Head of Manufacturing Engineering

What's the role?

The Head of Engineering - Manufacturing & Sustaining is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the growth and operational excellence of our Chesterfield, MO site. This role will scale production to exceed $100M while managing a site operating budget of over $50M.

You will define and execute the engineering strategy for manufacturing and sustaining operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, productivity, and on-time delivery. The position leads all engineering functions to support new product launches, technology expansion, and long-term competitiveness.

This role requires close collaboration with Operations, R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, and Product Management to ensure the site is fully equipped-organizationally, technically, and financially-for high-volume, sustainable manufacturing.

Location/Region: This is a SR Manager-level role and requires onsite presence in Chesterfield, MO

Here's what you'll do

• Lead the scale-up of manufacturing operations to support a business exceeding $100M in annual production, ensuring capacity, capability, and operational readiness align with growth objectives.
• Own and govern the effective deployment of a site operating budget in excess of $50M, ensuring resources are utilized efficiently, investments are value-driven, and cost performance meets or exceeds business targets.
• Develop and execute the manufacturing and sustaining engineering strategy to improve throughput, yield, and productivity while reducing COGS through Lean principles and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership to manufacturing and sustaining engineering teams, ensuring robust technical support across all production activities.
• Drive disciplined capital and operational expenditure planning, ensuring alignment with long-term growth, production ramp-up, and return-on-investment objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver new product introductions from prototype through volume manufacturing, ensuring cost, quality, and schedule commitments are met or exceeded.
• Own engineering responsibility within the Product Life Cycle (PLC) process for all products manufactured at the site.
• Ensure health, safety, and environmental excellence by embedding compliance and risk management into all engineering and manufacturing activities.
• Review and act on production, quality, financial, and delivery metrics to ensure operational targets are consistently achieved.

Financial & Operational Impact

• Direct accountability for manufacturing performance supporting $100M+ in annual production output.
• Responsible for the efficient and cost-effective management of a site operating budget exceeding $50M, including staffing, capital planning, and operational expenses.
• Significant impact on site profitability, investment effectiveness, and long-term operational sustainability.

Working Relationships

Reports directly to the Head of Site Operations and works in close partnership with:

• Research & Development Engineering
• Supply Chain
• Quality Assurance
• Product Management

Do you qualify?

• University degree in Engineering or Natural Sciences; MBA or equivalent business qualification strongly preferred

Experience & Skills

• Minimum 5 years in senior disciplinary leadership roles; global experience preferred
• 10+ years in product or manufacturing engineering environments
• Proven experience scaling manufacturing operations and managing large operational budgets
• Strong background in mechatronic systems, medical technology, and complex system architecture
• Demonstrated success in Lean manufacturing, design-to-cost, and operational excellence
• Strong financial acumen, strategic thinking, and cross-cultural leadership capability

Work Authorization Requirement

• This position requires unrestricted authorization to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for current or future employment visa sponsorship or visa transfers.
• We have amazing benefits to support you as an employee at ZEISS!

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• 401k Matching
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Vacation and sick pay
• The list goes on!

Additional information

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of requirements, duties, or responsibilities. The Company reserves the right to interpret, amend, or otherwise modify, in whole or in part, any job description at any time, at its sole discretion.