokers. Doyon became the Bakery Equipment Division of Middleby. We are currently seeking a skilled and motivated Leader to drive our engineering teams.

Position Summary:

The VP of Engineering will lead the development, design, and continuous improvement of food service equipment solutions, including heated holding, transport, and specialty systems. This role is responsible for driving engineering excellence across product design, manufacturing integration, and innovation, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable solutions that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and develop multi-disciplinary engineering teams focused on product design, thermal systems, and manufacturing support. Drive the design and enhancement of heated holding cabinets, transport carts, and food service equipment systems with strong emphasis on thermal performance and reliability. Partner closely with operations to optimize designs for sheet metal fabrication, welding, and assembly efficiency. Oversee new product development (NPD/NPI) from concept through production, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery. Implement design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and cost-reduction initiatives across product lines. Manage engineering budgets, capital planning, and resource allocation. Improve product performance through testing, validation, and field feedback integration. Ensure compliance with food safety, UL, NSF, and other regulatory standards. Collaborate with commercial teams to support custom solutions and key customer programs. Drive standardization and modular design approaches to improve scalability and reduce complexity.

Leadership & Strategy:

Define and execute the engineering roadmap aligned with company growth and innovation goals. Establish KPIs focused on product cost, quality, delivery, and innovation. Lead cross-functional initiatives across engineering, operations, supply chain, and quality. Build a strong engineering culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and customer-centric design. Mentor and develop future engineering leaders. Requirements

Qualifications:

Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering or related field. 12+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing or product development environments. 5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams. Strong experience in thermal systems, heat transfer, or refrigeration/temperature-controlled systems. Deep knowledge of sheet metal design, fabrication, and welding processes. Proven track record of driving cost reduction and product optimization initiatives Experience with stage-gate product development processes Strong business and financial acumen.

Preferred Qualification:

Experience in food service equipment or commercial kitchen systems. Familiarity with UL, NSF, and food safety compliance standards. Experience working with global supply chains or multi-site manufacturing. Background in both heating and cooling systems (refrigeration experience is a plus).

Working Conditions:

Work is performed largely in office and manufacturing environments. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week but may vary according to special projects, deadlines, or other concerns. Ability to lift 40-50 lbs. and a variety of postures (bending, stooping, etc.) when handling product while training or investigating technical issues. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Salary Description Full Time, Salaried, Exempt with base wage range of $170,000 to $180,000.