Rimowa Global Engineering Director
- Location
- Cologne North Rhine-Westphalia Germany
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Director
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Oct 8, 2026
About Rimowa
Founded in Cologne in 1898, Rimowa stands as a benchmark of modern luxury travel, renowned for its iconic grooved aluminum suitcases and uncompromising German engineering. As an employer, the Maison offers a distinctive environment where heritage craftsmanship, industrial precision, design innovation, and elevated client experience converge. Part of the LVMH Group, Rimowa provides opportunities across product development, manufacturing, retail, digital, marketing, and corporate functions within an international culture shaped by excellence and forward movement. The brand seeks individuals who value quality, creativity, resilience, and meticulous execution, inviting them to contribute to objects designed not merely to accompany journeys, but to define them.
RIMOWA seeks a Global Engineering Director to lead its global engineering function, drive industrial Capex strategy, and elevate manufacturing excellence across production sites. The full-time, permanent position is based at the company’s head office in Cologne, Germany.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define and drive RIMOWA’s global engineering and industrial Capex strategy across all production sites, aligning manufacturing standards, processes, equipment, and continuous improvement priorities.
- Strengthen global industrial competitiveness by building consistency, scalability, and operational excellence across regions.
- Define, implement, and govern global standards for manufacturing processes, equipment, Bill of Process (BOP), and Bill of Equipment (BOE).
- Oversee the introduction of new products and processes through project management, validation discipline, and right-first-time execution.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives using lean methodologies, time studies, and productivity enhancement programs, while steering digital manufacturing transformation across all plants.
- Assess manufacturing site capabilities, identify performance and competency gaps, and lead cross-functional action plans to address them sustainably.
- Lead and mentor plant engineering teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and high performance while driving succession planning.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to evaluate and implement advanced manufacturing solutions and engineering innovations.
- Act as an escalation point for complex engineering topics and provide data-driven recommendations to the COO and senior leadership team.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a comparable technical field.
- At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in industrial management, with extensive experience in engineering, manufacturing, process development, and industrialization.
- Deep knowledge of manufacturing processes, process optimization, equipment solutions, lean initiatives, and productivity improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through complexity and change, influence senior stakeholders, and align cross-functional teams.
- Strategic mindset, strong execution focus, sound technical judgment, and commitment to continuous improvement.
- Exceptional analytical skills and ability to inspire diverse teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with full professional fluency in English and German.
- Willingness to travel internationally as required by global operations.
Skills
Experience
At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in industrial management, with extensive experience in engineering, manufacturing, process development, and industrialization.
Education
Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a comparable technical field.
Workplace
The role is situated in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Benefits
30 days of paid vacation per year; flexible working hours; a RIMOWA Essential Cabin suitcase after the probationary period; corporate benefits and a 30% discount on the RIMOWA assortment; company pension scheme with a high employer contribution or other capital-forming benefits; canteen with freshly prepared, affordable food; Urban Sports Club membership, public transportation ticket, and job bike, partly subsidized; international environment and development opportunities within LVMH.
Culture
Rimowa fosters a workplace culture rooted in German engineering, precision craftsmanship, and a forward-looking spirit of innovation. As a global luxury house, it values collaboration, attention to detail, and entrepreneurial thinking, offering teams an environment where heritage and modern design come together to shape exceptional travel experiences.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Rimowa, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Engineering Director», «Director of Manufacturing Engineering», «Industrial Engineering Director», «Director of Engineering Operations», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.