About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Director of Manufacturing Engineering will champion the technical vision of the production floor. This senior leader will direct a high-performing team of engineers and technicians to resolve manufacturing bottlenecks, manage capital expenditures (CapEx), and enforce rigorous safety standards. By partnering with cross-functional stakeholders, you will drive continuous improvement, optimize process capabilities, and implement scalable manufacturing solutions to ensure on-time delivery and top-tier customer satisfaction.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Team Leadership & Strategy
- Direct and develop a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Technicians, setting clear performance expectations, individual goals, and conducting annual appraisals.
- Allocate engineering resources to ensure the timely delivery of tooling, labor standards, routers, and process instructions for all engineering changes.
- Oversee the entire capital spending plan, actively participating in budgeting, recommending improvements, and drafting justification data for capital equipment procurement.
Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement
- Architect the manufacturing strategy for new product launches, ensuring seamless transitions from prototype to pilot to full-scale production.
- Eliminate operator decision points and mitigate risks by analyzing line complexity drivers and deploying effective poka-yoke (error-proofing) solutions.
- Spearhead lean manufacturing initiatives, production support, and line material presentation to drive cost reductions and process improvements.
Quality, Design & Compliance
- Partner with Design Engineering to resolve chronic Design for Manufacturing (DFM) issues and implement corrective actions.
- Perform rigorous evaluations of projects to ensure top-tier performance, safety, and reliability.
- Review engineering analyses including PFMEA, DVP&R, and 8D root cause analysis to continuously improve product designs.
- Maintain strict compliance with ISO 9000 standards, producing comprehensive and customer-ready documentation.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Process Optimization: Expert in line balancing, process development, and eliminating bottlenecks to increase throughput.
- CapEx Management: Proficient in capital expenditure oversight, financial planning, and construction management.
- Tooling Integration: Skilled in the transition, calibration, and maintenance of error-proofing torque tooling.
- Financial Planning: Adept at developing project budgets, cost analyses, and estimating production labor and equipment costs.
- Project Management: Highly proficient in managing multiple, complex projects simultaneously from inception to completion.
- Technical Software: Advanced user of MS Office Suite, with experience in MS Project.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to bridge the gap between departments, fostering teamwork and achieving shared objectives at all levels of the organization.
- Strategic Problem Solving: Methodical, balanced, and dynamic approach to resolving operational challenges.
- People Management & Conflict Resolution: Empathetic leadership style focused on motivation, assertiveness, and maintaining high team morale.
- Communication & Organization: Strong written and oral communicator, capable of translating complex ideas into clear, actionable presentations.
- Professional Ethics: Committed to a strong work ethic, professional conduct, and the highest standards of integrity.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor's in Engineering required
- 10+ years of manufacturing engineering experience required
- 5+ years of relevant professional leadership experience
- All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- 7+ years of relevant professional leadership experience, preferred
- Experience in Production Supervision required
- Knowledge of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) principles preferred
- PMP Certification and recognized process improvement training (Lean, Six Sigma), preferred
WE VALUE
- Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
- Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
- Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
- Ability to influence stakeholders
- Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
- Flexible workspaces and work hours that help you unleash the best you.
- Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.
INCLUDES
- Continued Professional Development
- Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching
WORK CONDITIONS
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Office environment and production environment
- Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
- Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
- Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
- You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
- Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
- Frequent communication with people throughout the day
*The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
Blue Bird® is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each
#LI-Onsite
Qualifications Education Required Bachelors or better. Experience Required Relevant professional leadership experience Manufacturing engineering experience Equal Opportunity EmployerThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering
- 10+ years manufacturing engineering experience
- 5+ years relevant professional leadership experience
- Authorized to work in the United States (U.S. citizen or permanent resident)
- Experience in Production Supervision
- Advanced user of MS Office Suite
- Experience with MS Project
- Experience maintaining compliance with ISO 9000 / quality documentation
- Knowledge of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) principles
- PMP certification and Lean or Six Sigma process improvement training
Blue Bird Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Blue Bird and has not been reviewed or approved by Blue Bird.
-
Pay Growth & Progression — The 2024 collective bargaining agreement delivered meaningful wage increases for covered hourly employees, with larger boosts at the lowest pay bands. Subsequent contractual provisions point to a structurally improved earnings path for many production roles.
-
Strong & Reliable Incentives — Overtime availability and profit sharing lift overall earnings potential, particularly in production settings. The contract formalized profit sharing and added financial provisions that enhance variable pay.
-
Retirement Support — A 401(k) with Roth option and an employer match is offered, and the union agreement introduced a defined‑contribution retirement plan for covered workers. Company materials indicate employer contributions are part of the total rewards package.
Blue Bird Insights
What We Do
About Us Blue Bird offers a complete line of Type A, C and D school buses in a variety of options and configurations. Since 1927, Blue Bird Corporation has continued to set industry standards with its innovative design and manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, Blue Bird provides comprehensive financial solutions through Blue Bird Capital Services. Today, Blue Bird has more than 1,600 employees, Georgia-based manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of Dealers and Parts & Service facilities throughout North America. Its global presence can be seen in more than 60 countries through sales into Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Our Promise We are singularly focused on building and selling school buses that customers want and value. The safety of schoolchildren is at the center of all that we do and we will strive every day, just as we have since our beginning in 1927, to provide an unparalleled and affordable product in terms of safety, quality, durability, and serviceability. We will be easy to do business with, responsive to our customers' wants and needs, and provide prompt after-sale support in parts and service through a professional, high-qualified distribution network. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. What We Stand For We come to work every day with one common goal, to design, build, sell and service the world's finest school bus. That's what we do - no distractions, no competing priorities. We are heirs to a rich legacy, one of listening to our customers, embracing their needs, and delivering innovations that lead the market. We commit ourselves to four driving priorities - safety, quality, durability, and serviceability. We embody the interests of every child that rides us, every driver that drives us, every service technician that services us and every district that buys us. More than a business, this work is our heritage, and we have been at it since 1927 - that's purpose driven.
