Senior Engineering Manager – Capital Equipment

Senior Engineering Manager – Capital Equipment (Vacuum Furnaces & Thermal Processing Systems)
Location: Corona, CA (On-site)
Compensation: Up to $150,000 + 401(k) match, Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Profit Sharing

Position Overview

We are a global engineering and manufacturing company specializing in high-temperature vacuum furnaces and VPA coating systems used in aerospace, energy, additive manufacturing, and precision industrial markets.

We are seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to lead both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering teams, drive product innovation, and oversee the design and delivery of complex capital equipment systems. This is a hands-on leadership role combining engineering depth, automation expertise, and cross-functional program ownership.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Mechanical and Electrical Engineering departments, including staffing, performance management, and technical direction
• Define and execute engineering strategy aligned with product development and business growth goals
• Oversee full lifecycle capital equipment design (concept, prototype, production, commissioning)
• Partner with Sales and Project Management to support customer requirements and new product development
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, industrial norms, and customer specifications
• Drive continuous improvement in manufacturing processes, cost reduction, and quality performance
• Lead automation and controls integration across PLC, HMI, SCADA, and instrumentation systems
• Manage engineering budgets, project cost controls, and resource allocation
• Support technical customer meetings, design reviews, and executive reporting
• Promote innovation in thermal systems, automation, and advanced manufacturing technologies (FEA/CFD-informed design where applicable)

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (required)
• 7–10 years of experience in industrial machinery or capital equipment design & manufacturing
• Direct experience working for a designer and builder of capital equipment (required)
• 3–5 years of engineering management experience with direct reports
• Strong background in industrial automation and controls (PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation)
• Experience with CAD tools and MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional engineering programs and deliver complex equipment projects

Preferred Experience

• Vacuum furnaces, thermal processing systems, or VPA coating equipment
• Allen-Bradley PLCs (500/5000), Wonderware/InTouch, HC900 systems
• Exposure to industrial furnace systems or high-temperature process equipment
• Mechanical engineering fundamentals supporting electro-mechanical systems
• FEA/CFD-based design or simulation-informed engineering decisions
• Experience in aerospace, energy, additive manufacturing, or precision manufacturing industries

Leadership Scope

• Directly responsible for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering functions
• Team oversight includes approximately 5 engineers (3 Electrical, 2 Mechanical)
• Ownership of engineering performance, delivery timelines, and technical excellence across programs