Director of Engineering & Technology in Manlius, New York at Airport Lighting Co of NY INC

Director of Engineering and Technology

Department: Engineering
Reports To: President
Location: Manlius, NY
Position Type: Full-time, Exempt
Salary: $135,000–$165,000

Job Summary

The Director of Engineering and Technology provides strategic, tactical, and technical leadership to a cross-functional engineering team supporting mechanical, design, manufacturing, and application engineering functions.

Working within a highly regulated, FAA-certified manufacturing environment, this position is responsible for ensuring that new product development, continuous improvement initiatives, sustaining engineering, and custom customer applications are executed safely, efficiently, on schedule, within budget, and in full compliance with applicable aviation regulatory and certification requirements.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who can bridge complex engineering concepts, rigorous quality and regulatory requirements, and efficient shop-floor execution. This individual will balance long-term engineering strategy with a resourceful, "hands-on" approach to problem solving, automation, lean manufacturing, and process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Engineering Leadership & Execution

• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, develop, and allocate resources across a 4–8 person engineering team supporting mechanical, design, manufacturing, and application engineering disciplines.
• Product Development & R&D: Direct the development, improvement, and optimization of LED airfield lighting products and intelligent Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring Systems (ALCMS).
• Engineering Standards: Establish and maintain consistent engineering standards, drawing control, configuration management, change control, and technical documentation practices.
• Project Management: Establish priorities, timelines, resources, and performance expectations to ensure engineering projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Performance & Development: Establish meaningful KPIs, conduct performance evaluations, identify development opportunities, and foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Technology Strategy: Evaluate and implement engineering technologies, tools, and processes that improve product quality, efficiency, scalability, and overall business performance.

2. FAA Regulatory Compliance & Design Control

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure engineering activities and product designs comply with applicable FAA production requirements, Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) requirements, FAA Advisory Circulars, including the AC 150/5345 series, ICAO Annex 14, Transport Canada requirements, and other applicable standards.
• Certification Management: Manage and support relationships with third-party certification and testing organizations, including ETL, Intertek, Elite, and other applicable agencies.
• Design for Compliance: Guide engineering teams through concept development, prototyping, testing, validation, and production release while ensuring products meet applicable performance, environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Environmental & Product Testing: Ensure designs are appropriately evaluated for environmental and operational conditions, including thermal, vibration, ingress protection, electrical, and other applicable testing requirements.
• Audit Readiness: Partner closely with Quality to support third-party audits, conformity assessments, certification activities, and maintenance of engineering records, design history files, and supporting documentation.
• Change Control: Ensure engineering changes are properly evaluated, documented, approved, and implemented in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements.

3. Manufacturing Integration & Shop-Floor Support

• Design for Manufacturability: Partner with Manufacturing and Production to ensure new designs can be efficiently and consistently manufactured, minimizing assembly challenges, rework, scrap, and production bottlenecks.
• Production Support: Provide timely engineering support for production issues, technical questions, process challenges, and product discrepancies.
• Automation & Technology: Identify opportunities to automate processes, improve testing capabilities, develop automated test fixtures, program PLCs and machinery where appropriate, and implement technology that improves production efficiency.
• Lean Manufacturing: Partner with Manufacturing to identify and implement lean manufacturing, process improvement, and waste-reduction initiatives.
• Root Cause Analysis: Lead or support engineering investigations related to production discrepancies, product failures, and field issues using structured problem-solving methodologies such as 8D, FMEA, and 5-Why analysis.
• Corrective Actions: Develop and implement effective engineering solutions and permanent corrective actions to prevent recurring issues.

4. Applications & Customer Engineering

• Technical Sales Support: Oversee application engineering activities, including the review of customer specifications, technical requirements, and project feasibility.
• Customer Solutions: Translate customer requirements into practical engineering solutions, product configurations, and design proposals.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Sales, Quality, Production, and other departments to ensure customer requirements are clearly understood and successfully executed.
• Sustaining Engineering: Manage engineering modifications and improvements to existing product lines in response to component obsolescence, supply chain changes, manufacturing requirements, product performance, and evolving regulatory standards.
• Technical Problem Solving: Provide technical leadership for complex customer or product issues and ensure timely resolution.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• Equivalent combination of education, technical training, and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on engineering experience in a highly regulated manufacturing environment, preferably Aerospace/Defense, Medical Device, Automotive, or another similarly regulated industry.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory, management, or technical team leadership experience.
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering projects from concept through production is strongly preferred.
• Experience with product certification, testing, or regulatory compliance is highly preferred.

Regulatory & Quality Knowledge

• Strong understanding of FAA requirements and aviation-related standards is preferred.
• Familiarity with ISO quality management systems and regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting regulatory, certification, or third-party audits.
• Understanding of configuration management, engineering change control, and design documentation requirements.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with 3D CAD modeling software such as SolidWorks, Autodesk, or similar.
• Strong understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Experience with PLM and ERP systems preferred.
• Experience with automation, PLC programming, electrical controls, or automated testing is strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex technical issues and develop practical solutions.

Leadership & Communication

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary technical team.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical information for executive leadership, production employees, customers, and other non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to establish priorities, manage competing demands, and make sound technical and business decisions.
• Collaborative, hands-on leadership style with a strong focus on accountability, continuous improvement, and practical execution.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and respond to changing business and customer needs.

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge of applicable engineering standards, regulatory requirements, technologies, and industry best practices.
• Participate in strategic planning and long-term product and technology development.
• Collaborate with company leadership to identify opportunities for new products, technologies, process improvements, and operational efficiencies.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain confidentiality of company, customer, and proprietary technical information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.