Director of Engineering

Job DescriptionJob Description

Four of Experience

Job Posting: Director of Engineering

Date Posted: 07/25/2025

Location: Columbia, Maryland

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Director of Engineering

American Wood Fibers (AWF), a rapidly growing manufacturer of consumer and industrial products sold to other manufacturers and to pet, agricultural and home heating markets, seeks a Director of Engineering based in the Columbia, Maryland office. AWF manufactures at 11 locations spanning the nation, has 400+ employees, and generates over $100M in annual sales revenue.

Description:

The Director of Engineering will play a key role in day-to-day operations and long-range planning. The role provides strategic and technical leadership in the development and implementation of functional engineering best practices and in the planning, design and testing of technical product development.

Key Responsibilities include:

• High Level Multi-Project Multi-state Project Management Experience in Matrixed environment
• Various product expansion projects to include manufacturing automation and process improvement, raw material handling and warehousing, as well as truck dump additions possibly in multiple locations.
• Automating equipment or processes to incorporate the challenging labor markets
• Growing the business along with the major customers; meeting the ever-changing demand

Qualifications:

• Minimum of fifteen (15) years Engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in the field of Mechanical, Electrical or Civil Engineering
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• Process Engineering, Material Conveying experience; Manufacturing background including EHS understanding
• Material Handling equipment skills – Pneumatic / particulate conveying skills; Wood Industry Background; AutoCAD and Schematic abilities
• Lean Manufacturing exposure, Wood industry exposure or at least exposure to an industry where the major hazard is fire
• Multi-disciplinary expert with solid track record of projects in different disciplines (R&D, Mechanical, Electrical, PLC, Robotics).
• Team/Hands on mentality. Excellent communicator with ability to speak above and below his/her knowledge and experience. i.e. The ability to communicate to someone who doesn’t have an engineering background and might not understand the lingo as well as someone with mechanical and engineering knowledge.
• Strong computer skills including the ability to prepare spreadsheets and use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point and/or Access) to analyze data and trends
• Highly motivated and results oriented
• Willingness for extensive travel