Director of Engineering

We, at Leggett & Platt Inc., are searching for a Director of Engineering within our engineering team to help support our bedding business. Did you know we have been revolutionizing the sleep industry since 1883? That’s right! In fact, we hold the original patent on a spiral steel coil bed spring, filed way back in 1885. Since then, we have been an industry leader in guaranteeing you get the best sleep possible. If you join our team, your work will ensure people across the world have a little more comfort in their lives. As a Director of Engineering you will have the opportunity to serve as a player-coach who improves equipment performance, builds engineering capability, establishes practical engineering standards, strengthens project discipline, and creates a more effective bridge between Product Development, Quality, Manufacturing, internal engineering teams, key branches, and external or affiliated engineering partners. . Your contributions will have a direct impact on the business by strengthening engineering and manufacturing execution across business unit operations. The role provides leadership for capital planning, machinery development, industrial and process engineering, controls, automation, electrical engineering, technical documentation, and the transition of new products into stable manufacturing performance. . The team you will be working with is collaborative and innovative, and values challenging work and diversity of thought. This role offers a relocation opportunity if not local to Carthage, MO. So, what will you be doing as a Director of Engineering? Engineering Leadership & Capability Development Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-disciplinary engineering organization spanning machinery development, industrial and process engineering, controls, automation, electrical engineering, and drafting. Establish and reinforce clear engineering standards, documentation expectations, design rigor, decision rights, and project discipline across all supported sites. New Product Introduction & Manufacturing Readiness Own the transition from new product development to stable, capable, and mature manufacturing performance. This includes planning and preparing for manufacturing through the product development stage gate process from early concept through sample runs, beta runs, PPAP, validation, launch, ramp-up, and post-launch stabilization. Ensure Design for Manufacturability (DFM), process capability, control plans, equipment readiness, tooling, documentation, training, and service/support requirements are addressed early enough to prevent launch friction. Project & Program Management Provide disciplined project leadership with respect to timing, resources, cost, scope, risk, and cross-functional accountability for engineering and manufacturing readiness initiatives. Establish project plans with visible milestones, owners, constraints, decision points, and escalation paths so that launch and capital work can be managed proactively rather than reactively. Maintain clear communication around project status, tradeoffs, risks, cost impacts, and expected business outcomes. Manufacturing Engagement & Technical Leadership Maintain regular presence in manufacturing operations to understand equipment, process flow, quality, reliability, and operator challenges firsthand. Provide hands-on technical leadership on high-impact equipment, process, tooling, automation, and control issues where experience and judgment are critical. Partner with manufacturing and maintenance leaders to improve equipment reliability, maintainability, operational stability, and responsiveness to production needs. Support and sustain Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) strategies that reduce downtime, extend asset life, and improve overall equipment effectiveness. Accelerating Competitive Excellence, Automation and Process Improvement Drive continuous improvement using Lean manufacturing principles, value stream thinking, level loading, practical material flow improvements, and structured problem solving. Apply SPC, process capability analysis, root-cause analysis, and disciplined experimentation to improve quality, consistency, and predictability. Lead automation and manufacturing technology initiatives that deliver measurable operational, quality, safety, and financial benefit. Use ACE principles to make continuous improvement part of daily work, reinforce common language and methodology, and build capability through real business problems. Capital Projects & Asset Leadership Lead and review major capital projects, ensuring strong project rigor, schedule discipline, resource planning, cost control, and return on investment. Support capital planning and prioritization, including project justification, execution oversight, commissioning, and post-implementation review. Ensure engineering standards, specifications, spare parts planning, and technical documentation support long-term asset performance, maintainability, safety, and lifecycle cost. To be successful in this role, you’ll need: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, Manufacturing, or related discipline). 12-15+ years of progressive engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including meaningful leadership responsibility. Demonstrated success leading engineering teams, machinery development, automation, manufacturing process improvement, and launch readiness activities. Strong project/program management capability with demonstrated ownership of schedules, resources, cost, risk management, cross-functional alignment, and stakeholder communication. Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, value stream mapping, TPM, capital project execution, SPC, Six Sigma, PFMEA, PPAP, and structured root-cause problem solving. Ability to work effectively across operations, quality, product development, engineering partners, suppliers, and multiple manufacturing sites. Proven ability to balance hands-on technical involvement with leadership, coaching, organizational development, and disciplined execution. Things we consider a plus: Additional education and/or certifications. What to Do Next Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about us, what are you waiting for! Apply today and allow us the opportunity to learn more about you and the value you can bring to our team. Once you apply, be sure to create a profile, and sign up for job alerts, so you can be the first to know when new opportunities become available. Our Values Our values speak to our shared beliefs, and describe how we approach working together. Put People First reflects our commitment to safety and care of each other, learning and development, and creating an inclusive environment of mutual respect, empathy and belonging. Do the Right Thing focuses us on acting with honesty and integrity, delivering the results the right way, taking pride in our work, and speaking the truth – good or bad. Do Great Work…Together occurs when we engage without hierarchy, collaborate as a team, embrace challenges, and work for the good of all of us. Take Ownership and Raise the Bar demonstrates our responsibility to add value and make a difference, challenge the status quo and biases to make things better, foster innovative and creative solutions to drive impact, and explore new perspectives and embrace change. 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