We're leading a Director of Engineering search for a local precision machine shop serving aerospace, defense, industrial and medical customers. The company is growing, and its engineering organization needs to keep pace. This is a new role that will bring engineering, programming, and quality engineering together under one leader. The immediate focus is helping the team launch new work more effectively and resolve the technical issues that slow production. Reporting to the senior operations leader, this person will have the opportunity to shape the department, develop its people, and establish how the team works across facilities. Overview: • Lead the engineering and technical teams, set priorities, and hold people accountable for results. • Assess the team’s strengths and gaps, develop employees, and make hiring recommendations. • Improve how new parts move from customer requirements and quoting into production. • Establish consistent practices for programming, tooling, fixtures, manufacturing documentation, and production handoffs. • Work with the floor to address difficult machining problems and reduce recurring disruptions. • Partner with quality engineering to improve process reliability and prevent repeat defects. • Help the commercial team evaluate whether new work can be produced reliably and profitably. • Recommend equipment, software, and automation investments, then follow through on implementation and results. • Work closely with operations leaders to balance new projects with the needs of existing production. Background Requirements: • An engineering degree and a substantial background in precision machining. • Experience managing engineers, programmers, or related technical teams. • Strong working knowledge of CNC processes, programming, tooling, workholding, tolerances, and inspection. • Experience in contract manufacturing, with an understanding of varied customer requirements and competing deadlines. • Specific examples of changes you’ve led that improved manufacturing performance or the way a technical team operates. • Experience taking new parts or programs through launch and into consistent production. • Sound judgment, clear communication, and a willingness to stay involved when the team needs help. Experience with aerospace, defense, or medical manufacturing would be helpful, as would exposure to advanced machining, automation, and leadership across multiple sites.