Director of Special Projects

Former US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm said, “With what Virginia Transformer is doing, they are at the center of how we’re going to build out the backbone of our clean energy future.”

Virginia Transformer and Georgia Transformer Corp., is “the engineering firm that makes transformers.”

We are the largest US-owned manufacturer of electric transformers in North America and have been helping to secure the reliability and resilience of our country’s electric grid for more than 50 years. We produce power transformers for any conceivable application – GSU, substations, auto-transformers, grounding transformers, drive duty, rectifier, exciter, voltage regulator, and other.

The company is experiencing steady and sustained growth and serves every part of US industry from its six state-of-the-art North American facilities. We are actively looking for individuals who want to be part of a high-growth company and who want to share in the pride we have in ensuring American manufacturing continues to flourish. Without reliable power, manufacturing cannot operate. That is where we – and you – come in. Join us.

Job Title: Special Equipment Director

Location: Roanoke, VA

Department: Technical Team

Reports To: Vice President of Technical

Job Summary:

The Special Equipment Director is responsible for overseeing the maintenance, performance, and strategic upgrades of all specialized manufacturing equipment across Virginia Transformer facilities. This includes vacuum pressure drying (VPD) systems, winding machines, PLC-controlled systems, cranes, and other custom machinery critical to transformer production. The Director leads preventive and predictive maintenance programs, manages capital improvement projects, and ensures operational continuity through the lifecycle of all special equipment.

Key Responsibilities:

Equipment Ownership & Uptime

• Lead maintenance, reliability, and lifecycle management of all special equipment used in transformer manufacturing.
• Own uptime performance and availability metrics for capital equipment like VPDs, air pillow lifts, oil handling systems, winding machines, and bridge cranes.
• Ensure critical systems are functioning safely and efficiently across all shifts and facilities.

Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

• Develop and manage preventive and predictive maintenance schedules using CMMS systems.
• Oversee inspection, calibration, and certification of special equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement in maintenance practices to reduce downtime and extend equipment life.

Capital Projects & Modernization

• Evaluate, plan, and execute equipment upgrades, replacements, and facility expansion projects in alignment with production needs.
• Lead capital planning for new installations and retrofits of machinery and automation systems.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Plant Leadership to scope new special equipment purchases.

Team Leadership

• Lead a team of multi-skilled technicians, maintenance engineers, and external contractors.
• Provide technical guidance and training to ensure safe, effective troubleshooting and repairs.
• Build a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and company safety policies related to equipment operation and maintenance.
• Support safety risk assessments, equipment hazard analysis, and mitigation planning.
• Oversee lockout/tagout, lifting protocols, and heavy equipment safety standards.

Systems Integration & Troubleshooting

• Work with Controls/Automation Engineers to support PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA systems.
• Lead or support root cause analysis and corrective action on high-impact downtime or quality issues related to equipment.

Key Equipment Under Scope:

• Vacuum Pressure Drying (VPD) systems
• Winding machines and taping machines
• Overhead bridge cranes and hoists
• PLC-controlled ovens and test systems
• Oil filtration and handling systems
• Pneumatic air bag lifts (used for tank lifting/alignment)
• Custom mechanical jigs and fixtures

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering or related technical field.
• 10 years of experience in industrial maintenance, reliability, or plant engineering, preferably in heavy manufacturing or electrical equipment.
• Strong technical knowledge of hydraulic, pneumatic, PLC, and mechanical systems.
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar capital projects and vendor relationships.
• Excellent leadership and team development skills.
• Familiarity with Lean, TPM, and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) preferred.
• CMMS experience required (e.g., Fiix, eMaint, Maximo, etc.).

Travel:

Up to 30% between Virginia Transformer facilities in the U.S. and internationally (as needed for commissioning, audits, or expansions).