VP of Engineering & Innovation Food Automation

Job Details Level: Senior

Job Location:

Downers Grove, IL 60515

Position Type:
Full Time Education Level: 4 Year Degree Salary Range: $ - $ Salary/year Travel Percentage:
Up to 50% Job Shift: Day Job Category:
Engineering Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with an over 100-year operating history. Through our portfolio of operating companies, we deliver trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks we provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets we serve in the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors.

Duravant’s market‑leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability.

The Vice President of Engineering & Innovation is responsible for establishing and driving the technology, engineering, software, and innovation strategy for the Duravant Food Automation Group. This executive partners with Operating Company Presidents, engineering leaders, product management teams, and commercial leaders to develop long-term technology roadmaps, guide product portfolio decisions, and identify opportunities for innovation and growth across the broader Food Processing Industries of Protein (Poultry, red meat, fish) and Processed Potatoes, Vegetables and Fruit.

The role provides leadership for software platform strategy, integrated solutions development, digital technologies, and product development governance across the Food Automation Group. Operating within a highly collaborative and decentralized environment, the Senior Vice President influences strategic direction through partnership, alignment, and cross‑functional leadership.

By fostering collaboration across operating companies, this position drives technology advancement, engineering excellence, and innovation across the Food Automation Group. The role leads standardization, modularization, and common platform strategies that reduce cost, simplify manufacturing and sourcing, and improve scalability across the portfolio.

• Define and execute the Food Automation Group's technology, software, automation, and innovation strategy.
• Establish long-term technology roadmaps aligned with business growth objectives.
• Identify emerging technologies and market opportunities that create competitive advantage.

• Lead software platform, controls architecture, and digital technology strategies across operating companies.
• Drive initiatives supporting connected equipment, analytics, automation, and digital services.
• Promote alignment and scalability of technology investments across the portfolio.

• Guide development of integrated customer solutions spanning equipment, software, controls, and lifecycle services.
• Align technology roadmaps with customer needs, market trends, and commercial priorities.
• Identify opportunities for cross-company collaboration and shared technology platforms.

• Lead standardization and modularization initiatives across the Food Automation portfolio to reduce cost, complexity, and product variation.
• Drive common engineering standards, product architectures, and shared component strategies across operating companies.
• Improve manufacturability, procurement efficiency, and serviceability through platform‑based design and component rationalization.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and Product Management to optimize product cost, quality, and speed to market.
• Identify and implement opportunities to leverage common technologies, suppliers, and engineering resources across the Group.

• Lead governance processes for product development, innovation investments, and technology prioritization.
• Establish consistent product development frameworks and decision‑making processes.
• Ensure engineering and R&D investments support strategic business objectives.

• Partner with Operating…