Vice President of Engineering

Shape the Future of Engineering Excellence Global Finishing Solutions (GFS) is seeking an accomplished Vice President of Engineering to lead one of the industry's most respected engineering organizations. The Vice President of Engineering serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and is responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the company's engineering organization. This executive will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams while partnering closely with Operations, Sales, Product Management, Supply Chain, and executive leadership to ensure engineering capabilities support both short- and long-term business objectives. Success in this role requires balancing strategic leadership with operational execution while creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. This is a rare opportunity to influence enterprise strategy, drive innovation, develop exceptional engineering talent, and shape the products and technologies that define our future. What Success Looks Like As Vice President of Engineering, you will: - Develop and execute the engineering strategy aligned with the company's long-term business objectives. - Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering leaders and technical teams. - Drive innovation across mechanical, structural, electrical, controls, and automation engineering. - Partner with Product Management to develop differentiated products that create value for customers. - Improve engineering efficiency through standardization, modularity, design automation, and best practices. - Champion continuous improvement initiatives that improve quality, productivity, scalability, and execution. - Build strong cross-functional partnerships with Sales, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, and Product Management. - Oversee engineering resource planning, annual business planning, budgets, and strategic initiatives. - Evaluate and implement emerging technologies that improve product performance, reliability, and customer experience. - Foster an engineering culture focused on innovation, accountability, collaboration, and professional development. Qualifications That Shine - Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; MBA preferred. - 15+ years of progressive engineering experience with at least 12 years leading engineering organizations. - Demonstrated success developing engineering strategies that achieve measurable business results. - Executive leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial equipment, automation, engineered products, or comparable engineered-to-order environments. - Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering organizations across mechanical, structural, electrical, and controls engineering. - Experience driving engineering transformation, product standardization, modular design, and continuous improvement initiatives. - Strong understanding of industrial controls, automation technologies, PLCs, HMI/SCADA platforms, and modern engineering practices. - Experience building, mentoring, and developing high-performing technical leaders. - Exceptional communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence across all levels of an organization. Why You’ll Love Working Here - You’ll Be Empowered – You’ll have autonomy in your role, supported by a team that trusts your judgment - You’ll Grow With Us – We invest in your training, development, and long-term career path - You’ll Be Rewarded – Competitive pay, performance incentives, 401(k) with profit sharing, and great benefits - You’ll Make a Real Impact – Your work supports businesses across North America and shapes the future of finishing technology - You’ll Join a Great Team – We’re growing fast, we value collaboration, and are committed to your success Transparent Rewards At GFS, we recognize the dedication behind every role and ensure that our compensation reflects both your impact and our shared success. Pay Range : $202,000 – $255,000 per year, as applicable, based on your experience, skills, and qualifications. Bonus Eligibility: This position is eligible for an annual individual incentive based on company performance. Maximum bonus amounts may vary depending on role. Benefits: Eligible for standard company benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, paid time off, and other employee programs. More detailed information is available at 2026 GFS Benefits . Actual compensation will be determined by factors including experience, education, certifications, skill level, and market conditions. For remote or hybrid positions, the listed pay range applies to applicants in the specified location . About GFS Global Finishing Solutions is the leading manufacturer of paint booths and finishing systems serving automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, marine, military, rail, trucking, and wood finishing markets. We specialize in building custom solutions that meet each customer’s unique needs, and we do it with a team that thrives on collaboration and innovation because we're different. What makes us different is our unwavering commitment to our core values of family, respect, partnership, improvement, and integrity. We are a family-oriented organization that still values the little things, creating a workplace where you can thrive, fairness guides every decision, and collaboration drives shared success. Small town in spirit but big-hearted in impact, here you’re not just joining a company, you’re joining a team that grows together, celebrates together, and builds lasting value together. That’s the difference. Join us. Apply now at www.gfscareers.us 🌐 About GFS 📹 Watch Us in Action 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn GFS is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Veterans, women, and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.