Vp Engineering Automation Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Location

Brownsburg-Whitestown-Lafayette, IN

Reports to

President of Northern Operations

Compensation

190K+, Stock Equity, Unlimited PTO

Company Stage

Rapidly growing, high-volume manufacturer

Company Summary

Climate technology company focused on advancing building materials. Our mission is to reclaim abundant global waste streams to create sustainable, high performing building materials. Driven to create products that are both sustainable by design and higher performing than existing products on the market. Our flagship product reclaims corrugated cardboard to manufacture panels that are used in the furniture and construction industries.

Job Summary

The Vice President of Engineering is a key executive leader responsible for developing and executing the engineering strategy for a rapidly growing advanced manufacturing company. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across Mechanical, Controls, Process, Quality, Automation, and Capital Projects while building a high-performing engineering organization to support continued growth and operational excellence.

This executive will have full engineering responsibility for three manufacturing facilities located in Lafayette, Brownsburg, and Whitestown, Indiana, overseeing engineering operations, capital projects, automation initiatives, process optimization, and continuous improvement across each site.

The current manufacturing footprint includes:

Lafayette: A 10,000-square-foot Research & Development and Advanced Testing Center focused on innovation, product development, and process validation.

Brownsburg: A 100,000-square-foot production facility currently operating at approximately 50% of its planned capacity, presenting significant opportunities to optimize operations and add new value‑added production lines.

Whitestown: A 400,000-square-foot flagship manufacturing facility with its first production line commissioned and a strategic roadmap to construct at least three additional production lines and multiple sub‑lines over the next 12 months, making it the centerpiece of the company's expansion strategy.

Working closely with executive leadership and cross‑functional teams, the Vice President of Engineering will establish the long‑term engineering vision, standardize engineering practices across all facilities, lead major capital expansion projects, and develop the engineering organization required to support rapid growth. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a scaling manufacturing business while leading one of the region's most ambitious multi‑site engineering operations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's engineering strategy to support manufacturing growth, operational excellence, and long‑term business objectives across multiple facilities.
• Provide executive leadership for the Mechanical, Controls, Process, and Quality Engineering organizations, building a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead, mentor, and develop engineering leaders while building the organizational structure and talent pipeline required to support rapid expansion.
• Establish engineering priorities, performance metrics, and operating standards to ensure alignment with corporate objectives and drive measurable business results.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and successful delivery of major capital projects, facility expansions, equipment installations, and new production line commissioning.
• Develop and manage the engineering capital budget, ensuring effective resource allocation and return on investment for strategic initiatives. Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Product Development, Commercial, and Executive Leadership to optimize manufacturing capabilities, accelerate new product commercialization, and support business growth.
• Champion automation, digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0 technologies, and advanced process controls to improve productivity, reliability, and operational performance.
• Drive manufacturing excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, reliability engineering, and data‑driven continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, throughput, and cost performance.
• Establish engineering governance, technical standards, and best practices across all facilities to ensure consistency, scalability, and operational excellence.
• Lead the implementation and optimization of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and manufacturing data systems to improve operational visibility and decision‑making.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements while fostering a culture of operational discipline and continuous risk mitigation.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with equipment manufacturers, engineering partners, contractors, and technology vendors to support capital expansion and manufacturing innovation.
• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing strategic guidance on engineering investments, manufacturing expansion, organizational growth, and long‑term business planning.
• Perform other duties and strategic initiatives as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or a related Engineering discipline; Master's degree or MBA preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive engineering experience within a manufacturing environment, including at least 10 years in engineering leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading multi‑site engineering organizations within advanced manufacturing, industrial processing, building materials, automotive, consumer products, or other capital‑intensive industries.
• Proven experience developing and executing engineering strategies that support rapid organizational growth, operational excellence, and manufacturing expansion.
• Executive‑level experience leading large capital investment projects, facility expansions, new plant startups, and production line design, installation, and commissioning.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proven executive leadership experience building, developing, and leading high‑performing multidisciplinary engineering organizations across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Strong strategic planning and business acumen with the ability to align engineering initiatives with corporate objectives and long‑term growth strategies.
• Demonstrated success leading large‑scale capital projects, equipment installations, manufacturing expansions, and organizational transformation initiatives.
• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing engineering, process optimization, automation, controls systems, quality systems, reliability engineering, and operational excellence principles.
• Experience driving digital manufacturing initiatives, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Industry 4.0 technologies, manufacturing analytics, and connected factory solutions.
• Proven ability to develop engineering budgets, prioritize capital investments, and manage engineering resources to maximize operational and financial performance.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and other continuous improvement methodologies with a demonstrated record of delivering measurable business results.
• Experience leading engineering organizations through rapid growth, organizational change, and facility expansion while establishing scalable engineering standards and processes.
• Exceptional executive communication, organizational, and relationship‑building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization, including executive leadership, customers, suppliers, and external partners.
• Strong knowledge of industrial automation, robotics, PLC‑based control systems, industrial networking, SCADA systems, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Demonstrated commitment to building a culture centered on safety, operational excellence, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to analyze complex operational and financial data to develop strategic recommendations and drive informed business decisions.
• Proven ability to recruit, mentor, and develop engineering leaders while creating succession plans and organizational capability to support long‑term growth.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Ability to effectively lead engineering operations across multiple manufacturing facilities, requiring regular travel between sites.
• Regular presence within manufacturing environments to support operations, capital projects, equipment commissioning, and engineering initiatives, including exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, and industrial equipment.
• Ability to remain stationary for extended periods while working at a computer and participating in meetings.
• Ability to occasionally walk production floors, climb stairs or platforms, inspect equipment, and safely navigate active manufacturing environments.
• Must be able to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and comply with all facility safety requirements.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move items weighing up to 25 pounds.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or a related Engineering discipline; Master's degree or MBA p