Director Systems Engineering

Description

Director Systems Engineering

At Johnson Outdoors, home to some of the world's most innovative and best-known outdoor recreation brands, we create amazing outdoor experiences - for adventurers, by adventurers. Check out each of the unique Johnson Outdoor brands in Fishing, Watercraft, Camping and Diving!

We are seeking a highly skilled Director Systems Engineering to lead the development and integration of complex systems across our global portfolio of consumer durable goods. With 1,300 employees, 19 global facility locations and selling into over 80 countries, the Director Systems Engineering will lead the development, integration, optimization, and management of complex systems including hardware, software and embedded systems that enhance product functionality, reliability and user experience.

Note:

This position can be located in Racine-WI, Alpharetta-GA or Mankato-MN

Leadership and Strategy:

• Develops and drives the strategic direction for systems engineering including software, embedded, mechanical, and electrical disciplines ensuring alignment with organizational goals in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Champions systems thinking across the organization to ensure cohesive product development.
• Provides thought leadership in adopting new technologies and engineering practices to deliver world-class solutions across multiple product lines.

Technical Oversight:

• Lead the global architecture, infrastructure, design, and integration of multi-disciplinary systems (mechanical, electrical, software, and embedded) that meet both current and future business needs.
• Develops and drives comprehensive systems engineering plans and ensures that our products exceed industry standards for performance, safety, and user satisfaction.
• Provides deep technical expertise in architecture, system design, and software development best practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partners with product management, R&D, manufacturing, quality, and operations to ensure seamless product development and launch and alignment of systems engineering efforts with business priorities.
• Acts as a key liaison between engineering and executive leadership.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement:

• Drives the global adoption of cutting-edge tools, methodologies (e.g., MBSE, Agile, Dev Ops), and technologies (e.g., IoT, AI/ML).
• Identifies and mitigates technical risks early in the development cycle.
• Drives continuous improvement initiatives and adapts plans to meet service or operational changes. Identifies and resolves technical, operational, risk management, and organizational challenges.

Team Development and Mentorship:

• Builds and nurtures a high-performing, cross-functional engineering team through recruitment, mentorship, training, and career development programs.
• Fosters an environment of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring the team stays up to date with the latest trends and technologies.
• Promotes a culture of innovation by encouraging experimentation and creative problem-solving.
• Leads the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies to enhance the company's competitive edge in the consumer products industry.

Resource Management:

• Optimize resource utilization across global teams, ensuring that the team can deliver on its commitments while maintaining a balance between cost and quality.

Other:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities:

• Prepares and approves department budgets while ensuring budgets are managed within approved guidelines.
• Develops and approves departmental policies, procedures, and guidelines to meet business needs.
• In partnership with human resources, performs human resources responsibilities for staff which includes but is not limited to the following: hiring and terminating employees, promotions/pay adjustments, staff development, performance evaluations, resolution of employee concerns and disciplinary counseling.

What you need to succeed:

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, electronic technology, or equivalent.
• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of systems engineering experience which includes 5 years of global leadership over the development, integration, optimization, and management of complex systems within a consumer durable goods industry.
• Strong experience in consumer durable goods (e.g., appliances, electronics, and smart home devices.
• Experience with connected products and IoT ecosystems.
• Ability to translate enterprise level strategic planning into systems engineering needs, create business plans, and turn them into effective business solutions. Successional experience developing and implementing strategic processes and improvements.
• Deep understanding of systems engineering principles including requirements analysis, systems design, integration, verification, and validation.
• Advanced knowledge of mechanical design principles, including materials science, thermodynamics, and structural analysis.
• Expertise in electrical system design,…