Senior Engineering Manager, Structural Processing (Remote)

Engineering Manager

The Equipment Engineering organization is seeking a highly technical Engineering Manager to lead our Structural Processing engineering team. This role is responsible for leading a team of engineers focused on the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing equipment and process automation solutions across the enterprise. The ideal candidate is a technical engineering leader with strong experience in industrial automation, robotics, controls, and complex manufacturing equipment. This individual will provide technical direction, guide solution architecture, challenge engineering and vendor designs, and develop scalable equipment solutions for demanding manufacturing processes. The Engineering Manager is accountable for the successful execution of the team's engineering deliverables, including technical quality, resource planning, technical decision-making, and employee development. A dedicated Program Management Office (PMO) provides project management support, including schedule management, budget tracking, risk management, and program reporting, allowing the Engineering Manager to focus on engineering excellence, innovation, and technical solution delivery.

This is a remote position that may have up to 25% travel. This position is remote; however, if you live within a reasonable commute of a Collins site with other colleagues you interact with, your manager will discuss whether there is a degree of onsite presence associated with this role.

What You Will Do

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of manufacturing and automation engineers
• Provide hiring, performance management, and talent development for a team of primarily experienced professionals
• Provide technical leadership for complex manufacturing equipment and process automation solutions
• Lead technical solution development from initial problem definition through equipment deployment and operational handoff
• Guide equipment architecture, controls strategy, robotics integration, and functional safety
• Develop enterprise solutions for structural processing and process-oriented manufacturing equipment
• Partner with manufacturing sites, Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, EHS, and other stakeholders to define technical requirements
• Influence stakeholders outside the Equipment Engineering function, including external vendors, OEMs, integrators, and technology suppliers, on standards and technical direction
• Translate complex manufacturing problems into practical, scalable equipment solutions
• Lead technical design reviews and challenge internal and external engineering solutions
• Develop strategic partnerships with equipment OEMs, system integrators, and technology suppliers
• Provide technical oversight of vendor-designed and vendor-built manufacturing equipment
• Promote reusable and standardized solutions that can be deployed across multiple manufacturing sites
• Support equipment commissioning, startup, and transition to site ownership
• Develop technical expertise and engineering capability within the team
• Serve as a senior technical consultant for complex automation and manufacturing equipment challenges across the enterprise
• Solve undefined, moderately complex engineering problems requiring integration of multiple technologies, manufacturing sites, process constraints, and high-energy or high?force systems
• Execute tactical and operational plans that directly impact manufacturing performance and structural processing capability across the enterprise

Technical Scope

The Structural Processing team supports manufacturing technologies including:

• Robotic welding systems
• Industrial robotics
• Press and forming systems
• Structural processing equipment
• Automated process equipment
• High-force and high-energy manufacturing systems
• Material handling and equipment integration
• Process monitoring and controls
• Machine controls and industrial automation
• Integrated manufacturing cells and production equipment

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience in manufacturing automation, robotics, controls, OR advanced industrial equipment development, or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience
• Experience developing, integrating, or deploying industrial manufacturing equipment
• Demonstrated experience with industrial automation and robotics
• Working knowledge of industrial controls, PLC-based systems, and equipment integration
• Knowledge of functional safety and machine safety principles
• Experience leading engineers or technical teams
• Experience working with equipment OEMs, system integrators, or automation suppliers
• Ability to lead technical design reviews and evaluate complex engineering solutions
• Ability to travel to up to 25% to support manufacturing sites and vendor facilities as required

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience leading engineering teams in a complex manufacturing environment
• Strong background in manufacturing automation and capital equipment development
• Experience with industrial robotics and robotic manufacturing processes
• Experience with robotic welding, press systems, forming equipment, or other process-oriented manufacturing technologies
• Experience with functional safety standards and safety-rated automation systems
• Experience with complex machine controls and integrated manufacturing cells
• Experience developing equipment solutions for deployment across multiple manufacturing sites
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical engineering talent
• Strong technical problem-solving and systems thinking skills
• Experience influencing enterprise standards and long?term technology direction across multiple manufacturing sites

What Success Looks Like

• Success in this role requires more than delivering individual equipment projects. The Engineering Manager will build deep technical capability within the team, develop strong technology and vendor partnerships, and create manufacturing equipment solutions that can be reused and scaled across the enterprise.
• The successful candidate will be comfortable leading people while remaining actively engaged in technical solutioning, equipment architecture, design reviews, and complex engineering decisions. This leader drives enterprise-level impact through technical strategy, solution standardization, and cross-functional alignment.