Vice President of Engineering

THE OPPORTUNITYTalent HRizon is leading a confidential search for the VP of Engineering of a growing, privately held manufacturer in the Toledo, Ohio area. This high-impact executive role is for a leader who wants to do more than manage a technical function. The company is entering its next stage of growth, including new product development, operational improvement, acquisitions, and expansion toward a more global, multi-site operating model.Reporting to the CEO, the VP of Engineering will lead an established engineering organization and help shape how Engineering operates, collaborates, and scales. The role will work closely with Manufacturing, Operations, Product Management, Sales, Supply Chain, Procurement, and executive leadership.WHAT THIS LEADER WILL BE ASKED TO ACCOMPLISH• Build and develop a scalable, high-performing engineering organization with clear priorities, accountability, and stronger execution.• Strengthen new product development and NPI from concept through design, validation, manufacturing, and commercialization.• Break down functional silos and improve collaboration between Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Management, Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain.• Advance design for manufacturability, sourcing effectiveness, sustaining engineering, and legacy-product improvement.• Assess the structure, talent, processes, and leadership capabilities needed to support a growing multi-site organization and future acquisitions.• Develop a longer-term technology and innovation roadmap while remaining close enough to the business to drive day-to-day execution.LEADERSHIP PROFILEWe are seeking a leadership-first engineering executive with strong technical credibility, organizational-development skill, and change-management capability. The successful candidate will be a visible, influential leader who can build trust, challenge existing practices constructively, create clarity where processes or responsibilities are undefined, and bring teams together around business and customer objectives.• Create accountability and urgency without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.• Coach and elevate engineering leaders and technical professionals while establishing clear ownership and expectations.• Balance innovation, technical excellence, manufacturability, sourcing, speed, cost, and customer needs.• Operate effectively in an entrepreneurial environment, creating structure while remaining pragmatic and adaptable.• Influence through credibility, judgment, collaboration, and leadership presence rather than relying only on positional authority.Most importantly, this leader must bring a builder's mindset. The organization is established, but the mandate is to help create the engineering organization the company will need for its next stage of growth.QUALIFICATIONS• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, or another appropriate technical field required; master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline preferred.• Minimum 8 years of progressive engineering management experience, including 5-10 years managing engineering functions and technical professionals.• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in aerospace, defense, industrial equipment, specialty vehicles, engineered products, or another complex manufacturing environment.• Strong experience with new product development/NPI, cross-functional manufacturing partnership, and design for manufacturability. High-mix/low-volume, regulated, safety-critical, multi-site, or acquisitive environments are particularly relevant.LOCATION & ELIGIBILITYThe role is based in the Toledo, Ohio area with flexibility for a hybrid arrangement. Strong candidates outside the immediate market will be considered if they can maintain a meaningful presence with the business and travel as needed.For the right executive, the scope may evolve beyond traditional engineering leadership as the company continues to grow.Candidate Eligibility Notice: Candidates must be currently located in the United States and legally authorized to work in the United States. Sponsorship is not available for this opportunity.