Manufacturing Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Job Summary:

Ruggable is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer to improve and expand our manufacturing operations at our Bedford Park, IL facility. This role has two equal halves: continuously improving the equipment and processes we run today, and bringing new equipment and automation into the plant, from installation and commissioning through handoff to production.

You will design, build, modify, and troubleshoot equipment, and drive measurable gains in safety, quality, throughput, and uptime.

As our Chicago operation scales and we add automation, this role is critical to building technical depth in the plant. You will partner with Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering across Print, Production, and Fulfillment.

This is not a desk-only role. Expect to spend significant time on the floor, at machines, testing solutions, validating results, and coaching teams through change.

What You'll Do:

Continuous Improvement & Equipment Reliability

• Lead hands-on equipment improvements to drive Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), uptime, throughput, and defect reduction
• Design, prototype, and implement mechanical and electrical modifications, fixtures, guards, tooling, and poka-yokes
• Troubleshoot equipment issues involving mechanical systems, sensors, motors, drives, basic controls, pneumatics, and electrical components
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to identify and permanently eliminate chronic equipment failures
• Partner with Print and Quality teams to reduce print-related defects and improve the repeatability of print equipment and processes
• Apply Lean Manufacturing and CI tools (OEE, 5S, SMED, VSM, Kaizen, Standard Work, Line Balancing, One-Piece Flow) with a bias for physical, measurable change
• Lead CI projects from concept through implementation, verification, and sustainment
• Conduct time studies, motion studies, and capacity analyses to establish steady-state processes
• Develop and deploy standard work that reflects real operating conditions, not theoretical models

New Equipment Installation & Commissioning

• Own the technical side of new equipment and automation projects: layout and site readiness, utilities (electrical, compressed air, etc.), installation oversight, and vendor coordination
• Lead commissioning activities: FAT/SAT support, startup, debugging, process validation, and acceptance testing against agreed performance criteria
• Develop SOPs, standard work, preventive maintenance plans, and spare parts lists for new equipment before handoff
• Train operators, leads, and maintenance on new equipment and support ramp-up until performance is stable
• Support retrofits and process changes, including equipment evaluation and specification and input on capital project justification (cost, ROI, throughput impact)
• Ensure installations meet safety requirements, including guarding, lockout/tagout, and risk assessments

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead and facilitate cross-functional teams focused on quality, delivery, cost, and safety improvements, and work with engineers and CI and maintenance teams at our other plants to compare practices, learn what each site does differently, and share what has and hasn't worked
• Train and coach operators, leads, and supervisors on new equipment changes, standards, and best practices
• Act as a technical bridge between Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering

Data & Metrics

• Use data to identify problems, validate root causes, and confirm improvement sustainability
• Build and maintain simple, effective tracking using tools such as Sigma and Google Sheets
• Support annual operating targets through structured CI roadmaps and project plans

What You'll Need to Have:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field
• 2–5 years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing or plant environment, with direct involvement in equipment or process improvement
• Demonstrated experience physically designing, modifying, or troubleshooting equipment (not just coordinating projects)
• Experience with equipment installation, commissioning, or startup, or with capital equipment projects
• Working knowledge of:
• • Mechanical systems (drives, bearings, fixtures, guarding, pneumatics)
  • Electrical fundamentals (sensors, motors, wiring, basic controls)
• Ability to read mechanical and electrical drawings and schematics
• Strong working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles including OEE, 5S, SMED, VSM, KPIs, and Kaizen
• Project management fundamentals (scope, schedule, vendor coordination)
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret manufacturing data to drive decisions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred:

• Experience with digital or industrial printing equipment and processes (print quality, color consistency, ink and substrate handling, print defect reduction)
• Experience supporting production, fulfillment, or automated/semi-automated manufacturing environments
• Experience with PLCs or industrial automation, such as sewing, rolling, or bagging automation
• Familiarity with machine guarding and LOTO safety standards
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent demonstrated experience)
• Conversational Spanish (spoken and written)

Compensation:

• $90,000 - $100,000 per year base salary
• An annual bonus percentage that varies based on level of role
• Employer matching (up to 3% of base salary) for company sponsored 401K plan