Director of Engineering Services - United States, Missouri, Saint Joseph

What you will do · Leads the St Joseph Manufacturing Engineering, Operational Excellence and Maintenance teams to support and lead the development and optimization the manufacturing processes across the St. Joseph campus. This multi-faceted role will provide leadership and overal ...

Job description

What you will do

Leads the St Joseph Manufacturing Engineering, Operational Excellence and Maintenance teams to support and lead the development and optimization the manufacturing processes across the St. Joseph campus. This multi-faceted role will provide leadership and overall direction for technical aspects of both the St. Joseph Assembly Plant and our Distribution center. This will be a key role to drive operational improvements elevating performance and consistency to ensure global competitiveness is achieved and maintained. This role is about more than efficiency — it's about transformation. You'll drive alignment across 2 sites, break down barriers, and embed a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with deep technical expertise in mechanical, electrical, and automation systems, and a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced production environment.
 

How you will do it

Technical Oversight

• Develop and Implement strategies to improve manufacturing processes ensuring quality, cost effectiveness, and efficiency in our operation.

• Coach the technical teams on problem solving when applicable and lead problem solving teams when required. 

• Drive the consistent implementation of the US/CAN Manufacturing Operating system across St. Joseph partnering with other sites and regional teams ensuring best practices are followed.

• Lead the Campus to embrace lean manufacturing concepts leveraging tools and culture to eliminate waste.

• Oversee maintenance of mechanical, electrical, and automation systems including PLCs, robotics, and control systems.

• Ensure compliance with manufacturing safety standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., OSHA, NFPA 70E).

• Lead commissioning and integration of new equipment and technologies.

• Lead / Support strategic projects (expansion, capacity increase, new model launch).

• Leverage modern tools and technology including advanced digital, AI, Machine Learning to improve plant performance.

• Coordinate facility improvements with internal and external contractors ensuring business continuity.

Maintenance Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement a comprehensive maintenance strategy focused on preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance.

• Ensure all manufacturing equipment and systems operate at peak efficiency to support production goals.

• Standardize maintenance practices across facilities and drive consistency in execution.

Reliability Engineering

• Lead reliability initiatives including Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM).

• Implement and optimize predictive maintenance technologies (e.g., vibration analysis, thermography, oil sampling).

• Monitor and improve key metrics such as MTBF, MTTR, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage and develop a team of various engineers, maintenance leaders, and skilled tradespeople.

• Build technical training programs and career pathways for salaried hourly employees.

• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage maintenance budgets, capital expenditures, and vendor contracts.

• Optimize spare parts inventory and procurement processes.

• Drive cost savings through reliability improvements and energy efficiency initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Regional and Global teams to align on best practices relative to manufacturing processes, Maintenance and Operational Excellence.

• Partner with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Safety teams to align maintenance efforts with operational goals.

• Drive continuous improvement projects and lean manufacturing initiatives.

• Lead incident investigations and corrective action planning related to equipment / process failures.

• Work to break down silos across local, regional and global teams with focus on improving our business through close collaboration with all stakeholders.

• Build and maintain collaborative employee relationships ranging from Shop floor to Executives.

•  Travel up to 30%.

What we look for

Required

• Bachelor's Degree required (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Industrial Engineering) with applicable experience.

• 10+ years' experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Previous experience in process controls and automation projects.

• Previous experience in multiple disciplinary technical functions including maintenance.

• Strong communication skills and presentation skills for presenting to leadership on strategy and performance improvement required.

• Influence with data the necessary changes in the plants to achieve operational excellence.

Preferred

• Previous experience with Six Sigma or Lean.

• Operational experience and financial acumen.

#LI-CH1

What you get:

• Medical, dental and vision care coverage and a 401(k) savings plan with company matching – all starting on date of hire

• Tuition reimbursement, perks, and discounts

• Parental and caregiver leave programs

• All the usual benefits such as paid time off, flexible spending, short-and long-term disability, basic life insurance, business travel insurance, Employee Assistance Program, and domestic partner benefits

• Global market strength and worldwide market share leadership

• HQ location earns LEED certification for sustainability plus a full-service cafeteria and workout facility

• Clarios has been recognized as one of 2025's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere. This prestigious recognition marks the third consecutive year Clarios has received this distinction.

Who we are:
Clarios is the force behind the world's most recognizable car battery brands, powering vehicles from leading automakers like Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. With 18,000 employees worldwide, we develop, manufacture, and distribute energy storage solutions while recovering, recycling, and reusing up to 99% of battery materials—setting the standard for sustainability in our industry. At Clarios, we're not just making batteries; we're shaping the future of sustainable transportation. Join our mission to innovate, push boundaries, and make a real impact. Discover your potential at Clarios—where your power meets endless possibilities.

Veterans/Military Spouses:
We value the leadership, adaptability, and technical expertise developed through military service. At Clarios, those capabilities thrive in an environment built on grit, ingenuity, and passion—where you can grow your career while helping to power progress worldwide. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to protected characteristics.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please apply. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to challenging the status quo. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or other protected characteristics protected by law. As a federal contractor, we are committed to not discriminating against any applicant or employee based on these protected statuses. We will also take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunities. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process by emailing We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity in our teams in terms of work experience, area of expertise, and all characteristics protected by laws in the countries where we operate. For more information on our commitment to sustainability, diversity, and equal opportunity, please read our latest report. We want you to know your rights because EEO is the law.

A Note to Job Applicants: please be aware of scams being perpetrated through the Internet and social media platforms. Clarios will never require a job applicant to pay money as part of the application or hiring process.

To all recruitment agencies: Clarios does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to our careers email addresses, Clarios employees or any other company location. Clarios is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.