Asia Regional Technical Director

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Asia Regional Technical Director to serve as the primary integrator and collaborator of technical and sustaining engineering resources across our manufacturing facilities in the Asia region.

In this leadership role, you will guide regional technical teams in executing operational strategies, driving continuous improvement, and elevating overall technical capabilities across all manufacturing operations. You will partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, NPI/NR, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure seamless manufacturing execution, ongoing scaling, and aligned multi-site technical coordination.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Operational Execution

• Roadmap Integration: Interface and collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and Sales to shape and execute technical strategies that advance long-term company operational and technical roadmaps.

• Service Model Alignment: Deliver the regional technical strategy and objectives necessary to uphold company service values, ensuring internal and external customer needs are consistently met.

• KPIs & Compliance: Establish and oversee rigorous regional technical KPIs across operations, quality, and regulatory compliance standards (such as CTPAT, AEO, ISO, and IATF).

• Risk Management: Perform regular technical risk assessments across all regional facilities to proactively identify and mitigate vulnerabilities impacting performance and product quality.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) & Asset Reliability

• TPM Strategy: Lead the deployment of a robust regional TPM strategy, establishing comprehensive frameworks, systems, and processes.

• Equipment Reliability: Define and track leading/lagging KPIs—including MTBF, MTTR, and maintenance cost per unit—to systematically improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and asset reliability.

• Maintenance Programs: Enforce standards for autonomous maintenance, planned maintenance, and early equipment management programs.

• Capability Building: Strengthen regional TPM execution through structured systems, routine site audits, and cross-site knowledge sharing.

Engineering Excellence, Automation & Process Improvement

• Sustaining Manufacturing: Lead regional sustaining manufacturing engineering teams in optimizing, standardizing, and scaling manufacturing processes and design improvements across all product lines.

• Automation & Controls: Drive automation roadmaps to reduce manual operations, improve ergonomics, increase throughput, and lower unit costs. Provide regional direction for machine controls covering PLCs, HMIs, DCS, robotics, vision systems, and motion control platforms.

• Continuous Improvement: Spearhead high-impact process improvement projects yielding significant cost reduction, capacity expansion, and quality enhancement using methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, DMAIC, FMEA, and Design of Experiments (DOE).

• Capital Strategy: Partner with local Operations teams to recommend capital expenditure strategies and resource rebalancing, ensuring regional operations remain scalable, modern, and efficient.

Smart Manufacturing & IT/OT Convergence

• Advanced Manufacturing: Champion smart manufacturing initiatives regionally, including IIoT infrastructure deployment, AI-assisted process control, and advanced analytics tools.

• Systems Support: Sponsor and support regional manufacturing execution systems (MES), ERP integrations, and industrial automation platforms in line with global architecture standards.

• Infrastructure Integration: Drive the convergence of IT and OT infrastructure to secure interoperable and scalable manufacturing systems.

Talent Development & Organizational Growth

• Technical Training: Develop and maintain a structured technical training curriculum—spanning front-line technical support, sustaining manufacturing engineering, machine controls/vision, and engineering leadership—aligned with global strategies.

• Career Pathways: Implement a regional framework for associate growth and performance management, including competency frameworks and succession planning, while partnering with HR and site leaders to drive performance and recognize high achievers.

• Talent Pipelines: Build and oversee internal talent development initiatives such as apprenticeship and co-op programs where applicable.

Collaboration & Compliance

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate with corporate leadership, department heads, HR, and administrative partners to address current and future technical needs, ensuring compliance with local government and industry standards.

• Travel & Partnership: Conduct regular visits to corporate and manufacturing facilities to build cross-functional relationships, receive key training, and drive joint technical initiatives, providing stakeholders with clear action plans and updates.

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in high-precision, tight-tolerance manufacturing environments.

• 10+ years of department or regional management experience leading technical, engineering, or manufacturing operations functions across multiple sites or regions.

• Proven track record of successfully delivering capital projects, automation programs, new technologies, and core manufacturing initiatives on schedule.

• Deep technical knowledge across manufacturing systems/MES, Total Productive Maintenance, process engineering, machine automation, New Product Introduction (NPI), GD&T, EIA/MIL standards, and GR&R.

• In-depth familiarity with global manufacturing regulations and cultural nuances across the Asia-Pacific region.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate multiple languages and cultures across regions such as China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field required.

• Master’s degree in Engineering, an MBA, or an advanced degree is preferred.

Working Conditions & Travel

• Regular presence on-site at regional manufacturing facilities with periodic travel to corporate headquarters.

• Domestic and international travel required (estimated at up to 30% of working time).

• Flexibility to collaborate effectively across global time zones.