Director of Engineering
Grand Forks, ND, USA
Posted on Jun 22, 2026
Ideal Aerosmith is a leading supplier of precision inertial guidance test systems, flight motion simulators, and a premier provider of aerospace test engineering services, ATE system engineering, and quality contract manufacturing services to the aerospace industry. We're experts and we earn that title everyday with our customers through innovative engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment of world-class motion and electric test solutions and services.
Here, we don’t just solve complex problems - we redefine what’s possible. Every role at Ideal Aerosmith supports a lean culture through continuous improvement - ongoing, incremental enhancements to products, processes, or services aimed at reducing waste and boosting efficiency, customer service, and performance. With a team of skilled problem solvers and a culture that thrives on tackling challenges head-on, we are dedicated to our clients' success. Enjoy competitive benefits, a supportive work environment, and every other Friday off to recharge.
The Director of Engineering provides hands-on technical and operational leadership for an engineering team. This role is responsible for strengthening engineering execution, improving processes, driving accountability, and ensuring engineering solutions are practical, manufacturable, and delivered with quality and urgency.
This leader will be expected to actively engage in the work, not only providing direction, but also helping the team solve complex technical and process challenges. The Director of Engineering will bring strong systems-level thinking, sound judgment, and the ability to challenge the status quo in a constructive and solutions-oriented way. This role requires a leader with the backbone to address gaps, make difficult decisions, and drive meaningful improvement while building strong partnerships across Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, Sales, and senior leadership.
A key focus of this position is improving how Engineering supports the full solution life cycle, from understanding customer requirements and developing innovative solutions, through design, production readiness, delivery, and long-term product performance and reliability. The Director of Engineering must be a strong partner to Manufacturing and Production, ensuring designs are executable, issues are resolved quickly, and cross-functional handoffs are clear and effective.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide hands-on leadership, coaching, and direction to a multidisciplinary engineering team.
- Lead engineering activities for assigned projects, establish priorities, and ensure on-time delivery of engineering commitments.
- Drive accountability, urgency, and follow-through across engineering deliverables, technical decisions, and project execution.
- Partner closely with Manufacturing, Sales, and other cross-functional teams to ensure engineering solutions are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with customer and business needs.
- Identify and improve engineering processes, workflows, handoffs, and decision-making practices to increase quality, speed, and effectiveness.
- Constructively challenge existing practices and lead change where processes, tools, or behaviors are limiting performance.
- Spearhead complex technical challenges to resolution with appropriate rigor, urgency, and cross-functional involvement.
- Lead the development and implementation of an AI-assisted engineering workflow strategy, identifying high-impact use cases across documentation, specification interpretation, and design processes, and driving adoption with the team.
- Apply systems-level thinking to ensure solutions consider mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, cost, quality, schedule, and customer impacts.
- Ensure engineering capacity, capability, and skill sets are aligned with current and upcoming projects, products, and markets.
- Implement and monitor engineering performance measures related to quality, timeliness, cost effectiveness, rework, and project execution.
- Support employee development for direct reports and engineering team members, including coaching, performance feedback, and skill development.
- Work closely with Sales on creative solutions, proposals, estimates, and technical feasibility.
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 requirements and applicable engineering documentation standards.
- Initiate, lead, and implement continuous improvement activities to improve quality, profitability, execution, and customer satisfaction.
Qualification Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field required.
- Advanced degree, such as MS, MBA, or PhD, preferred but not required.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive engineering experience, including engineering leadership experience in a manufacturing or complex systems environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading teams through technical execution, process improvement, and cross-functional problem solving.
- Experience with systems-level design, engineering-to-manufacturing handoffs, production support, and customer-driven technical solutions.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally and obtain a passport.
- Due to federal contract requirements applicable to this position, candidates must be U.S. citizens.
Skills Requirements
- Strong hands-on engineering leadership with the ability to engage directly in technical and operational problem solving.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong analytical problem solver with a systems-level perspective.
- Ability to lead with urgency, accountability, and sound judgment.
- Demonstrated ability to challenge the status quo constructively and drive practical, sustainable process improvements.
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to build trust while holding teams accountable.
- Strong project management capability with a track record of delivering projects on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work for extended periods at a computer workstation/keyboard.
- Ability to type accurately and efficiently.
- The role may require regular movement throughout manufacturing and office environments, including walking, standing, and occasional bending, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ideal Aerosmith is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our goal is to create a work environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion, where all employees feel respected and valued. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and strive to provide equal employment opportunities to everyone.
