Equipment Engineering Manager

⚙️ We're Hiring: Equipment Engineering ManagerLocation: United Arab Emirates (Remote)Employment Type: Full-TimeExperience Level: Mid-Level to SeniorWork Arrangement: Fully RemoteAbout UsWe are a globally focused organization committed to developing, deploying, and optimizing reliable, safe, efficient, and scalable industrial equipment and manufacturing technologies.Our teams collaborate across Manufacturing, Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Automation, Quality, Safety, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Product Development, IT, and external equipment manufacturers to ensure production equipment delivers required performance throughout its lifecycle.The RoleWe are seeking an experienced Equipment Engineering Manager to lead the technical strategy, specification, selection, development, installation, commissioning, qualification, optimization, reliability, modernization, and lifecycle management of manufacturing and industrial equipment.The successful candidate will provide engineering leadership across production machinery, process equipment, tooling, automation interfaces, utilities-connected equipment, inspection systems, and supporting technical assets. The role will ensure equipment meets requirements for safety, quality, capacity, productivity, reliability, maintainability, flexibility, cost, and regulatory compliance.Key ResponsibilitiesEquipment Engineering StrategyDevelop and implement an equipment-engineering strategy aligned with manufacturing and business objectives.Establish standards for equipment design, selection, specification, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and lifecycle management.Develop equipment-capability and modernization roadmaps.Identify equipment risks, capacity constraints, reliability gaps, and technology opportunities.Standardize equipment platforms and technical solutions where appropriate.Equipment Lifecycle ManagementManage equipment throughout its lifecycle:ConceptSpecificationDesignProcurementManufacturingFactory AcceptanceInstallationCommissioningProduction Ramp-UpOperationUpgradeMaintenanceModernizationDecommissioningEnsure lifecycle decisions consider total cost of ownership.Equipment RequirementsDefine detailed technical requirements for new and modified production equipment.Establish requirements for:CapacityCycle TimeAccuracyQualityReliabilitySafetyMaintainabilityFlexibilityAutomationData ConnectivityEnergy EfficiencyDocumentationEquipment SpecificationDevelop technical specifications, equipment standards, user requirements, and performance criteria.Ensure specifications are measurable and commercially enforceable.Review technical proposals against approved requirements.Equipment SelectionEvaluate equipment manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators, and technical solutions.Conduct technical due diligence and supplier assessments.Compare performance, reliability, maintainability, flexibility, lifecycle cost, and technical risk.Equipment Design ReviewReview equipment designs throughout development.Assess:Mechanical DesignElectrical DesignControlsAutomationSafetyMaintainabilityErgonomicsAccessibilityProduction PerformanceIdentify design risks before equipment fabrication.Design for ReliabilityEnsure equipment is designed for high availability and maintainability.Identify potential failure modes during design.Incorporate appropriate redundancy, diagnostics, accessibility, and condition monitoring.Design for MaintainabilityEnsure maintenance personnel can safely and efficiently access critical components.Minimize unnecessary maintenance complexity.Consider spare-parts availability and service requirements during equipment design.Equipment AutomationCoordinate equipment automation requirements with automation and controls teams.Ensure appropriate integration of:PLCHMISCADARoboticsMachine VisionMotion ControlSensorsDrivesSafety SystemsControls EngineeringReview equipment-control architectures.Ensure control systems meet production, safety, reliability, data, and integration requirements.Establish standards for controls documentation and software backups.Robotics IntegrationEvaluate and integrate robotic equipment for:AssemblyWeldingMaterial HandlingMachine TendingPalletizingPackagingInspectionEnsure robotic systems meet cycle-time, safety, reliability, and quality requirements.Machine VisionLead equipment-engineering integration of machine-vision systems.Define requirements for:InspectionIdentificationMeasurementDefect DetectionAssembly VerificationEnsure vision systems are appropriately validated and maintained.Production EquipmentManage engineering activities related to:CNC MachinesPressesWelding EquipmentAssembly EquipmentPackaging EquipmentConveyorsIndustrial FurnacesProcess EquipmentMaterial-Handling EquipmentSpecialized Manufacturing MachineryKey Performance IndicatorsPerformance may be measured through:Equipment availabilityOverall Equipment EffectivenessEquipment utilizationProduction throughputEquipment cycle timeEquipment capacityUnplanned downtimeMean Time Between FailuresMean Time To RepairEquipment failure frequencyRepeat-failure rateEquipment-related quality defectsFirst-pass yieldEquipment reliabilityPreventive-maintenance compliancePredictive-maintenance effectivenessEquipment commissioning performanceFactory acceptance test performanceSite acceptance test performanceProduction ramp-up performanceEquipment project on-time deliveryEquipment project budget performanceCAPEX varianceEquipment ROIPayback periodTotal cost of ownershipSpare-parts availabilityCritical-spares stockout rateObsolescence-risk reductionEquipment modernization progressEnergy consumption per unitEquipment safety incidentsEngineering-change success rateEquipment documentation completenessSoftware-backup complianceVendor SLA performanceWarranty-claim resolution timeEquipment relocation performanceEquipment lifecycle extensionMaintenance cost reductionDowntime reductionCapacity improvementProductivity improvementQuality improvementContinuous-improvement savingsIdeal CandidateThe successful candidate should have experience in Equipment Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Reliability Engineering, or related fields.The candidate should demonstrate:Proven experience leading equipment-engineering functions within manufacturing, industrial, automotive, electronics, engineering, or other production environments.Strong understanding of industrial and manufacturing equipment, machinery, tooling, fixtures, automation, controls, and production processes.Extensive experience with equipment specification, technical evaluation, supplier selection, installation, commissioning, qualification, optimization, and lifecycle management.Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, instrumentation, controls, and automation systems.Experience with PLC, HMI, SCADA, robotics, machine vision, motion control, industrial networks, and equipment integration.Strong understanding of equipment reliability, maintainability, preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, FMEA, RCA, and reliability engineering.Experience managing Factory Acceptance Testing, Site Acceptance Testing, commissioning, production ramp-up, and equipment handover.Experience with equipment CAPEX, business cases, ROI, lifecycle costing, and total cost of ownership.Strong knowledge of machine safety, risk assessment, functional safety, guarding, interlocks, and safe equipment operation.Experience managing OEMs, system integrators, equipment suppliers, contractors, and technical consultants.Experience with equipment modernization, obsolescence management, upgrades, replacement planning, and lifecycle strategy.Strong understanding of production capacity, cycle-time optimization, throughput improvement, equipment bottleneck analysis, and OEE.Experience supporting new-product introduction, industrialization, factory expansion, new production lines, or new-factory development.Experience with Industry 4.0, Industrial IoT, digital manufacturing, predictive analytics, AI, digital twins, or connected equipment is advantageous.Strong technical documentation, engineering-change-control, configuration-management, and equipment-governance capabilities.Experience leading engineering teams and developing technical competencies.Strong analytical, troubleshooting, project-management, commercial, and problem-solving capabilities.Knowledge of UAE and GCC industrial, manufacturing, safety, and regulatory environments is advantageous.Relevant degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.Professional certifications in engineering, reliability, automation, project management, Lean Six Sigma, safety, or asset management are advantageous.Strong written and verbal English communication skills; additional languages are advantageous.Excellent technical leadership, stakeholder-management, planning, analytical, and communication skills.Ability to translate production requirements into reliable, safe, maintainable, and commercially viable equipment solutions.Ability to balance technical performance, safety, quality, reliability, flexibility, lifecycle cost, and production requirements.Ability to manage complex equipment projects, technical risks, suppliers, budgets, and competing priorities.Ability to work independently in a fully remote and internationally distributed environment.Strong equipment-focused, engineering-led, reliability-oriented, safety-conscious, technically rigorous, manufacturing-driven, data-informed, commercially aware, innovative, practical, collaborative, and results-driven mindset.