Director of Engineering & Program Management (AEROSPACE/DEFENSE) at CapstoneONE Search Director of Engineering & Program Management (AEROSPACE/DEFENSE) at CapstoneONE Search in Grand Rapids, Michigan Posted in 7 days ago.

Type:

full-time We are representing an industry leading commercial aerospace/aviation organization that is actively seeking a Director of Engineering & Program Management at their flagship 1,500+ employee campus in Grand Rapids, MI. This position will play a critical role driving new product launches, engineering execution, and plant-level performance. This is a permanent, direct-hire opportunity with strong visibility to executive leadership.

POSITION OVERVIEW

This role will report directly to the VP/General Manager while assuming ownership over Engineering and Program Management activities. Full ownership of new product launch activities from concept through full-rate production. Accountable for program execution across cost, quality, delivery, and timeline metrics. Own departmental financial performance including budgeting, cost modeling (material, scrap, labor), and capital planning. Partner with Sales, and Operations to ensure accurate quoting and successful program launches. Lead run-at-rate analysis, process validation, and production readiness activities. Act as the technical liaison between tooling suppliers, manufacturing operations, and customers. Drive continuous improvement initiatives including yield improvement, scrap reduction, and process optimization. Establish and track KPIs aligned with plant and business objectives. Work cross functionally across Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless execution of launch programs. Develop and mentor high-potential engineering talent while building a strong technical bench Provide strategic input into the long-term engineering and business roadmap

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related technical field (Mechanical, Metallurgical, Manufacturing, etc.) 5+ years of engineering leadership or PM experience within a high-volume manufacturing environment Direct experience leading new product launches, or program management activities Automotive and/or aerospace manufacturing experience strongly preferred Demonstrated success managing cross-functional teams and driving results in fast-paced production environments Strong financial acumen including experience with cost modeling, budgeting, and capital planning Hands-on experience with structured problem solving methodologies (RCCA, 8D, PFMEA, etc.) Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization without direct authority Proven ability to balance speed, cost, and quality in a high-pressure manufacturing environment