Vice President of Engineering

When you join the Verus Aerospace team, you are more than a number – you are a valued part of our company family. Superior craftsmanship, employee pride and a shared commitment to continuous improvement are the foundation of our success. We have a strong reputation for professionalism and quality in the aerospace industry. Our company is committed to excellence and we recognize that the right people, offering their ideas and expertise, will enable us to continue our success. We seek team members who are passionate, adaptable, driven to achieve quality results, focused on continuous improvement, self-motivated and problem solvers.

Position Summary

The Vice President of Engineering provides strategic leadership and direction for all engineering functions across the organization. This position is responsible for establishing engineering standards, driving technical excellence, and ensuring the successful execution of manufacturing engineering activities including New Product Introduction (NPI), tooling development, configuration management, and continuous process improvement.

The VP of Engineering ensures alignment between engineering, operations, quality, and planning to support efficient production of aerospace structural components. This role leads engineering leadership teams and ensures engineering resources, processes, and technical capabilities support organizational goals, customer requirements, and long-term growth.

The position serves as the senior technical authority within the organization and works closely with executive leadership to support new program development, strategic initiatives, and operational performance improvements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to Engineering Managers and technical teams across all company locations.
• Establish and execute engineering strategies that support operational scalability, production efficiency, product quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop engineering organizational structure, talent pipeline, and succession planning to support future company growth.
• Mentor and develop engineering leadership to strengthen technical capability and organizational effectiveness.
• Establish engineering KPIs and performance management systems aligned with company operational and financial objectives.

Strategic Engineering Roadmap

• Develop and execute a long-term engineering roadmap aligned with company growth strategy, operational scalability, and customer requirements.
• Identify engineering capability gaps and lead initiatives to build future technical competencies across manufacturing technologies.
• Support strategic decisions regarding vertical integration, manufacturing capabilities, and new technology adoption.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align engineering priorities with overall business strategy.

Technical Oversight

• Establish and maintain engineering standards, policies, procedures, and best practices across all engineering functions.
• Ensure consistency in engineering processes including:
• Configuration control
• Engineering Work Orders (EWO)
• Engineering Change Orders (ECO)
• Product data management and documentation control
• Provide oversight for tooling design, manufacturing process development, work instructions, and production readiness.
• Lead engineering solutions for complex manufacturing challenges involving machining, tooling, assembly, inspection, and process optimization.

Machine Utilization and Capacity Management

• Lead enterprise-level machine utilization analysis and manufacturing capacity planning across all production facilities.
• Develop strategies to improve asset productivity, throughput, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Identify and eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks through engineering improvements and process optimization.
• Support capital investment planning by analyzing machine capability, utilization trends, and production capacity requirements.
• Partner with operations leadership to maximize the productivity of existing manufacturing assets.

Manufacturing Operating System (MOS)

• Own and drive continuous improvement of the Verus Manufacturing Operating System (MOS) from an engineering and technical standpoint.
• Standardize engineering processes and manufacturing methods that support MOS implementation across all sites.
• Ensure engineering practices reinforce MOS principles including:
• Standard work
• Lean manufacturing
• Process discipline
• Data-driven decision making
• Partner with operations leadership to embed MOS practices in program launches, engineering processes, and production support.

Digital Manufacturing and Automation

• Lead initiatives to advance digital manufacturing capabilities including process data integration, manufacturing analytics, and automation.
• Support implementation of digital tools that enhance manufacturing visibility, engineering productivity, and operational decision-making.
• Identify opportunities for automation, process monitoring, and smart manufacturing technologies.
• Promote the use of advanced engineering tools to improve process control, productivity, and quality.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Provide executive oversight of New Product Introduction (NPI) activities across all facilities.
• Ensure engineering resources are aligned to support program launches, industrialization, and customer program requirements.
• Lead strategic producibility reviews to ensure new programs are manufacturable, cost-competitive, and operationally scalable.
• Ensure successful transition of new contracts from proposal through production ramp.

Manufacturing Productivity and Cost Reduction

• Champion value engineering, lean manufacturing principles, and engineering-driven productivity improvements.
• Identify and lead Manufacturing Productivity Savings (MPS) initiatives to improve cost structure and operational efficiency.
• Support cycle time reduction, tooling optimization, and process improvements that enhance manufacturing performance.
• Partner with operations to improve throughput, reduce waste, and strengthen profitability across all locations.

Engineering Standardization Across Sites

• Drive engineering standardization across all manufacturing locations to ensure consistent processes, tools, and engineering practices.
• Implement common engineering methodologies, documentation standards, and technical processes across the enterprise.
• Promote knowledge sharing and best practices between engineering teams at different facilities.
• Ensure engineering alignment supports operational scalability and integration across the organization.

Engineering KPI Ownership

Establish and monitor engineering performance metrics including:

• Machine utilization and capacity utilization
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Cycle time improvement
• New Product Introduction lead time
• Manufacturing cost reduction
• Engineering change cycle time
• Production readiness and ramp performance

Use data-driven insights to drive continuous improvement across engineering and manufacturing operations.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary engineering liaison between operations, quality, planning, supply chain, and executive leadership.
• Collaborate with operations leadership to support manufacturing performance objectives including productivity, throughput, and on-time delivery.
• Work closely with supply chain and quality teams to resolve complex technical and production challenges.
• Ensure engineering initiatives support operational and financial objectives.

Customer and Program Support

• Provide executive-level technical engagement with aerospace customers on manufacturing processes, producibility, and technical capabilities.
• Support major program reviews and strategic discussions with key customers.
• Lead resolution of complex engineering issues impacting production or customer programs.

Project and Capital Program Management

• Ensure engineering teams utilize structured project management methodologies.
• Provide executive oversight of complex engineering initiatives including:
• Facility expansions
• Major capital equipment installations
• Manufacturing technology upgrades
• Support capital planning by evaluating technical requirements, manufacturing capability, and long-term operational impact.

Compliance and Safety

• Ensure engineering operations comply with AS9100, regulatory requirements, and aerospace customer specifications.
• Support quality management systems and regulatory compliance activities.
• Promote safe engineering practices and ensure compliance with environmental, health, and hazardous material handling policies.

Position Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field required
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related discipline preferred
• Minimum 15 years of aerospace manufacturing or engineering experience
• Minimum 10 years of progressive engineering leadership experience
• Experience leading manufacturing engineering teams in aerospace production environments

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes including machining, tooling design, assembly, inspection, and GD&T
• Strong understanding of configuration control, engineering change management, and product data management systems
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and production transition activities
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, value engineering, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational management skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally with operations, quality, and executive leadership

Computer Skills

Working knowledge of:

• ERP / MRP systems
• CATIA software
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Equal Employment Opportunity
Verus Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits and termination. A notice describing Federal equal employment law is available here.

Reasonable Accommodations
Verus Aerospace is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please click here to contact us and let us know the nature of your request and contact information. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this e-mail address.

Transparency In Coverage (TIC) information
This is a link that will take you to Anthem’s website for access to Verus’ Machine-Readable Files per the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Transparency in Coverage requirement to provide Machine-Readable Files on the health plan (effective July 1, 2022).
https://www.anthem.com/ca/machine-readable-file/search

ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15).

E-Verify
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. E-Verify Works for Everyone For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS. 888-897-7781 dhs.gov/e-verify

I certify that I have made true, correct, and complete answers and statements on my employment application, any supplements to it and in any interview in the knowledge that they will be relied upon in considering my application for employment. I understand that any false or misleading information or omission may disqualify me from further consideration for employment and may lead to my dismissal from employment or revocation of an offer of employment, if discovered at a later date.

I also understand that if I am hired, I will be required to provide proof of identity and legal authorization to work in the United States and that federal immigration laws require the completion of an I-9 Form in this regard.

This Company does not tolerate unlawful discrimination in its employment practices.  No question on this application is used for the purpose of limiting or excluding an applicant from consideration for employment on the basis of his or her race, color, religion, national origin, genetic information, gender, gender identification, gender expression, marital status or civil partnership/union status, sexual orientation, cancer related condition, medical condition, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), pregnancy disability, or family leave status, pregnancy, breastfeeding needs, reproductive health decision-making, organ or bone marrow donor status, or military or veteran’s status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.  This company likewise does not tolerate harassment based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, genetic information, citizenship, age, disability, or any other protected status.  Harassment of our employees is strictly prohibited, whether it is committed by a manager, coworker, subordinate, or non-employee (such as a vendor or customer).  The Company takes all complaints of harassment seriously and all complaints will be investigated promptly and thoroughly.

I hereby understand and acknowledge that any employment relationship with this Company is of an “at will” nature, which means that my employment may be terminated by me or the company at any time for any reason or no reason, and with or without notice.  It is further understood that this “at will” employment relationship cannot be changed except in writing by an authorized executive of this Company.  If hired, I agree to abide by all of the Company’s rules, policies, and procedures.  I understand that the Company and all plan administrators shall have the maximum discretion permitted by law to administer, interpret, modify, discontinue, enhance, or otherwise change all policies, procedures, rules, benefits, or other terms or conditions of employment.

I understand that in addition to this application, the employment process may, for certain positions, include any or all of the following procedures: testing – aptitude, personality and/or skill, multiple interviews, post-offer thorough background checks and drug screening test.

Immigration Compliance Plan

The Company policies include a commitment to non-discrimination based on race, national origin and immigration status. Pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which protects work authorized individuals from employment discrimination on the basis of citizenship status or national origin, employment decisions will not be made on the basis of a person’s national origin, race or immigration status except to the extent necessary to comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

In those situations, the Company will need to obtain information necessary to comply with the requirements of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This will include collection of documentation to establish one of three categories of citizenship/ immigration status: (1) U.S. Citizenship; (2) Permanent Residency (Green Card) and (3) Asylum or Refugee Status (formally recognized or assigned such status by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

If an applicant or employee does not meet the category applicable to their anticipated work for the Company, the Company cannot hire such applicant. In order to ensure ITAR compliance, all applicants and employees of the Company will have their immigration status checked through a system called “E-Verify.” If the findings on the E-Verify search are not accurate, please contact Human Resources and obtain copies of all documents related to your work status. Employees who are not authorized to work in the United States cannot be employed at the Company.