Careers

Job Description:

We are seeking a Director of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering to join our team in Blacksburg, VA. In this role, you will lead a team of skilled engineers in evaluating, recommending, and implementing new and emerging technologies on the plant floor.

As the Director of Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, you will focus on advancing Industry 4.0 by leveraging technologies such as Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), closed-loop control strategies using AI/ML, industrial automation (programmable and fixed), autonomous material handling, plant floor layouts, and process improvement tools and methods.

Your responsibilities will include working closely with project teams from our partner companies to understand manufacturing challenges and determine how advanced manufacturing technologies can be utilized to solve them.

Your team will be responsible for assessing and evaluating technologies, developing and testing solutions, and implementing automation, integration, and prototyping as needed.

As a vital part of our innovation and research ecosystem, you will collaborate with colleagues from various partner companies, as well as Virginia Tech faculty and students, suppliers, and other applied research centers.

Education:

To qualify for this position, you must have an M.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or a similar engineering discipline. A PhD is preferred.

Experience:

We are looking for candidates with at least 15 years of experience in advanced manufacturing engineering.

Expertise

• Your leadership will guide research and development of software and hardware solutions that enable and enhance manufacturing operations.
• You will be responsible for selecting and implementing new manufacturing equipment and software to improve operations.
• You will contribute to the automation roadmap for transforming manual processes to automated ones.
• You will create solutions to improve safety, quality, delivery, and costs in existing manufacturing processes.
• Your approach to advanced manufacturing systems design and implementation will be holistic, considering mechanism design, system analysis, inspection requirements, and control strategies.
• You should have experience with manufacturing automation systems, utilizing vision, robotics, sensors, and data analysis.
• You should have knowledge or experience in statistical process control, model predictive control, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or precision motion control of mechanisms.
• Experience with implementing Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) related technologies is desirable.
• You should have experience in hiring, growing, and leading a team focused on systems automation.
• You should have excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• You excel at problem definition and are comfortable with open-ended or ambiguous problem statements, adapting strategies based on results.
• You approach work with a collaborative, team-first mentality and have a positive, can-do attitude.
• You have the ability to contribute through leadership and mentorship.