Vice President of Design Engineering

About IEM
Industrial Electric Mfg. (IEM) is the largest independent full-line manufacturer of custom power distribution systems in North America. Founded more than 75 years ago in Fremont, California, IEM grew alongside Silicon Valley and today operates over 1.7 million square feet of manufacturing capacity. With $1B+ in annual sales and 10,000+ commissioned projects across technology, data centers, commercial, energy, utilities, healthcare, industrial, and infrastructure markets, IEM continues to deliver exceptional product quality, dependable service, and the flexibility to meet complex technical requirements at scale.

Position Summary
The Vice President of Design Engineering will lead IEM’s Design-to-Order engineering organization, overseeing a growing team of electrical and mechanical engineers responsible for delivering customized switch gear solutions to exacting customer specifications. This executive role requires a strategic engineering leader with an operational mindset who can balance technical excellence and on-time delivery, while driving continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction and leadership for the Design Engineering organization

Oversee the execution of hundreds of concurrent customer projects

Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators related to on-time delivery and defect‑free designs

Transform engineering workflows from a custom one‑off low‑to‑mid fidelity design to standardized, repeatable, high‑fidelity customer solutions built on Configure‑to‑Order building blocks

Partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Field Service to ensure designs are manufacturable, serviceable, scalable, and cost‑effective

Provide technical direction and oversight across multiple engineering disciplines

Provide innovative client‑centric solutions within the IEM product portfolio to meet specific customer applications

Ensure designs comply with relevant industry standards, including IEEE/ANSI, UL, CSA, NEC, and IEC requirements

Foster a best‑in‑class work environment to attract and maintain top talent in the organization

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline required;
Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Minimum of 15 years of progressive engineering leadership experience in a Power Product Manufacturing Environment

Proven track record leading large engineering organizations (100+ engineers) in design‑to‑order or engineer‑to‑order environments

Deep understanding of electrical switch gear design, power distribution systems, and applicable industry standards

Proven track record in modernizing engineering design methods/tools, and transforming an organization in a growth environment

Demonstrated success in driving operational improvements, reducing design cycle times, and implementing engineering systems and tools.

Experience with PLM, CAD, and engineering data management systems

Compensation
The salary range for this role is $250,000 – $305,000 per year, based on location, experience, and qualifications.

Why Join IEM
At IEM, you’ll join a team that powers some of the world’s most ambitious projects. We’re engineers, makers, and problem‑solvers who thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions that keep industries moving forward. If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Your creativity and passion can help us achieve great things—come be part of the journey.

Learn more about IEM at

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees’ well‑being, growth, and long‑term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at

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Non‑Discrimination Statement
IEM does not discriminate against any applicant based on any characteristic protected by law.

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