Director of Mechanical Engineering - Roanoke - Virginia Transformer Corp

Description

On the heels of achieving 3X growth, Virginia Transformer is hiring to do it again

We're strategically building our team for the next 3X growth cycle — a phase that is both intense and incredibly rewarding. We're highly selective about who joins us, because this journey isn't for everyone.

If you have the drive, grit, and expertise to perform at a high level — and you want to grow your career 3X alongside the Company's growth — we'd love to talk.

Apply below and let's start the conversation.

Who We Are

Virginia Transformer is the largest U.S.-owned producer of power transformers in North America, and we've been able to grow the past 50-plus years through an unwavering focus on delivering for our customers. We're more than 5,400 people strong and are known throughout the industry for being an engineering company that makes premium quality transformers in the shortest lead times.

As a privately held, organically growing company, we thrive on nimbleness, innovation, and tenacity.

Join Our Team

If you love the thrill of securing the U.S. electric grid, enabling all manufacturing in the country, and the energy of a fast-moving train — this is the place for you. We train hard, grow together, and lead with purpose. Every transformer we build is custom, every challenge unique, and every team member essential.

We're looking for those ready to lead, fueled by commitment, and driven by impact. We are growing so fast that all our available roles are not yet posted, so let us know if you are interested and we will follow-up.

Job Title: Director of Mechanical Engineering

Location: Roanoke, VA (On-site, with regular travel to multiple U.S. plants)

About the Role

Virginia Transformer Corporation is seeking a hands-on Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the mechanical design and development function across six manufacturing plants. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise in mechanical systems, metallurgy, and polymers, along with strong leadership experience in custom electromechanical equipment design.

This role will be responsible for standardizing design practices, improving manufacturability, and ensuring all mechanical designs meet rigorous standards of quality, performance, and safety. You will collaborate closely with plant-level engineering teams, corporate R&D, sourcing, and vendor quality to drive innovation, consistency, and cost optimization across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of mechanical design engineers across multiple sites, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure consistent application of the mechanical design manual and design standards across all six plants.
• Partner with corporate R&D to advance new mechanical design initiatives and introduce innovative materials, features, and product enhancements.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the design teams, driving measurable improvement in design quality, efficiency, and throughput.

Design & Engineering Execution

• Oversee the design and development of mechanical assemblies, ensuring manufacturability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide direct, hands-on technical support when needed — including concept development, modeling, and problem-solving for complex design challenges.
• Apply deep understanding of metallurgy, polymers, and material properties to improve product performance, longevity, and thermal characteristics.
• Establish, update, and enforce design automation and process assurance systems to maintain consistency and reduce variability in mechanical design outputs.
• Review and approve detailed mechanical drawings, design calculations, and documentation for accuracy and compliance with internal and industry standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sourcing and Vendor Quality Assurance to qualify suppliers and evaluate materials or components for new or alternative sourcing.
• Participate in design reviews, non-conformance investigations (NCRs), and root cause/corrective action efforts to resolve mechanical and manufacturing issues.
• Work closely with plant management and production teams to ensure mechanical designs support operational goals and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with Safety and Compliance functions to ensure adherence to industry, regulatory, and environmental standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, Master's degree in mechanical engineering preferred. PE is a plus.
• Minimum 15-20 years of experience in thermo-mechanical design of custom electromechanical equipment, with at least 5 years in a senior management or multi-site leadership role.
• Proven background in metallurgy, polymers, material science, or industrial product design from manufacturing, energy, aerospace, rail, or related industries.
• Strong knowledge of FEA/FEM analytical tools, CAD systems, and 3D design platforms (SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated success leading engineering teams in a plant, multi plant or global manufacturing environment.

Skills & Attributes

• Expert-level proficiency in CAD design practices, finite element modeling, and mechanical systems analysis.
• Deep technical understanding of materials, thermal performance, stress analysis, and mechanical reliability.
• Hands-on problem solver with a proactive, floor-level approach to engineering challenges.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, able to influence across engineering, operations, and executive leadership.
• Strong organizational ability to lead large engineering teams (100+ engineers) across multiple sites.
• Strategic mindset with operational discipline — balancing innovation with manufacturability and cost control.

Why Join Us

At Virginia Transformer, you'll have the opportunity to shape the mechanical engineering vision for North America's leading manufacturer of custom power transformers. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic influence, ensuring that innovation, reliability, and precision remain at the heart of every product we build.