My client, a successful electronic communications product company headquartered in the Midwest with a global focus on a specific and expanding niche, is looking for senior engineering management expertise to assist in improving their process, growth, and competitive market advantage.  This is an executive position with competetive salary, bonus and benefits.  Electronics and communication focus is essential, as is the ability to become well versed enough in specific technology (design for manufacturability, large and small signal RF design concepts, high power (200kW & below) AC and RF technologies, digital exciter and advanced modulation methods) so as to impact new product focus and development.

Vice President, Engineering & Technical Services

Position Purpose
Provide leadership and guidance in the innovative design of new products through technology breakthroughs to provide the company with a technological leadership position. Ensure our customers receive world class engineering support, technical customer service, and documentation that exceed our customer’s expectations.
Establish department staffing and training requirements to ensure the organization has the talent and capabilities to achieve technological leadership position in targeted markets as well as technical customer service excellence.
Manage the research, product design, design verification testing, and product release of all company RF products. Incorporate principles of design for manufacturing. Create and achieve annual departmental budgets. Develop departmental goals and objectives based upon company strategic initiatives. Actively contribute to and participate in strategic planning activities with senior staff. Represent the company in national and international standards organizations to be a voice in protecting our interests and those of our customers. Provide the technical face of Company to our customer base and become technical voice in industry through industry training and technical presentation.

Key Responsibilities
Ensure company obtains and maintains a technology leadership position with intellectual property protections that facilitate a competitive market and pricing advantage.
Stay abreast of emerging technologies within and outside the industry and ensure we do not lose our competitive advantages. Implementation of strategic plan initiatives through departmental goals and objectives that reflect overall company initiatives.
Perform semi-annual performance evaluations of all employees within department.
Provide mentoring, coaching, and feedback to department employees with emphasis on high potential and successor candidates.
Ensure products conform to customer requirements, homologation requirements and all industry standards. Cooperatively work with Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Technical Services to design products that will improve manufacturability, reduce costs and improve quality.
Develop products on time and on budget supporting the needs of Product Management and Sales.
Support Sales, Product Management and Technical Service on technical applications and issues.

Relationships
Position reports to company President
Direct reports include: Manager of Technical Customer Service, All design engineers, engineering technicians, and PCB designers.
Internal relationships exist with all functional department heads and staff.
External relationships exist with customers, suppliers/vendors, domestic and international standards organizations, patent attorneys and patent offices.

Performance Measures
On-time, on budget introduction of new product designs.
Implementation of design for manufacturability.
Release process and design verification that yields no scrap or rework due to design related issues.
Products designed in accordance to all applicable industry standards, homologation requirements and free of patent infringements.
Adherence and performance to department and company budgets.
Team work.
Complete performance goals, objectives, and reviews within 15 days of anniversary.
Mentoring and coaching performance of department associates.

Education, Experience and Skills
Minimum Master’s Degree (MA or MS) in engineering or experience equivalent.
Minimum 10 years management experience directing engineering and technical staff.
15+ years of electronics design experience.
Proven track record of on time and on cost product development and management.
Working knowledge of design for manufacturability, large and small signal RF design concepts, high power (200kW & below) AC and RF technologies, digital exciter and advanced modulation methods.

Personal Trait Profile
Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and generate enthusiasm within an organization.
Must have good communication skills and the ability to work with other organizations facilitating team work.
Independent and visionary thinking with the ability to convey and sell ideas to senior level management.
Ability to present to large group of technical persons and be comfortable in a public speaking forum.

Scope and Impact of Position
The Vice President, Engineering will greatly impact the company’s reputation for reliable products and services within our served markets. This individual is the technical face of Company to industry. This individual’s expertise, experience, innovation and passionate leadership for success will determine our ability to grow our position in a competitive, global marketplace.

This position shares a large responsibility in delivering the companies’ safety, quality, delivery, cost and growth objectives with other senior management teammates.