Vice President of Design Engineering

About IEM

Industrial Electric Mfg. (IEM) is the largest independent full-line manufacturer of custom power distribution systems in North America. Founded more than 75 years ago in Fremont, California, IEM grew alongside Silicon Valley and today operates over 1.7 million square feet of manufacturing capacity. With $1B+ in annual sales and 10,000+ commissioned projects across technology, data centers, commercial, energy, utilities, healthcare, industrial, and infrastructure markets, IEM continues to deliver exceptional product quality, dependable service, and the flexibility to meet complex technical requirements at scale.

Position Summary

The Vice President of Design Engineering will lead IEM’s Design-to-Order engineering organization, overseeing a growing team of electrical and mechanical engineers responsible for delivering customized switchgear solutions to exacting customer specifications. This executive role requires a strategic engineering leader with an operational mindset who can balance technical excellence and on-time delivery, while driving continuous improvement.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for the Design Engineering organization

• Oversee the execution of hundreds of concurrent customer projects

• Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators related to on-time delivery and defect-free designs

• Transform engineering workflows from a custom one-off low-to-mid fidelity design to standardized, repeatable, high-fidelity customer solutions built on Configure-to-Order building blocks

• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Field Service to ensure designs are manufacturable, serviceable, scalable, and cost-effective

• Provide technical direction and oversight across multiple engineering disciplines

• Provide innovative client-centric solutions within the IEM product portfolio to meet specific customer applications

• Ensure designs comply with relevant industry standards, including IEEE/ANSI, UL, CSA, NEC, and IEC requirements

• Foster a best-in-class work environment to attract and maintain top talent in the organization

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive engineering leadership experience in a Power Product Manufacturing Environment

• Proven track record leading large engineering organizations (100+ engineers) in design-to-order or engineer-to-order environments

• Deep understanding of electrical switchgear design, power distribution systems, and applicable industry standards

• Proven track record in modernizing engineering design methods/tools, and transforming an organization in a growth environment

• Demonstrated success in driving operational improvements, reducing design cycle times, and implementing engineering systems and tools. Experience with PLM, CAD, and engineering data management systems

 

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $250,000 – $305,000 per year, based on location, experience, and qualifications.

Why Join IEM

At IEM, you’ll join a team that powers some of the world’s most ambitious projects. We’re engineers, makers, and problem-solvers who thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions that keep industries moving forward. If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Your creativity and passion can help us achieve great things—come be part of the journey.

Learn more about IEM at https://www.iemfg.com

We offer comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and long-term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at https://www.iemfg.com/careers

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IEM does not discriminate against any applicant based on any characteristic protected by law.

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