Director of Engineering Process & Business Systems

The Opportunity

Silent-Aire, a Johnson Controls company, is seeking a strategic, systems-minded engineering leader to build and scale the operating capabilities that enable North American Engineering. This role is responsible for connecting engineering strategy, business systems, product data, process governance, workforce capability, and continuous improvement into a scalable operating model that supports continued growth.

As Director, Engineering Process & Business Systems, you will lead the systems, processes, technologies, and organizational capabilities that govern how engineering work is developed, released, changed, measured, supported, and continuously improved across North America.

Position Summary

The Director, Engineering Process & Business Systems is the functional leader accountable for the systems, processes, data, technology, and organizational capabilities that enable North American Engineering to operate effectively and scale. The role owns the Engineering Process & Business Systems operating model, including engineering process governance, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), engineering change and configuration governance, JCBS deployment within Engineering, workforce and knowledge systems, engineering data and KPI governance, the engineering software portfolio, responsible AI and process automation, and the transformation portfolio.

This Director translates business and engineering strategy into scalable operating systems, investment roadmaps, formalized processes, measurable outcomes, and sustained organizational capability. The role leads through functional ownership, organizational leadership, governance, and cross-functional influence. Engineering and program leaders remain accountable for execution and results within the processes they operate.

What You Will Lead

Engineering Process & Business Systems

• •Define and lead the North American Engineering Process & Business Systems strategy, operating model, organizational structure, and multi-year capability roadmap.
• •Build and develop a high-performing organization supporting engineering process governance, PLM, engineering change management, data and analytics, continuous improvement, software enablement, automation, and workforce capability.
• •Establish scalable support models, standards, and governance frameworks that enable growth across North American operations.

Engineering Process Governance & PLM

• •Own the engineering operating architecture across product development, release, change management, manufacturing integration, and lifecycle support.
• •Serve as the Engineering business owner for PLM, engineering change, configuration management, product data governance, and digital-thread capabilities.
• •Partner with Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, IT, and enterprise teams to establish integrated processes, business systems, and data flows.

Continuous Improvement & Transformation

• •Lead deployment and maturity of JCBS practices within Engineering, including value stream mapping, standard work, KPI management, problem solving, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• •Govern the engineering transformation portfolio, including PLM modernization, process optimization, standardization, automation, design simplification, and digital capability development.
• •Develop business cases, investment roadmaps, benefits tracking, and executive reporting to ensure programs deliver measurable operational and financial outcomes.

Engineering Data, Technology & Workforce Capability

• •Establish governance for engineering KPIs, reporting, analytics, and performance management systems.
• •Own the engineering software portfolio, including application strategy, adoption, lifecycle management, automation, and responsible AI initiatives.
• •Lead strategies for onboarding, technical training, knowledge management, competency development, succession planning, and organizational capability growth.

Executive & Cross-Functional Leadership

• •Partner closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Management, Program Management, Finance, Human Resources, IT, and enterprise leadership teams.
• •Present strategies, roadmaps, business cases, performance metrics, and recommendations to executive leadership.
• •Lead governance forums, executive reviews, and external vendor relationships to ensure alignment, accountability, and successful execution.

What Success Looks Like

• •A scalable Engineering Process & Business Systems operating model with clear ownership, governance, and support structures.
• •Standardized engineering processes and product data that are controlled, measurable, and consistently adopted across the organization.
• •PLM, engineering applications, and digital capabilities that enable efficient product development, change management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• •Meaningful performance metrics and management routines that drive data-based decision making and continuous improvement.
• •Transformation initiatives that deliver measurable business value through improved quality, productivity, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• •Strong organizational capability built through effective onboarding, training, knowledge management, and leadership development.

Leadership Profile

• •Strategic and systems-oriented leader who can translate complex business needs into scalable operating models and measurable outcomes.
• •Effective at leading across engineering, manufacturing, technology, data, and organizational change.
• •Builds high-performing teams, develops future leaders, and drives accountability through influence and collaboration.
• •Strong executive communicator who can simplify complexity, align stakeholders, and support sound decision-making.
• •Committed to integrity, inclusion, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Working Conditions

• •Approximately 20-30% travel within North America, with occasional international travel as needed.
• •Work may include office, engineering, manufacturing, testing, supplier, customer, and construction-site environments.
• •Occasional work outside standard business hours may be required to support major initiatives, operational needs, or geographically distributed teams.
• •Must comply with all applicable safety, security, regulatory, and company requirements.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• •Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• •10+ years of experience in engineering operations, business systems, PLM-enabled transformation, manufacturing, or related technical environments.
• •5+ years of leadership experience leading teams, large programs, or cross-functional transformation initiatives.
• •Strong experience with engineering process governance, PLM, engineering change management, configuration management, product data, and enterprise system integration.
• •Demonstrated success implementing Lean, continuous improvement, business systems, or operational excellence programs.
• •Experience leading organizational change, technology adoption, process transformation, and cross-functional stakeholder alignment.
• •Strong understanding of engineering-to-manufacturing workflows and product lifecycle management within complex technical organizations.
• •Exceptional executive communication, strategic planning, and organizational leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• •Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Technology Management, or a related field.
• •Professional certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, Change Management, Program Management, or PLM-related disciplines.
• •Experience with PTC Windchill, Creo, SAP, engineering automation, analytics, or enterprise workflow platforms.
• •Experience within HVAC, data center infrastructure, engineered-to-order products, industrial equipment, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• •Experience leading AI, automation, digital transformation, or engineering capability development initiative