Product Value Engineering Leader

About the position:

This is a high-impact engineering leadership opportunity to build and lead the Value Analysis / Value Engineering strategy across the full Power Distribution Control and Assemblies portfolio. As part of the newly aligned R&D Engineering organization, this leader will establish the function, shape the strategy, and create a scalable approach to delivering product cost competitiveness and margin expansion across a complex portfolio of power distribution and control technologies.

With responsibility spanning Medium Voltage Assemblies, Low Voltage Assemblies, Medium Voltage Control Assemblies, and Motor Control Centers , the leader will own the VAVE strategy and opportunity pipeline from identification through engineering validation and implementation. The mandate goes well beyond individual cost-out projects. This leader will create the standards, methodologies, governance, and engineering discipline needed to embed value engineering into how products and platforms are designed, sustained, and optimized over their lifecycle.

Operating at the division level rather than from a single manufacturing location , the role will leverage engineering capabilities across the U.S., Mexico, and India , bringing together the right technical expertise around the highest-value opportunities. The leader will work closely with Product Lines, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Engineering to translate design, material, component, and sourcing opportunities into measurable and sustainable business results.

What you will do:

Build and lead the divisional VAVE strategy and roadmap

- Develop and lead a multi-year cost-out roadmap across MVA, LVA, MVCA, and MCC, prioritizing opportunities based on value, effort, risk, and strategic impact.

- Align the roadmap with annual profit plan commitments and material productivity targets in partnership with Product Lines and Finance.
Build and govern a high-value VAVE pipeline

- Lead cross-functional ideation, product teardowns, competitive benchmarking, should-cost analysis, and spend analytics to identify and prioritize opportunities.

- Drive projects from concept through implementation, balancing speed, technical feasibility, resources, and business value.
Drive design-to-cost, platform optimization, and complexity reduction

- Apply design-to-cost and value engineering principles across existing and future products and platforms.

- Lead part and platform standardization, commonization, SKU reduction, and modular design strategies that improve cost, manufacturability, and lead time.
Partner across Supply Chain, Operations, and Product Lines to unlock value

- Provide the engineering analysis, validation, and approvals required to execute commodity and supplier strategies.

- Work across Engineering, Operations, Product Management, Supply Chain, and Finance to convert opportunities into sustainable business results.
Deliver validated savings while protecting product integrity

- Own execution of the VAVE portfolio through validated savings realization, partnering with Finance to confirm financial impact and implementation timing.

- Ensure all engineering changes maintain product safety, quality, performance, reliability, and compliance with applicable UL, CSA, IEEE, and IEC requirements.
Establish VAVE methodology, governance, and performance management

- Deploy common VAVE methodologies, tools, templates, and operating rhythms across the division, incorporating Value Methodology, Lean, and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) principles.

- Own the VAVE performance scorecard, including validated savings, pipeline value, conversion rate, cycle time, margin improvement, and project ROI.
Build organizational capability and develop talent

- Leverage engineering resources across the U.S., Mexico, India, and the broader PDCA engineering network to scale analysis, design, validation, and project execution.

- Build VAVE capability beyond the immediate team through training, coaching, and cross-functional engagement, creating a culture of value creation and engineering accountability.

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:
•    Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering from an accredited institution.
•    Minimum of 10 years of engineering experience, including at least 5 years leading engineering teams.
•    Proven track record of delivering VAVE or cost-out results in electrical or electromechanical manufacturing.
•    Strong working knowledge of product cost structures and manufacturing processes such as sheet metal fabrication, copper bus, wiring, and electrical assemblies.

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Master's degree in Engineering or an MBA.
•    SAVE International certification (AVS or CVS).
•    Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent DFSS / Lean credentials.
•    Experience with switchgear, switchboards, or motor control center products.
•    Hands-on experience with should-cost modeling tools and spend analytics.
•    Global sourcing experience, including supplier qualification and localization.

Additional Information:

•    This position must be located in Arden, NC; Fayetteville, NC; or Greenwood, SC; Charlotte, NC.
•    Relocation will be offered for this position.
•    This position will travel up to 25%.
•    Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT plans, F-1 to H-1B, H-1B cap registration, O-1, E-3, TN status, I-485 job portability, etc.

All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

At Eaton, we strive to provide compensation and benefits that attract, engage, and retain the best talent. This includes competitive pay and a variety of benefit programs for eligible employees. The expected annual salary range for this role is $165000 - $242000 a year.  This role is also eligible for a variable incentive program. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

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We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.