Position Title: Technical Director
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
Supervises: Engineering Manager, Metallurgical & Quality Manager
Classification: Salaried, exempt, non-union
Position Summary
The Technical Director is the executive‑level technical leader for the organization, accountable for the technical vision, governance, and execution of all engineering, quality, and metallurgical functions supporting open‑die forging operations for aerospace and defense customers.
This role owns the end‑to‑end technical strategy of the business—ensuring methods of manufacture, processing plans, TMP development, quality systems, and metallurgical practices are technically sound, compliant, scalable, and aligned with long‑term business objectives. The Technical Director serves as a core member of the senior leadership team and acts as the company’s ultimate technical authority with customers, auditors, and regulatory bodies.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The statements below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee of this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of this position.
- Serve as the highest technical authority for the company across engineering, quality, and metallurgy.
- Define and execute the company’s technical strategy in alignment with business growth, market demands, and aerospace/defense requirements.
- Serve as a senior leadership team member, contributing to enterprise level decisions related to capital investment, capacity expansion, risk management, and long range planning.
- Establish and enforce technical governance, decision rights, and escalation paths across all technical disciplines.
- Own and approve all processing plans, methods of manufacture, routings, TMP strategies, and technical standards.
- Ensure manufacturing methods are robust, repeatable, and optimized for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
- Drive standardization and best practices across forging, heat treatment, machining, and inspection operations.
- Provide executive‑level technical support to the production floor for critical issues, constraints, and complex problem resolution.
- Ensure all technical documentation, work instructions, and procedures meet regulatory, customer, and operational requirements.
- Provide executive leadership of the Quality function, ensuring full compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, customer specifications, and applicable regulatory standards.
- Act as executive sponsor for customer audits, NADCAP audits, and regulatory engagements.
- Ensure effective implementation of FMEA, control plans, capability studies, and risk‑based thinking across the organization.
- Own technical accountability for nonconformances, escapes, and systemic quality risks.
- Establish enterprise standards for metallurgy, material selection, forging parameters, heat treatment, and mechanical property development.
- Oversee TMP development, validation, and continuous improvement for aerospace and defense materials.
- Serve as the final authority for metallurgical deviations, concessions, and material‑related customer decisions.
- Ensure metallurgical capability development supports future materials, specifications, and customer requirements.
- Provide executive‑level technical leadership for new business pursuits, feasibility reviews, and strategic RFQs.
- Evaluate and approve technical risk, manufacturability, and investment requirements for new programs and materials.
- Act as the primary executive technical interface with key customers, including engineering reviews, program escalations, and technical negotiations.
- Support long‑term customer relationships through technical credibility, responsiveness, and performance.
- Lead, mentor, and develop senior technical leaders and their teams to build technical depth, bench strength, and succession readiness.
- Establish competency frameworks, training standards, and technical career paths in collaboration with Human Resources.
- Drive a culture of accountability, technical rigor, continuous improvement, and customer focus across all technical functions.
- Ensure cross‑functional alignment between technical teams, operations, supply chain, and commercial leadership.
- Drive enterprise‑level continuous improvement initiatives targeting yield, capability, cycle time, and cost.
- Establish and monitor technical KPIs and performance metrics aligned with business objectives.
- Ensure technical risks are proactively identified, communicated, and mitigated across programs and operations.
- Promote disciplined project management and structured problem‑solving methodologies across the organization.
- Perform other executive‑level duties as required to support company strategy and operational excellence.
Requirements
To perform this position successfully, the employee must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
This position involves access to technical data that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which define a “U.S. person” to include a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to meet these requirements or the Company’s ability to obtain an export license on the applicant’s behalf.
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and at least twelve years of related experience and/or equivalent education & experience; Master’s Degree or PhD preferred
- Demonstrated expertise in open-die forging, thermal mechanical processing, heat treatment, and metallurgical behavior.
- Previous experience working in forging, metals processing, or heavy manufacturing is required.
- Previous experience working in the aerospace or defense industry is required.
- Demonstrated knowledge of AS9100, NADCAP, and aerospace requirements is required.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook
- Prior experience working with an ERP/MRP system is preferred, PLEX is a plus
- Demonstrated problem solving skills and excellent organizational and communication skills
- Supports and demonstrates the Company’s core values
Working Conditions
This position is designed to work full-time. Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. An alternate schedule may be arranged or assigned based on the business demands, nature of duties performed, and other factors. Occasional flexibility to work evenings or weekends may be required as job responsibilities demand. Regular work, after hours and/or weekend work may be performed remotely, if the capability exists. Occasional travel is expected for this position for customer engagements, audits, or strategic supplier interactions. This position mainly operates in an office environment during work hours, but may be expanded to assist and support employees in other departments within the Company; Occasional exposure to production equipment and machinery. The employee will manage multiple priorities daily and may be interrupted frequently to meet the needs and requests of employees. The environment may be busy and noisy. All required personal protective equipment is provided.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will spend most of his/her time sitting using computers and standard office equipment such as phones, photocopiers and fax machines. Occasional moving and/or lifting of 10 pounds, stooping, bending and reaching with hands and arms. While performing these job duties, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear.
Weldaloy Products Company provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, height, weight or arrest record in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
