Production Engineering Lead

Why join the ABI LTD team?

Since 1989, ABI has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technology to revolutionize the way bakeries produce high-quality food efficiently. As a global integrator of automated bakery equipment, we have garnered a reputation for excellence, servicing some of the largest bakeries worldwide.

Our extensive product range spans every stage of the baking process, from ingredients handling to the packaging of finished goods. Whether it's providing standalone equipment for small and medium-sized wholesale bakeries or designing and integrating full end-to-end lines for industrial baking centers, ABI is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that exceed customer expectations.

We take pride in our work and the satisfaction of our global clientele.

Looking ahead, we recognize the transformative impact of robotics on industries worldwide. As a Preferred Partner and integrator for ABB, the world's leading robotics manufacturer, ABI is at the forefront of this technological revolution. This expertise enables us to offer our customers unparalleled precision and efficiency in their bakeries.

Position Summary:

The Production Engineering Team Leader ensures the production engineering function delivers industrial automation and equipment solutions on time, within scope, and to standard. Through resource planning, technical oversight, and hands-on leadership and mentoring of engineers and designers — in close partnership with manufacturing, project management, and standards engineering — this role supports the business in achieving its growth, quality, and customer commitments.

Key Responsibilities:

Engineering Delivery & Performance

• Plan and allocate engineering resources so that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to standard.
• Drive improvement in engineering on-time delivery (OTD) and keep lateness to a minimum.
• Lead a monthly root cause / countermeasure (RCCM) process for OTD, including leading measures and a pre-defined escalation playbook.
• Provide technical oversight of drawings, calculations, and deliverables to catch errors before they become costly downstream issues.

People Leadership & Talent

• Define and maintain clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations (outcomes and behaviours) for the team.
• Conduct quarterly talent review sessions on schedule and follow through on resulting actions.
• Coach and mentor junior and intermediate engineers and designers, building technical capability across the team.

Standards Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Support the transition to the Standards Engineering Operating Model and ensure team compliance with defined standards engineering tools and processes.
• Apply formal RCCM when non-compliance is observed.
• Define and implement key processes and tools that support the new operating model.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, reduce waste, and improve team efficiency and effectiveness.

Collaboration & Customer Focus

• Partner closely with manufacturing, project management, standards engineering, and sales to align priorities and resolve issues.
• Keep stakeholders informed of technical designs, project status, and risks.
• Support customers through meetings, site visits, and support calls as required.

Core Competencies:

Communication: Communicates clearly and concisely in person, by phone, and in writing; explains technical designs, project status, and issues clearly; keeps stakeholders informed.

Organization & Prioritization: Manages time and priorities well, keeps work organized, builds a plan and executes.

Problem Solving & Technical Judgment: Diagnoses issues quickly, chooses practical fixes, makes sound calls under pressure, and escalates appropriately.

Attention to Detail & Quality: Reviews deliverables carefully and catches errors early, while balancing time appropriately.

Collaboration & Teamwork: Works well across engineering, manufacturing, sales, and customers; builds trust.

Continuous Improvement: Looks for ways to standardize, cut waste, and work more effectively.

Customer Focus: Puts the customer’s outcome first; comes prepared and maintains a professional, customer-focused attitude.

Accountability & Initiative: Owns the outcome, not just the task; acts without needing to be told twice.

Drive for Results & Adaptability: Focuses on the “critical few” while managing day-to-day work; self-starter who seeks out answers with humility.

Leadership Competencies:

Leadership & Mentoring: Sets the technical bar and helps others reach it; coaches through problems rather than handing out answers; makes time for mentorship.

Strategic Alignment: Connects day-to-day engineering work to business goals, customer commitments, and cost/quality trade-offs; helps the team understand the “why.”

Influence: Gains buy-in across departments without formal authority; builds credibility and consensus across competing priorities.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Degree in Engineering or diploma in Engineering Technology (Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline)
• 6 to 8 years of progressive experience in production engineering within a machine building or automation environment
• Proven experience converting customer requirements into production-ready designs
• Minimum 2 years of leadership experience, including leading, coaching, and developing engineers, technologists, and/or designers
• Ability to track and present team KPIs, identify root causes and drive corrective actions
• Working knowledge of Lean and/or Six Sigma problem-solving methods (preferred)

Like what you’re hearing so far, but still wondering if ABI LTD is right for you? We offer:

• A competitive salary and benefit package
• Healthcare/Wellness spending account
• Corporate discount for Goodlife Gym membership
• RSP matching
• Monthly birthday celebrations and employee recognition
• Company sponsored events (CN Tower Climb etc)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Working in a multi-cultural and global organization
• Ongoing on-the-job learning and development
• Working with innovative technology and with an industry leader

Please inform us if you require any accommodations during the hiring process. Please note that only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

At ABI LTD., we are committed to ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities by identifying, removing and preventing barriers to promote the rights of all persons and to build and create an inclusive and accessible working environment, in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code (the “Code”) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (the “AODA”).

ABI LTD. fully supports the intent of the AODA and its goal of achieving accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities with respect to Customer Service, Information and Communications and Employment.