Director of Engineering & CI

Job Summary:This role is a hands-on engineering leadership position responsible for driving manufacturing excellence, leading New Product Introductions, and building a high-performing engineering organization. The Director of Engineering & CI plays a critical role in ensuring operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and long-term scalability of the business.Position Summary:The Director of Engineering & CI is responsible for leading all engineering, manufacturing process development, and technical execution functions across the organization. This role owns New Product Introduction (NPI), manufacturing process optimization, and engineering team leadership, while ensuring scalable, repeatable, and high-quality manufacturing operations.This role serves as the technical authority for CNC manufacturing operations and provides leadership over Manufacturing Engineers, CNC Programmers, and cross-functional technical resources. The position ensures that manufacturing methods, tooling, and processes support business growth, cost targets, quality objectives, and on-time delivery.The role plays a critical leadership function in advancing Lean Manufacturing, improving throughput, reducing variation, and supporting customer and regulatory requirements in an AS9100 aerospace environment. Reporting to the General Manager, the Director Engineering Director and CI will foster a culture of innovation and collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring delivery of high-quality results in line with schedule and financial performance targetsCore ResponsibilitiesNew Product Introduction (NPI) LeadershipOwn and lead all New Product Introduction (NPI) activities from engineering release through full-rate productionDefine manufacturing strategy, routing, tooling, and inspection plans for new programsCoordinate cross-functionally with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Sales during program launchEnsure first-article success, manufacturability, and cost targets are achievedDrive rapid and repeatable production readinessManufacturing Engineering & Process Excellence:Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of:Manufacturing processesCNC machining strategiesWork instructions and routingsTooling and fixturingInspection and quality controlsEstablish standardized, repeatable manufacturing methods across product linesImprove throughput, reduce scrap, and improve yield using Lean and Six Sigma principlesDrive process optimization using PFMEA, control plans, and root cause analysisLead continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost, quality, and deliveryCNC Programming & Technical Leadership:Provide leadership and technical oversight to CNC Programmers and Manufacturing EngineersEnsure best practices in:3-, 4-, and 5-axis machiningMulti-spindle and multi-turret turningToolpath optimizationProgram validation and prove-outOversee Mastercam programming standards and documentationEnsure tooling libraries, setup sheets, and CNC documentation are accurate and maintainedTeam Leadership & Development:Lead, mentor, and develop Manufacturing Engineers and CNC ProgrammersEstablish training plans, skill development paths, and succession planningConduct performance reviews and KPI-based evaluationsFoster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvementServe as a technical mentor and escalation point for complex manufacturing challengesManufacturing Strategy & Capacity Planning:Define manufacturing strategies to support growth, margin improvement, and scalabilityOptimize labor utilization, machine capacity, and workflow layoutsSupport capital equipment planning and justificationCollaborate with Operations to balance capacity, scheduling, and throughputSupport make/buy decisions and vendor technical evaluationsQuality & Compliance Integration:Ensure compliance with AS9100 and customer-specific requirementsSupport audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiativesPartner with Quality to reduce NCRs, rework, and escapesPromote a data-driven, root-cause-focused cultureCross-Functional & Business Support:Support quoting and RFQ efforts with accurate cost and process estimatesCollaborate with Sales, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations leadershipDrive technical execution of strategic initiativesRepresent Engineering in leadership meetings and program reviewsQualificationsProven experience in leading engineering teams within fast-paced environments; strong management skills with the ability to motivate diverse groups.Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Aerospace Engineering8–12+ years of experience in aerospace or precision CNC manufacturing5+ years leading Manufacturing Engineers and/or CNC Programming teamsStrong experience with:CNC machining (3-, 4-, 5-axis)Mastercam or equivalent CAM softwareGD&T and blueprint interpretationLean Manufacturing / Continuous ImprovementERP systems and manufacturing routingsDemonstrated experience leading New Product Introductions (NPI)Strong knowledge of AS9100 quality systemsExperience implementing Agile methodologiesExcellent communication skills to articulate complex technical concepts clearlyAbility to develop strategic plans for business continuity strategies aligned with organizational goals.Preferred Qualifications:Experience with:Multi-spindle / multi-turret machiningHigh-mix, low-volume aerospace manufacturingPFMEA, SPC, and RCCA methodologiesPMP or Lean Six Sigma certification (preferred)Strong background in tooling design and fixture developmentExperience managing engineering teams in regulated environmentsLeadership & team developmentTechnical problem-solvingManufacturing process optimizationData-driven decision-makingCross-functional communicationContinuous improvement mindsetStrong organizational and project management skillsJoin us as at ACRA Aerospace where your expertise will shape innovative solutions that propel our organization forward! We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values leadership excellence and technical mastery—empowering you to make a lasting impact through your vision and dedication.