Director of Manufacturing Engineering (McHenry, MS)

Job Summary

Director of Manufacturing Engineering – Akkodis is recruiting for a defense manufacturer located in the McHenry, MS area. This onsite direct hire position offers an annual salary range of $190,000 to $210,000, commensurate with experience, education, and location. Relocation is available.

Responsibilities

• Focus on building prototype rockets and rocket motors.
• Lead approximately 30–35 employees (a mix of production technicians and engineers).
• Oversee manufacturing engineering and production operations.
• Manage 8–10 high-risk projects simultaneously.
• Act as both engineering leader and portfolio/program manager.
• Manage new facility and equipment commissioning.
• Drive process development, automation, and scaling.
• Guide the site through its transition from low-rate to full-rate production.

Required Skills

• Master’s degree or higher in an engineering discipline.
• Capable of achieving security clearance.
• Current Director/VP-level leader (not a first-time director).
• Previous experience transitioning a site from low-rate to full-rate production.
• Background in highly regulated industries (aerospace, automotive, medical devices, pharmaceutical).
• Experience in automation/robotics.
• Experience in process scaling (prototype to mass production).
• Strong in safety and compliance.
• Strong in equipment and process commissioning.
• Strong in leading large engineering portfolios.

Preferred Skills

• Scaling manufacturing.
• Managing large engineering portfolios.
• Automation and process engineering.
• Production process build (safety, producibility, efficiency, and repeatability).
• Tooling.
• Automation.
• Spare part strategy.
• Preventative maintenance schedules.
• Optimizing uptime.
• Four primary pillars to the role
  • Leadership (team morale, formation).
  • Commissioning – primary leader for commissioning activity and success.
  • Uptime optimization.
  • Expansion (new commissioning).

Pay Details

$190,000.00 to $210,000.00 per year.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled. The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements.

Legal Assurance

Qualified under the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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