Director Continuation Engineering

Starkey is hiring a Director Continuation Engineer at its global headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN. The Director of Continuation Engineering (CE) leads the enterprise strategy, governance, and execution of sustaining engineering and Continuation Engineering Requests (CERs) across the product lifecycle. This role drives cross-functional initiatives to improve product quality, ensure supply continuity, reduce costs, and support manufacturing scalability. The Director defines service strategies and processes while ensuring alignment with R&D for any product specification changes.

Starkey is a world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of advanced hearing technologies. We are in the business of connecting people and changing lives. Our teams come to work each day focused on ensuring people everywhere have the products and services they need to hear better and live better. Founded in 1967 by Bill Austin, Starkey is known for our cutting-edge hearing health innovations, industry-leading research and development, and not being afraid to push the edge of what's possible. We are headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, have over 5,000 employees in 29 facilities across the globe, and do business in more than 100 markets worldwide.

Watch this video to see more of what sets Starkey apart.

https://youtu.be/9cUYwTlCepg?si=wkovx8_R_iINfrc6

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES/RESULTS

• Establish and lead the enterprise CER framework, governance model, and prioritization process.
• Oversee CER portfolio including quality improvement, cost reduction, supply chain, and manufacturing expansion initiatives.
• Define and implement service strategy and processes for sustaining engineering, including intake, prioritization, and execution.
• Establish KPIs and SLAs to improve responsiveness and execution efficiency.
• Lead cross-functional execution across Engineering, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain and R&D.
• Own execution of product and process changes for released products while partnering with R&D for specification changes.
• Ensure all specification-related changes follow proper design control and approval processes with R&D.
• Drive continuous improvement using production, warranty, and customer feedback data.
• Lead cost optimization initiatives through BOM, supplier, and process improvements.
• Support manufacturing site expansion, transfers, and global operations scaling.
• Develop and lead a high-performing continuation engineering organization.
• Provide executive-level reporting, KPIs, and portfolio visibility.
• Own organizational development, resource planning, and budget input.
• Other duties as assigned

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Education, Certification and Experience Requirements

• Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Masters or PhD is preferred

• Experience

• 10 + years of experience in manufacturing or product lifecycle engineering.

• 8+ Years leadership experience

Knowledge / Technical Requirements

• Strong knowledge of change management
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing/process engineering
• Strong knowledge of Lean Six Sigma and cross functional program execution.
• Advanced knowledge of Mechanical, Engineering, and systems engineering best practices

Competencies, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, vision and strategic thinking skills
• Strong cross functional leadership and influence
• Strong program management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong work ethics and a passion for managing people and processes
• Excellent time and task management skills required
• Excellent planning, organizing, and coordinating skills required
• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills required

WORK CONTEXT

Working Conditions

• Standard office conditions

Equipment Operation

• Standard office equipment

Salary and Other Compensation:

The target rate for this position is between $171,710 to $223,000/year. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

Benefits: The following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, company-paid life and short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, employee assistance plan, hearing aid benefits, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, paid floating holidays, paid volunteer service day, paid paternity and maternity leave and tuition reimbursement

This position is eligible for a bonus based upon performance results. There is no guarantee of payout.

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