Director, Engineering - Product Development - Engineering

A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America's largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, utility products, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment, electrical components, hand tools and jobsite power and lighting solutions. The company also offers digital solutions including contractor planning and utility grid resiliency as well as field services including cable testing, rejuvenation and replacement to support our customers as a value-add partner. We are proud to offer competitive compensation, employee benefits, tuition reimbursement and unlimited growth opportunities. Our more than seven decades of progressive growth can be attributed to our determination to developing innovative systems and solutions, exercising environmental stewardship and enhancing the well-being of the communities in which we work and live. How will you power what's possible?

Location: Largo, FL

Job Summary

The Director of Engineering & Quality is responsible for leading engineering and quality strategy across the Electrical Products portfolio, ensuring alignment between product innovation, operational execution, supplier quality, and customer expectations. This role oversees and coordinates activities across engineering and quality functions, managing multiple disciplines and providing broad functional leadership across operations, sourcing, manufacturing, and new product development.

The position develops and implements strategies that drive efficient, effective, and scalable solutions in support of organizational goals across all engineering activities. Serving as a key strategic leader, this role partners cross-functionally with Engineering, Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to advance continuous improvement initiatives, strengthen quality systems, support new product introduction (NPI), and enhance overall product reliability, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction within a complex manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary Engineering & Quality teams, driving execution against departmental objectives while ensuring alignment with broader business priorities and organizational strategy. Provide leadership, direction, and support to managers, supervisors, and technical teams across the function.
• Partner with senior leadership to shape and execute the strategic direction of the Engineering & Quality organization, aligning initiatives with business goals, customer expectations, and long‑term growth priorities.
• Develop and implement tactical and operational strategies that enhance engineering performance, product quality, process efficiency, and service delivery while supporting enterprise objectives and scalable business growth.
• Direct resource planning and prioritization across engineering and quality initiatives, ensuring effective allocation of personnel, capital, equipment, and budget resources to optimize execution, efficiency, and business impact.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, safety protocols, and quality systems across all engineering and manufacturing activities, promoting operational integrity and risk mitigation.
• Champion continuous improvement efforts focused on engineering effectiveness, operational optimization, cost reduction, product reliability, and overall quality performance across the Electrical Products portfolio.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Management, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and Sourcing teams to support the successful design, development, commercialization, and delivery of products and solutions aligned with customer needs and market opportunities.
• Establish and maintain engineering and quality governance standards through design reviews, audits, process controls, establishing guidelines, and continuous improvement methodologies to ensure consistency, reliability, and high-performance outcomes.
• Build and strengthen organizational capability by attracting, developing, and mentoring high-performing engineering and quality talent while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Drive performance management and employee development initiatives across the Engineering & Quality organization, coaching leaders and team members to support succession planning, capability growth, and overall organizational effectiveness.

Required Education & Experience

Minimum Education Level: Bachelors Degree

Specialized Degree: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related technical field

Years of Experience: 8-11 years of progressive experience in engineering, quality, manufacturing, or product leadership rolesField of Expertise: Electrical products, manufacturing operations, quality systems, product development, engineering leadership, and cross-functional operational support

Preferred Education & Experience

Minimum Education Level: Master's degree

Specialized Degree: Engineering, Engineering Management, Business Administration (MBA), Quality Management, or related field

Licenses/Certificates: PMP (Project Management Professional), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, ASQ certifications, or other quality/process improvement certifications

Years of Experience: 12-14 Years of experience leading engineering and/or quality functions within manufacturing or industrial environments

Field of Expertise: Electrical products, contractor/commercial markets, quality management systems, continuous improvement, product commercialization, regulatory compliance, and strategic engineering leadership

A combination of education and experience may be considered for certain roles.

Spans of Control

Spans of Control

(Reporting relationships and geographical scope)

Does this role Manage Southwire Team Members: Yes

Number of Direct Reports: 5-10

Travel

Travel: Domestic, occasionally international

% of Time: Up to 25%

Physical Requirements

Driving

Moving

Standing

Sitting

Walking

Working Conditions

Office

Laboratory

Other

Equipment

Computer/Keyboard

Safety Glasses

Hard Hat

Steel toe shoes

High Visibility Vest

Competencies

Drives Results

Business Insights

Values Differences

Manages Complexity

Communicates Effectively

Manages Ambiguity

Skills

Program Management

Risk Management

Strategic Planning

Budgeting

Team Building

Business Intelligence

Eight Disciplines Problem Solving (8D)

Influencing Skills

Analytical Skills

Project Planning

Benefits We Offer:

• 401k with Matching
• Family and Individual Insurance Packages (Health, Life, Dental, and Vision)
• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Long & Short-Term Disability
• Supplemental Insurance Plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Advancement & Professional Growth opportunities
• Parental Leave
• & More

Southwire is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.