Director of Design Engineering - Ellaway Blues Consulting : Job Details

One of my clients are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Director of Design Engineering for one of our clients based in Kansas City. This is a senior leadership role within a high-tech engineering and manufacturing environment, with responsibility for managing CAD teams, configuration control, and design documentation for complex rotating equipment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in driving accuracy, efficiency, and continuous improvement across design definition and configuration management, while also providing leadership and technical oversight to a team of design professionals. This position reports directly to executive leadership and will have a broad impact across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage CAD design and drafting activities, ensuring all models, drawings, and documentation meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee and maintain bills of material (BOM) and design definitions for turbine parts, ensuring alignment with engineering specifications and manufacturing requirements.
• Serve as a key member of the Configuration Control Board (CCB), providing expertise in CAD and configuration management.
• Manage Engineering Change Requests and Notices (ECRNs), ensuring accurate implementation and cross-functional coordination.
• Foster collaboration between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and quality teams.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity across drafting and design functions.

To be successful in this role you will need:

• Proven experience in configuration management and CAD leadership within a manufacturing or engineering setting.
• Strong working knowledge of Creo, SolidWorks, PDM, and related design tools.
• Experience managing BOMs, ECRNs, and configuration documentation for complex equipment.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of design and drafting leadership within a fast-paced and innovative organization who are fully funded with a multi-year waiting list for its products. This position carries an excellent compensation package alongside short and long term incentive plans. If you're a proven leader who thrives at the intersection of engineering and operations, I'd welcome the opportunity to speak to you.