Engineering Director - Manufacturing, Technology & Infrastructure

Engineering Director - Manufacturing, Technology & Infrastructure

AJM Packaging Corporation

Detroit, MI

Salary: $175,000 - $250,000

Bonus: Performance Based

Position Overview –

AJM Packaging Corporation, one of the nation’s leading paper product manufacturers of a broad range of paper products, is conducting a nationwide search for a talented professional to lead its Corporate Engineering Operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and domiciled at our Technology and Innovation Center located in Detroit, Michigan, this position will be responsible for leading the design, development, fabrication, optimization, and implementation of our manufacturing processes and equipment.

In addition to meeting the “minimum requirements” listed below, the successful candidate will be responsible for driving the implementation and installation of comprehensive automation strategies across all plants, to assist in driving continuous improvement, cost savings, and quality. You will lead the Engineering Organization while incorporating the newest technologies, resolving engineering issues improving overall efficiency.  This role will also be responsible for projects related to the facility modification and/or construction to accommodate and expand our manufacturing footprint and capabilities.

Responsibilities and Duties include –

• Manage a group of highly talented ~ 45-50 Program Managers, Engineers, tradesman, and fabrication personnel.
• Oversee and manage all elements of the design, development, manufacture, process verification, and validation of existing and new company wide production equipment.
• Coordinate and manage the team to consistently meet all company objectives while ensuring production schedules are minimally disrupted.
• Responsible for research, design, development and implementation of new technologies. Defines technical requirements while overseeing the development of critical machinery and components, leading design reviews, sourcing key materials, and managing rigorous testing of manufacturing systems.
• Develop policies and procedures to guide workflow, define quality standards, and ensure compliance with industry and safety regulations.
• Coordinate and evaluate vendors to help drive cost savings while facilitating a reliable and consistent production schedule.
• Plan, design, and supervise the construction and maintenance of building enhancements, expansions and infrastructure projects.
• Analyze the design effectiveness and structural reliability of major projects including assessing and testing materials.
• Perform the necessary data collection and calculations in areas such as environmental, traffic forecasting, soil capacity, groundwater analysis, and structure design.
• Estimate costs including personnel and material needs, prepare proposals, and establish completion dates. Assist in inspecting and rotating out aging infrastructure or overseeing current manufacturing improvement projects.
• Conduct and leverage “value engineering” methodologies to enhance product(s) for manufacturability and quality.
• Conduct research on emerging technologies and recommend technologies that will increase cost effectiveness and systems flexibility. Implement industry best practices and cutting-edge technologies in mechanical/process/automation engineering, ensuring excellence in research, design, analysis/simulation, and manufacturing adoption.
• Drive enhancements to product performance by supporting manufacturing and quality functions. Addresses field, production and warranty issues and update and enhance product designs as required.
• Grow engineering talent through training, role rotations, customer interactions, presentation skills, coaching on analysis and engineering processes and exposure to new technologies. Act as a hands-on mentor to the team, fostering a collaborative work environment that promotes creativity, innovation, and professional growth.
• Manage experienced technical managers that lead and provide operations technical support for new products, equipment, process, and technology development, transfer and launch. Includes the sustained manufacturing and validated state of all products, processes, equipment, and technologies post-transfer. Scope includes technical activities such as: operations requirements and specifications, design for manufacturing, writing specifications and SOP’s, validation strategy and planning, qualifications and validations, process monitoring, and the coordination of new launch builds.
• Serve as operations subject matter expert on machine builds, features and process requirements. Ensures the identification of improvement opportunities and the development of business cases, strategies, plans, timelines, and budgets for execution.