Director of Engineering

MacLean Power Systems – Mankato, formerly known as Dotson Iron Casting, is a leader in the metal casting industry and our success is based upon our True North Operating Principles, which are: Safety, Leadership, Accountability, Excellence, Trust, Teamwork, Communications, and Environment. We have a strong commitment to exceeding our customers’ expectations through our ability to be agile. Your career at MPS – Mankato will involve developing technical skills, mastering technologies, and discovering opportunities for growth.

As a member of our team – you will be driving operational performance through planning, organizing and directing of the production departments assigned. We move the world and you would make that possible by taking ownership of your hard work, working through daily opportunities and living with integrity. 

Your first year, and beyond, on our team:

• Teamwork: You’ll oversee a team of Design and Machining Engineers.  You’ll promote safety in the work environment, ensuring all employees are working safely and following safety rules.  You’ll plan, direct, monitor, coach, motivate, evaluate and facilitate effective team interaction. You’ll work with other MPS locations as well as 3^rd party customers to support the organization. 

• Directly impact our operations: You’ll lead a team responsible for designing the tooling to ensure manufacturability through our environment. 

• Agile Development: Your team will offer and implement improvements for tooling, equipment and other team members. 

Who are we?
We are recognized as a leader in the metal casting industry with more than 140 years of experience. MPS services the utility industry, and locally we serve Agriculture, Heavy Truck, Pump, Lawn care, Oil &Gas, Rail and other industries. We are located in Mankato, MN where this position would be located.  We have a strong commitment to exceed our customer's expectations through our ability to be AGILE! 

To join our team, you will need

• Ability to problem solve, troubleshoot and negotiate: investigate and resolved internal reasons for scrap   

• Ability to evaluate through high level complex analysis operational performance, human resources and effectiveness of departmental operations through proper data collection and analysis. 

• Experience: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent knowledge and experience, 5+ years of strong leadership experience, 7+ years of experience in foundry processes, casting defects and tooling design

• Communicate and Interact Effectively: The ability to use Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook to effectively communicate with internal teams and vendors.    Demonstrate core values and initiatives through work performance and communication.
• Conditions of Employment: Must successfully pass a pre-employment assessment, drug-screen, and background check.  Must comply with organizational and departmental policies including but not limited to a smoke and tobacco free property.

Responsibilities:

• Actively participates in the decision-making process, goal setting, initiatives, and strategic planning of the leadership team.
• Demonstrates by personal example MPS values in work performance that are expected from everyone.
• Oversees scrap reduction efforts by monitoring internal / external scrap.
• Responsible for New Product Development, including: monitoring and documenting processes, quoting verification relating to process capabilities, new tooling design, procurement information to outside pattern shops, gating / rising design, and sample and pre-production approvals.
• Responsible for safety issues related to tooling, rigging and gating removal.
• Provides technical support to production supervisors.
• Prioritizes and oversees cost reduction projects.
• Oversees the handling of customer complaints and provides direction on reimbursement to customers for failed product.
• Provides technical support to sales and customers on development of new product.
• Provides training for shop floor employees on scrap identification and acceptance criteria.
• Responsible for FEMA and Control Plan and serves as an Internal Auditor.
• Budgetary responsibility for department.
• Actively promotes the connections of the MPS engineering group with customer engineering groups.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and makes constructive suggestions for change while managing the process of innovative change effectively and remaining on the forefront of emerging industry practices.
• Supports the President in creating and maintaining the engineering and quality roadmap and strategic vision.
• Works with others in management to understand project and business priorities and schedules work with Engineering and Quality team based on those priorities.
• Creates and executes project delivery plans and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
• Facilitates effective team interaction by acknowledging and appreciating each team member's contributions; effectively utilizing each team member to his/her fullest potential.
• Easily recognizes work product deficiencies and implements effective solutions.
• Responsible for effective communication to include: Facilitating team meetings; keeping team well informed of changes within the organization and general news; delivering engaging, informative, well organized presentations; resolving and/or escalating issues in a timely fashion and understanding how to communicate difficult/sensitive information tactfully.
• Actively promotes and ensures a safe working environment, ensuring all employees are working safely and following safety rules.
• Oversees direct reports by promoting engagement, working productively and meeting goals of the department.
• Plans, directs, monitors, coaches, motivates, and evaluates employees.  Participates in the hiring, discipline, and performance management of employees.
• Provides the leadership and training for direct employees.
• Attends various meetings and/or participates on committees as needed or assigned.
• Offers suggestions for improvements of operations or processes.
• Performs physical and cognitive demands promoting safety in the work environment required for this position.
• Attends work during regularly scheduled hours and outside regular hours as necessary.
• Communicates and interacts effectively and efficiently with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and customers.

We are AGILE:

• Advancing in our Careers: cross training, tuition reimbursement options and career path options.

• Giving Back in our Communities: Volunteer opportunities in the community, support for programs YOU support.
• Investing in our Financial Future: Compensation that is competitive with appropriate qualifications, 401K company matching contributions and team members may elect pre or post tax 401(k) investing strategies. 

• Living Well in our Bodies & Minds: Health insurance options, dental, short term disability and life insurance
• Experiencing in our Lives Together: Opportunities to connect and have fun with one another, nine paid holidays/year, floating holidays and Paid Time Off!

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