Manufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois

Manufacturing Engineering Manager jobs in Illinois represent one of the most active markets in the Midwest, concentrated in automotive components, food processing, agricultural equipment, and industrial machinery manufacturing, with openings ranging from first-time managers stepping up from senior engineer roles through plant-level engineering directors. The heaviest hiring is in and around Chicago, Rockford, and the Quad Cities metro, where established employers like Caterpillar, Illinois Tool Works, and John Deere maintain long-term engineering operations. Process optimization, lean manufacturing leadership, and capital project management are the most consistently in-demand specialties across Illinois listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles39
Top employerFlex
Top cityLake Zurich, IL
Cities hiring29
Work type83% On-site
Top industryManufacturing

Showing 5 of 39+ Manufacturing Engineering Manager jobs

Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Summer 2027
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Added 1d ago
Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Summer 2027
Entegris
Aurora, Illinois
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
$20 - $30/hr
5,001-10,000

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Manufacturing Engineering Manager
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Added 1d ago
Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Destaco
Wheeling, Illinois
Accounting
Business Analysis
Business Strategy
Revenue Operations & Enablement
$120k - $140k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

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Manufacturing Engineering Manager
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Added 1d ago
Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Caterpillar
East Peoria, Illinois
Construction Management
Program Management
Project Management
$113k - $169k/yr
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
10,000+

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Manufacturing Engineering and Automation Manager
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Added 6d ago
Manufacturing Engineering and Automation Manager
Caterpillar
Decatur, Illinois
Manufacturing Operations
Project Management
Quality Control
$128k - $193k/yr
On-Site
Experience equivalent to degree accepted
10,000+

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Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Lead (Modular)
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Added 1w ago
Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Lead (Modular)
Modine Manufacturing Company
Chicago, Illinois
Engineering (Non-Software)
Project Management
Technical Program Management
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in engineering
5,001-10,000

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See All 39 Manufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Manufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Lake Zurich
3 jobs
Rolling Meadows
3 jobs
Cary
2 jobs
Aurora
2 jobs
Chicago
2 jobs
Wheeling
2 jobs
Naperville
2 jobs
Buffalo Grove
2 jobs
Dixon
1 job

Manufacturing Engineering Manager Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Flex3 open roles
Molex2 open roles
Destaco2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Manufacturing

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in manufacturing engineering manager jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering from an accredited program
  • Professional Engineer license issued or recognized by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation preferred for senior roles
  • Five or more years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment with supervisory responsibility
  • Demonstrated expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
  • Experience managing capital projects, tooling development, or new product introduction in a production setting
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills working with production, quality, and supply chain teams

Manufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a manufacturing engineering manager in Illinois?

Most manufacturing engineering managers in Illinois follow a path from a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering into a staff engineer role, then advance through senior engineer and lead positions before moving into management. Illinois does not require a mandatory state license to hold the title, but a Professional Engineer license issued through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation strengthens candidacy significantly, especially at larger manufacturers and for roles overseeing regulated processes. Lean or Six Sigma certification adds a competitive edge.

Which companies hire manufacturing engineering managers in Illinois?

Employers hiring manufacturing engineering managers in Illinois right now include Flex, Molex, and Destaco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of discrete and process manufacturers, particularly in the greater Chicago metro and Rockford corridor, means hiring activity remains consistent across both Fortune 500 operations and mid-size contract manufacturers.

Which Illinois cities have the most manufacturing engineering manager jobs?

Lake Zurich, Rolling Meadows, and Cary have the most manufacturing engineering manager openings in Illinois right now. Chicago and its suburban ring drive the largest share of listings through headquarters operations for companies like Illinois Tool Works and a deep network of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, while Rockford's longstanding aerospace and precision machining cluster and the Quad Cities' agricultural and heavy equipment manufacturing base anchor hiring in those metros.

Are there remote manufacturing engineering manager jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. About 17% of manufacturing engineering manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, plant-floor nature of most roles in this field. The portions of the job most suited to remote work include design review, supplier communication, project documentation, and reporting, while process engineering, equipment qualification, and team oversight almost always require on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a manufacturing engineering manager in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a manufacturing engineering manager role from a senior or lead engineer position at an Illinois manufacturer, then building supervisory experience through project leadership before pursuing a formal management title. Large Illinois employers like Caterpillar and Illinois Tool Works run structured rotational engineering programs for recent graduates that expose candidates to multiple plant environments and often accelerate progression into leadership. Pursuing a Professional Engineer license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and completing a lean or Six Sigma certification signals readiness for management before you hold the title.

Where can I find and apply to manufacturing engineering manager jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to manufacturing engineering manager jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level, industry background, and preferred location within Illinois, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 39 Manufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois

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