Director of Engineering
Twenty80 llc, Newport News, VA, United States
Role Summary
Our client, a multi-site food manufacturing organization, is seeking a Director of Engineering to lead engineering operations across multiple production facilities. This role is responsible for driving engineering performance, managing capital and maintenance budgets, and ensuring operational excellence across sites.
The Director will partner with cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives, improve asset performance, and ensure compliance with engineering standards. This role requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to manage complex, large-scale capital projects.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and oversee engineering teams across multiple facilities and disciplines
Collaborate with cross-functional partners (Operations, HR, Safety, etc.) to achieve business objectives
Manage capital expenditure (CapEx) and maintenance budgets, including multi-million-dollar project oversight
Drive engineering and operational performance to meet efficiency, cost, and quality targets
Develop and implement short- and long-term operational and engineering strategies
Identify and execute process and performance improvement initiatives
Establish and enforce engineering standards, processes, and best practices
Ensure facility compliance with internal policies and external regulatory requirements
Analyze asset utilization and develop strategies to optimize performance and lifecycle management
Provide direction on priorities, scheduling, and execution across engineering teams
Lead, mentor, and develop engineering leadership and staff
Partner with HR on talent development, performance management, and workforce planning
Communicate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field
10+ years of engineering experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role
Prior hands‑on engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
Experience managing multi-million-dollar CapEx projects and budgets
Ammonia refrigeration systems experience (required)
Food manufacturing experience (required), with preference for protein/meat processing environments
Strong knowledge of engineering operations, maintenance, and project execution
Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems (e.g., SAP or similar)
Strong critical thinking, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills
Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership abilities
Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, multi‑site environment
Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%
Preferred Qualifications
Professional Engineer (PE) license
Experience in large‑scale, multi‑site manufacturing organizations
Compensation & Work Model
Base salary range: $165,000 – $210,000, plus flat bonus
Onsite leadership role with oversight of multiple facilities
Travel requirement of approximately 50%