Engineering Design Manager Jobs in Illinois
Engineering Design Manager jobs in Illinois are in steady demand, with the strongest concentration in advanced manufacturing, industrial automation, and infrastructure engineering, and openings at every level from project lead to senior director. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria anchor most of the hiring, with established employers like Caterpillar, Abbott, and Motorola Solutions known for consistent openings in this role. Product development, systems engineering, and process design are the sub-areas drawing the most interest from Illinois hiring teams. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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As a CBRE Client Consulting Sr. Director, you will oversee consulting services to a large portfolio of high-profile corporate real estate clients. You will also guide the global consulting business.
This job is part of the Client Consulting function. They are responsible for Advisory services in relation to real estate operations and investments. What You’ll Do:
Build real estate strategies and consulting for enterprise accounts and high-profile clients.
Deliver complex strategies with top clients. Drive global portfolio strategic initiatives from start to finish.
Align business direction and vision with executive management. Conduct strategic portfolio planning with stakeholders.
Monitor organizational performance and reports on data collected.
Evaluate space rationalization for all client properties and provide solutions as needed.
Develop expert strategies to reduce costs for clients.
Manage and review all consolidation reviews and transactions.
Present reports and studies on location, labor, and retail properties to executive management and C-suite partners.
Support major account pitches and strategic deliveries.
Gain an in-depth understanding of the client's business. Ensure that property and location strategies align with the business’s strategic direction.
Showcase high level of commercial and financial knowledge during strategy development and presentations.
Provide formal supervision to employees. Monitor the training and development of staff. Conduct performance evaluations and coaching. Oversee the recruiting and hiring of new employees.
Coordinate and manage the team's daily activities. Establish work schedules, assign tasks, and cross-train staff. Set and track staff and department deadlines. Mentor and coach as needed.
Apply deep knowledge of multiple disciplines, broad industry knowledge, and commercial awareness. Drive financial and functional performance within disciplines and across business.
Lead by example and model behaviors that are consistent with CBRE RISE values. Negotiate with senior management, customers, and external parties of divergent interests to reach an agreement of strategic importance while being guided by the business segment and the organization's functional strategy.
Conceptualize new methods, techniques, processes, and standards across job disciplines or functions.
Direct the resolution of highly complex or unusual business problems by applying advanced critical thinking. What You’ll Need:
Bachelor's Degree preferred with 12-15 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered.
Experience in the areas of staffing, selection, training, development, coaching, mentoring, measuring, appraising, and rewarding performance and retention is preferred.
Ability to exchange sensitive, complicated, and difficult information, convey performance expectations and handle problems.
Leadership skills to motivate the team to achieve broad operational targets with impacts on own job discipline, multiple job disciplines, and department.
In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
Expert organizational skills with an unrivaled inquisitive mindset.
Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
See All 24 Engineering Design Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEngineering Design Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Engineering Design Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in engineering design manager jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering from an accredited program
- Professional Engineer license issued or recognized in Illinois for roles involving sealed drawings
- Five or more years of engineering experience with demonstrated team or project leadership
- Proven ability to manage cross-functional design teams through full product development cycles
- Proficiency with CAD platforms such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent design tools
- Experience coordinating with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams on design deliverables
Engineering Design Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a engineering design manager in Illinois?
Most engineering design managers in Illinois hold a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or industrial engineering and build several years of hands-on design or project engineering experience before moving into a management role. For positions that require stamping drawings or signing off on structural or systems designs, Illinois requires licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as a Professional Engineer, which involves passing the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice of Engineering exams.
Which companies hire engineering design managers in Illinois?
Employers hiring engineering design managers in Illinois right now include Constellation Energy, Benesch, and Rush University Medical Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's deep manufacturing base, from heavy equipment in Peoria to medical devices in the Chicago suburbs, keeps demand for this role broad and fairly consistent throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most engineering design manager jobs?
The Illinois cities with the most engineering design manager openings are Chicago, Clinton, and Oak Brook. Chicago drives volume through its concentration of corporate headquarters, technology firms, and defense contractors, while Peoria and Rockford reflect the heavy presence of industrial and manufacturing employers, including large original equipment manufacturers and their supplier networks, that anchor engineering hiring in those metros.
Are there remote engineering design manager jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since the role often involves hands-on review of prototypes, lab collaboration, and on-floor coordination with manufacturing teams. About 67% of engineering design manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those arrangements tend to apply most to strategic planning, documentation review, and vendor management responsibilities rather than active development phases.
How can I get hired as a engineering design manager in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a design engineer or project engineer role at one of Illinois's large manufacturers, where rotational or development programs at employers like Caterpillar in Peoria or Abbott in the northern suburbs are designed specifically for engineers building toward leadership. Lateral moves from quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, or systems engineering are common stepping stones. Earning an Illinois Professional Engineer license early or completing a PMP or similar project management credential makes candidates noticeably more competitive for roles that carry team oversight responsibility.
Where can I find and apply to engineering design manager jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to engineering design manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 24 Engineering Design Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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