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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Showing 5 of 31+ Manufacturing Engineering Manager jobs
Manufacturing Engineering Technician - Controls
Why should you join OTTO Engineering?
- At OTTO, we don't just manufacture products - we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Controls Division designs and manufactures high quality, comprehensive solutions that reliably perform for some of the most demanding markets in the world, serving the medical, off-highway, and military / aerospace customers with switches, grips, and joysticks.
- As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues!
- Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company's profits to celebrate our collective success.
- As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success.
- We are proudly American!
Our Manufacturing Engineering Technician will assist Manufacturing Engineers and Tool Development Engineers in daily activities including fixture development and troubleshooting, streamlining manufacturing processes, and special projects.
The Manufacturing Engineering Technician will:
- Establish design concept for jigs and fixtures from production drawings, piece parts, Production feedback, or Manufacturing Engineering feedback that meet or exceed the requirements on all respects
- Make design changes to existing tooling to improve product quality and reduce cycle time
- Assemble and debug mechanisms
- Order purchased components for in house design mechanisms
- Work with Machine Shop and outside suppliers to have component parts fabricated
- Machine or modify component parts
- Design, build, program and debug controller boxes on in-house or purchased equipment
- Inspect and service electric and electronic control circuit and panels periodically
- Disassemble, repair, or replace worn or defective parts
- Assist in moving equipment
- Provides support to production supervision
- Adjustment of equipment to maintain quality
- Identify and implement machine improvements
- Assist with other related duties as required or assigned
About you - What you'll bring to the table:
- 1-2 years related experience preferred
- Basic communication skills
- Lift equipment up to 40 lbs.
- Experience using machining equipment
- Experience in basic electronics, wiring, and programming
What OTTO offers for this specific position:
The hiring range listed in this posting is what we, in good faith, anticipate relying on when confirming a base salary for this position; exceptions may be considered for highly experienced candidates with multiple years of at-level experience.
- Target base salary hiring range: $52,000 to $67,000, based on qualifications and experience.
- Profit Sharing Bonus - OTTO believes that it's fair to share the profits that the employees help to make; profit sharing is distributed to employees twice a year. OTTO's profit sharing plan is paid at the discretion of the company and is not a guaranteed bonus or any part of a compensation plan.
- Vacation: 80 hours - vacation time is earned on the anniversary date.
OTTO's Benefits:
Health:
Medical Insurance-
- HMO Plan
- Standard PPO Plan
- Enhanced PPO Plan
- High Deducible PPO Plan
- FSA, LFSA, and HSA
Dental Insurance-
- Base Plan
- Buy-Up Plan
Vision Insurance
401(k) with a company match
Life insurance:
- Life/AD&D
- Voluntary Life/AD&D
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
10 paid holidays
Company picnic
Holiday party
AND numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year!
To review all of OTTO's available opportunities,
please visit our career page by clicking on the link below:
https://otto-engineering-inc.breezy.hr/
OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran
Federal Notices
Federal EEOC - Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf)
Temporary NLRB Notice (https://www.nlrb.gov/documents/2025/10/operations/Website%20Shutdown%20Notice%20October%201%202025%20FINAL.pdf)
E-Verify (https://8765373.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8765373/HR/E-Verify_Participation_Poster%20(002).pdf)
Request for Assistance / Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the online application process. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.
If you need an alternative method for applying, please contact OTTO Engineering via telephone at 847-428-7171 or email at HRDepartment @ ottoexcellence.com
These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests; please do not inquire as to the status of an application.
OTTO Engineering does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiters, agencies, or similar organizations; any submissions will not be honored.
Manufacturing Engineering Technician - Controls
Why should you join OTTO Engineering?
- At OTTO, we don't just manufacture products - we engineer mission-critical solutions with precision and pride. Our Controls Division designs and manufactures high quality, comprehensive solutions that reliably perform for some of the most demanding markets in the world, serving the medical, off-highway, and military / aerospace customers with switches, grips, and joysticks.
- As a core value, we focus on delivering for our customers through innovative technology, superior quality, value, and responsiveness … as a result, our growth continues!
- Employees are our greatest asset, which is why we share our company's profits to celebrate our collective success.
- As a privately-owned company, we are proud to invest significantly in our community and in our own growth, focusing on long-term business success.
- We are proudly American!
Our Manufacturing Engineering Technician will assist Manufacturing Engineers and Tool Development Engineers in daily activities including fixture development and troubleshooting, streamlining manufacturing processes, and special projects.
The Manufacturing Engineering Technician will:
- Establish design concept for jigs and fixtures from production drawings, piece parts, Production feedback, or Manufacturing Engineering feedback that meet or exceed the requirements on all respects
- Make design changes to existing tooling to improve product quality and reduce cycle time
- Assemble and debug mechanisms
- Order purchased components for in house design mechanisms
- Work with Machine Shop and outside suppliers to have component parts fabricated
- Machine or modify component parts
- Design, build, program and debug controller boxes on in-house or purchased equipment
- Inspect and service electric and electronic control circuit and panels periodically
- Disassemble, repair, or replace worn or defective parts
- Assist in moving equipment
- Provides support to production supervision
- Adjustment of equipment to maintain quality
- Identify and implement machine improvements
- Assist with other related duties as required or assigned
About you - What you'll bring to the table:
- 1-2 years related experience preferred
- Basic communication skills
- Lift equipment up to 40 lbs.
- Experience using machining equipment
- Experience in basic electronics, wiring, and programming
What OTTO offers for this specific position:
The hiring range listed in this posting is what we, in good faith, anticipate relying on when confirming a base salary for this position; exceptions may be considered for highly experienced candidates with multiple years of at-level experience.
- Target base salary hiring range: $52,000 to $67,000, based on qualifications and experience.
- Profit Sharing Bonus - OTTO believes that it's fair to share the profits that the employees help to make; profit sharing is distributed to employees twice a year. OTTO's profit sharing plan is paid at the discretion of the company and is not a guaranteed bonus or any part of a compensation plan.
- Vacation: 80 hours - vacation time is earned on the anniversary date.
OTTO's Benefits:
Health:
Medical Insurance-
- HMO Plan
- Standard PPO Plan
- Enhanced PPO Plan
- High Deducible PPO Plan
- FSA, LFSA, and HSA
Dental Insurance-
- Base Plan
- Buy-Up Plan
Vision Insurance
401(k) with a company match
Life insurance:
- Life/AD&D
- Voluntary Life/AD&D
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
10 paid holidays
Company picnic
Holiday party
AND numerous OTTO celebrations throughout the year!
To review all of OTTO's available opportunities,
please visit our career page by clicking on the link below:
https://otto-engineering-inc.breezy.hr/
OTTO Engineering is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran
Federal Notices
Federal EEOC - Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf)
Temporary NLRB Notice (https://www.nlrb.gov/documents/2025/10/operations/Website%20Shutdown%20Notice%20October%201%202025%20FINAL.pdf)
E-Verify (https://8765373.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8765373/HR/E-Verify_Participation_Poster%20(002).pdf)
Request for Assistance / Reasonable Accommodation:
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the online application process. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.
If you need an alternative method for applying, please contact OTTO Engineering via telephone at 847-428-7171 or email at HRDepartment @ ottoexcellence.com
These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests; please do not inquire as to the status of an application.
OTTO Engineering does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiters, agencies, or similar organizations; any submissions will not be honored.
See All 31 Manufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsManufacturing Engineering Manager Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Manufacturing Engineering Manager Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
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 Northrop Grumman, Rivian, and Entegris, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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?
Aurora, Rolling Meadows, and Normal 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 0% of manufacturing engineering manager openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 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 31 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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