Vice President Of Innovation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Category: People Leader

Requisition Number: VICEP002157

• Posted : April 23, 2026
• Full-Time

• Dickinson ND
  3050 Highway 22 N
  Dickinson, ND 58601, USA
• Grand Forks West ND
  1726 U.S. 2
  Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA
• Grand Forks East ND
  6400 Gateway Drive
  Grand Forks, ND 58203, USA

How to Apply This search is being conducted in partnership with an external recruiter. To be considered, please submit your resume directly to David Magy at david@abelnmagy.com

Position Summary: The Vice President of Engineering provides enterprise leadership for Product Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering across Steffes’ core business platforms, including Electric Thermal Storage (ETS), Oil & Gas Equipment, and Contract Manufacturing. This role is responsible for integrating product innovation with manufacturing scalability, ensuring the development of differentiated technologies supported by efficient, reliable, and cost-effective production systems. The VP of Engineering establishes the multi-year engineering strategy, technology/automation roadmap, and operating model that aligns engineering innovation with business growth, while building a high-performing, cross-functional engineering organization.

Steffes Core Values:

• Trust: We promote growth and long-term success by making wise decisions with trust as an essential component.
• Respect: We unleash creative talents of our diverse workforce by treating each other the way we would like to be treated.
• Teamwork: We believe people achieve much more by working together.
• Integrity: We follow through and keep our word while being open, honest, ethical, and fair.
• Safety: We view our co‑workers as family members of our business and strive to ensure safety for all.
• Humility: We recognize and appreciate strengths and contributions beyond oneself. We are modest, genuine, and authentic.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and lead the enterprise engineering strategy aligned with Steffes’ long-term corporate objectives
• Establish and execute a multi-year engineering technology roadmap and investment priorities
• Develop and implement engineering standards, governance, and scalable operating processes
• Ensure alignment between product innovation, engineering execution, and operational capabilities
• Lead New Product Development (NPD) across all business units
• Establish product architecture standards and scalable product platforms
• Implement Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Cost principles
• Oversee full product lifecycle management (PLM) and engineering execution
• Ensure product performance, reliability, and engineering rigor
• Lead manufacturing engineering strategy to support scalable and efficient production
• Drive development of advanced manufacturing processes, tooling, and automation
• Optimize production flow, industrial engineering, and throughput across facilities
• Support the Focus Factory operating model
• Partner closely with the Chief Manufacturing Officer on capacity planning and production strategy
• Support SIOP, production planning, and facility expansion initiatives
• Drive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement efforts
• Ensure seamless transition of products from development into production
• Lead technology innovation strategy and identify emerging technologies and market opportunities
• Develop proprietary product platforms and expand intellectual property portfolio
• Advance innovation across energy systems, automation, and industrial technologies
• Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization across multiple disciplines
• Recruit, develop, and retain engineering leadership and technical talent
• Establish career development frameworks and capability-building programs
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and execution
• Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating collaboratively with customers, suppliers, co‑workers, and management
• Helps company meet its Strategic, Quality and Safety objectives
• Other duties may be assigned

Decision-Making Authority: The Vice President of Engineering owns the enterprise engineering strategy, including the development and execution of the technology roadmap and prioritization of engineering investments. This role is responsible for making key decisions related to product architecture, engineering standards, and development priorities to ensure alignment with business objectives.

The position leads organizational design and talent decisions within the engineering function, ensuring the structure and capability of the team supports long‑term growth. In addition, the VP of Engineering partners cross‑functionally on capital investment decisions, capacity planning, and overall operational strategy.

This role also provides recommendations and influences executive-level decisions that impact company growth, innovation, and the development of scalable product platforms.

Measures of Success: Success in this role is defined by effective leadership and execution across product development, manufacturing performance, innovation, and engineering organizational effectiveness. This includes driving improvements in new product development cycle times, product launch success, and adherence to engineering milestones. Success is also measured by enhanced manufacturing performance, including cost efficiency, production yield, throughput, and labor productivity. The role is accountable for advancing innovation through the development of proprietary technologies, expansion of the intellectual property portfolio, and contribution of new products to revenue. Additionally, success is reflected in the strength and performance of the engineering organization, including productivity, program execution, talent development and retention, and cross‑functional alignment in support of business objectives.

Core Expectations:

• Customer Service - Demonstrate excellent customer service and display a positive attitude and behavior consistent with the Steffes Code of Conduct and Core Values.
• Environmental, Health, Safety (EHS) – Perform work in compliance with EHS training and identified procedures/standard work. Report any EHS incident or concern to your supervisor immediately. Cooperate and contribute to the overall success of the EHS program.
• Quality – Participate in job-specific training. Complete work as indicated by standard work, processes, and/or procedures. If your work can’t be completed as required, notify your supervisor immediately for guidance.
• Conduct - Demonstrate and support the Steffes Code of Conduct.
• Policies and Procedures - Demonstrate and support Steffes Policies and Procedures by:
  • Using tact, sound judgement, and maintaining a professional attitude in communication and relationships with others.
  • Striving to deliver the best quality in daily work.
  • Promoting a positive image of Steffes and its products.

Job Requirements/Qualifications:

• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required
  • Advanced degree preferred
• Experience
  • 15+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience
  • Experience leading both product and manufacturing engineering teams
  • Background in industrial manufacturing, energy systems, or OEM platforms
  • Proven cross‑functional leadership with operations integration
• Skills & Capabilities
  • Strong systems thinking across product, process, and operations
  • Deep technical and engineering rigor
  • Operational and manufacturing focus
  • Strategic thinking with execution capability
  • Strong leadership and collaboration skills
• Travel standard - <10%

OR An acceptable combination of education and experience.

Functional & Cognitive Requirements of Position:

• This position requires walking, sitting or standing to a significant degree.
• Must have the ability to lift 70 pounds from floor to waist, carry 50 pounds, and push and/or pull up to 100 pounds.
• Must have the ability to climb ladders and/or stairs.
• Stooping, crouching, kneeling and bending.
• Handling, feeling, and gripping would be required for some activities.
• Visual acuity is required to inspect work completed.
• This role may be subject to internal and external environmental conditions.
• Learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in the context of a workflow, ability to communicate with visitors, ability to complete tasks in situations that have a speed or productivity quota.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.